12 Posing Tips to Make You Look Thinner in Pictures (With Examples)!

Are you someone that hates getting your picture taken? Do you avoid the camera like the plague?

If this sounds like you, I’m going to guess that you’re also super critical and think you look bad in every photo or maybe you clam up and feel awkward because you don’t know what to do!

This post is here to help you with little tips and tricks you can do to take all that camera pressure away!

I’m using my experience as a photographer, professional model, and blogger to give you 12 posing tips to make you look thinner in pictures instantly!

12 Posing Tips to Make You Look Thinner in Pictures INSTANTLY!

Disclaimer: This is not to say you aren’t beautiful the way you are and that we shouldn’t accept the body we see in the mirror. These are intended to be tips on how to bring out the best in us, mask what we’re not so confident about, and reverse the unfortunate things that the camera can do! Um, hello! You better not add 10 pounds to me!

1. Watch your posture
Move those shoulders back! In the first photo, I’m standing how I normally would (which I can now see is not great), and in the second photo, I have my shoulders pulled back. I look taller which makes me look leaner!

2. Tilt your hips back
Whatever your feelings on whether people should try to have a thigh gap or not, either way, it’s really easy to fake it. All you have to do is tilt your hips back to create space between your legs.

3. Show your neck
Tyra knows what she’s talking about. Avoid the “no-neck monster” and try to show and elongate your neck! If you don’t, you look squished. And who wants to look squished? Related: 15 Top Tips to Pose Like a Fashion Blogger

4. Stand at an angle, put one leg in front of the other
Your legs can look uber long when you put one leg in front of the other. It creates the perfect leading line to the rest of your body! You’ll also see the common theme of creating angles with your body a lot in this post!

5. Lean away from the camera
If you’re getting family pictures taken, your photographer might tell you to lean towards the camera because it creates a connection with the camera. Which you should totally do. Listen to your photographer. But you can see that when I’m leaning forward it’s pulling my mommy tummy out. And when I’m leaning away my stomach looks more slimmed out.

6. Don’t put arms flat against your body
I don’t care how tiny your arms are, if your arms are flat against your body and facing the camera, the camera is just going to make them look bigger than they are! Turn your arms away from the camera and bend them to create some space.

7. Bend your limbs
Don’t stand totally straight, especially if leaning up against the wall. It kinda makes me look dumpy. Use the wall as a prop to create angles and interest in your body!

*BONUS* Want to fake curves? Arch that back!

I was never a curvy person, but I’m especially not now haha. Breastfeeding sucked out my fat in places I would have rather it didn’t (umm hello fat, you can go back to my butt and boobs now, take my thighs in exchange, please and thank you.)

Though it’s coming back with my workouts I’ve started, arching that back and popping that booty out gives the illusion of curves while also creating a smaller waist!

8. Tuck your legs when sitting down
Sitting down and just plopping your legs wherever doesn’t look the greatest. If you can stretch them out and tuck them under, you create great curves and add length to your body.

9. Bend your arm when sitting down
It’s most people’s go-to position to just keep your arm straight when you’re sitting down. That can make your arm look a little unflattering. Instead, bend it, even though it feels awkward. When I bend my arm and lean into it, it looks way more toned than the first picture!

10. Stand with one leg in front of the other, get on tiptoes
I like to call this the “fashion blogger pose” because after a quick scroll through the gram you’ll see that everyone is doing it! There’s a reason why though. This pose makes you look taller and skinnier! Related: 7 Fashion Blogger Poses That Don’t Make Sense

11. Sit at the edge of your seat
Resist the urge to “just sit” when you sit. It definitely takes more effort, but sitting at the edge, bending your legs, and getting those shoulders back looks a lot better!

12. Have your photographer shoot from above
Shooting low is generally not a flattering angle on anyone. Unless you had a wide angle lens and your photographer was shooting low while aiming up, that can look editorial. But for those not shooting a magazine spread, having your photographer shoot higher and aiming down can slim you out!

Don’t go away yet, I’ve still got some more tips for you!

In this post, I’m wearing minimal clothing so you can get the best look at these posing tips, but that brings me to my next set of tips that aren’t about posing, but other things you can do!

-Speaking of minimal clothing, shoes with height can make your legs look leaner and longer, especially when paired with shorter bottoms
-Resist the urge to “hide” your body, wear fitted clothing!
-There’s a reason everyone says to wear black. It’s slimming and can hide any extra bulges!
-Slather on a faux tan before pictures. It can make you appear thinner plus generally people always feel better being tan! I’ve been using this lately and I put it on my body before pictures. I really like it because it gives you the immediate glow, but the tan will darken over time too!

Even models don’t look like themselves in the pictures we see blown up in stores. It’s all about hacking the camera and putting your best foot forward! Literally haha, if you read tip #10.

Do you love getting your picture taken or are you one that hides from the camera?

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