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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- My Experience With Flotation Therapy + What to Expect
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these are such clever hacks babe! you really know all the right angles for the best photos! 🙂
It's a learning experience!
I love this post! You have such great tips, especially the one about creating a waist. That's something I am always trying to do since I carry most of my weight there.
It's all about camera hacking! 🙂
I love this illustrative post! It's kinda hard to follow when there's no examples. I like that those poses create that "legs for days" effect. Definitely using these tips on my next photoshoot. Thanks for sharing!
Candace Hampton
http://www.thebeautybeau.com
Yay, glad you liked them, Candace!
I absolutely love all of these tips. You are adorable and I love your pictures!
Thanks so much, Erin 🙂
I never know how to pose for pictures, so this helped a ton!!
I'm happy to hear that! 🙂
This guide is SO helpful! I'm always looking to try new poses and definitely want to get those best angles. Thanks for sharing this!
I'm happy it was so helpful!
Great tips and super helpful for finding new poses to try out!
Glad you found it helpful!
These are such excellent tips from the absolute PRO at gorgeous, flattering photos and angles. I feel like I've grown a lot over the past four years, but I still have tons to learn!
Oh, I'm hardly the pro, but like you are saying, there's always much to learn!
to be honest the language is a little triggering for me, someone who has suffered from malicious eating disorders. I know this is advice people are looking for and as a former ballerina I always tell people posture is key!
My apologies for any words that didn't sit the right way. Thank you for being brave and sharing your experience. But yes, posture is a big part of it!
I was totally nodding along to this post because I definitely do all of these! Great tips!
Glad you liked it 🙂
Hello Carolyn. I never knew any of this and rarely have a photo of myself that I like, thank you for teaching this!
Hi, Amy! I'm so glad this was helpful!
Oh my goodness, so many great tips! I loved that you shared the "before and after" type poses. I need to work on my arms away from my body and posture, for sure!
This was soooo helpful! I knew a few of the hacks, but learned so much. Thank you so much for putting this together!!
Great tips! Thanks for sharing! I also often use applications that allow you to edit the shape and face. PerfectMe is my favorite! With it I can reshape my body as I want. My figure looks ideal, I can thin my waist, long legs, abs, and retouch my face to skinny face. Cool!
I've also found a great article on this theme: https://apppearl.com/apps-that-make-you-look-skinny/
omgggg this is sooo helpful, thank you so much, now i won’t be so frustrated looking at pictures
So happy this is helpful for you!
Thank you for this! I've been looking for some tips for when I do my head shot photos and I wish I had seen this last week. I always tend to squish my arms up against my side and that makes them look bigger. If that is you in the picture, you are gorgeous. If its a model...well, then she is gorgeous too. However I don't think it's a possibility that the girl in your pictures could possibly ever look heavy or clunky no matter how she stood. If only you had used a bit bigger girl with maybe 10 or 20 extra pounds I could have seen the real difference posing could make, however, I get the idea! Great tips!
I'm glad this helped, Katie! I'm the person in the photographs so I just used myself as examples, but I appreciate the feedback of using different body shapes. Thanks so much for sharing!
- Excellent article! It looks so beautiful. Thanks for sharing!!
So glad you liked it. Thanks!
Awesome post and nice tips. Thanks for sharing!
You're welcome!
First of all you looking very beautiful . I am waiting for a long time to get like of those information. All of your tips are really good . I must be follow them. Thanks a lot for your advice.
These are amazing tips! Thanks for sharing!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
You're welcome 🙂