Showing posts with label model posing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label model posing. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

How to Pose to Look Skinny in photos for Great Pictures!




If you look at the photo above taken on my 49th birthday last week,  you are probably saying to yourself ...
"Well, I already have that skinny arm on the hip trick mastered, is that all you got?"
However, as obvious as this one seems, many women are still not using this pose to their advantage!

I am often asked by magazines for quotes about the tips and tricks of posing for better photos, and there's a lot that goes into getting a perfect photo, the lighting, the makeup, the styling. I'll be doing more televised segments about all these, but yesterday I got the chance to talk about the importance of posing for Arizona Midday - take a look here:




The skinny arm on the hip trick is completely overused on the red carpet because it does incredible things for women ... smaller waist, longer legs and creates curves. It's best if you choose the arm closet to the lens of the camera for this trick and remember to lower your shoulder. However, if you don't want to look like a teapot in all your photos, you can get the same effect if you understand why this pose works.

The basic cheat being used here isn't the hand on the hip, it's the bent elbow and separation of the body and arm, that makes this work. If must have light between or the width of your arms next to your body will make you look bigger than you actually are! You don't have to over-exaggerate it every time to get the benefit of this trick. Simply put a slight bend to your elbow and pull your arms away from your body. Or hold on to something, a purse, a drink, a  pocket .... It will make a massive difference in your pictures.

Placement of the hands is key. A model rarely shows the back of her hands. The reason? They aren't pretty and they look big. The sides are much prettier and dainty. Secondly, never clump your fingers together, instead let fingers relax and be apart.

One of the biggest mistakes women do is place their hands lower than they should when working this pose. If you do, the part of your body you will draw attention to is your hips, the widest area of your body. Instead cheat the hands up a little higher on your waist and this will give you the illusion of longer legs ... Nothing wrong with that!

Most of the time you will want to keep the weight of your body on your back foot, however if you need to fake some curves you can do what I did in the top photo and keep your weight on your front leg instead or try popping your hip toward the camera.

The other important thing to do when standing for a photo is to angle your body to the camera. We must create the angle, because the lens of the camera will flatten you out to a 2D version of yourself and make you look wider than you are if you don't! So angle yourself to the lens of the camera pointed at you. The worst thing you can do is stand front and center to the lens. This is why people say the camera adds 10 pounds. Face the camera and place your hips and feet at a 2 or 10 o'clock position to it. Then create a smaller waistline by turning your face to the lens, twisting yourself without moving your feet. Ahaha - instantly you have created a slimmer waistline too!



Practice. Practice. Practice. The mirror is your best friend and a perfect tool to teach you how to develop your own signature pose. Like I said in this video, if you try to emulate Taylor Swift's cross legged go to pose without checking yourself first, you may just end up taking a photo that looks more like you have to pee your pants instead of a young goddess with long legs.

Finally, with social media and sites like Instagram and Facebook, it's nearly impossible to get out of taking a group shot now and then, assuming you have a life outside of the world wide web. To get your best group shots just keep in mind that anything closest to the camera will look the biggest. If this happens to be you, just take a step back or hide a part of you behind the person next to you. And never get sandwiched between two people and let your arms flatten next to your body. Just remember the tips above and try to work in a slight angle and to keep some space between your body and arm for great pics on girls night out!



So many pictures, so little time ...  Hope this helps!
XO 
Shelley





Sunday, February 24, 2013

How to Own the Celebrity Red Carpet Pose - Best Photo Ops



The SuperBowl of red carpets has to be the Academy Awards, and celebrities walking it tonight have never been under more pressure to look their best, with the pose that can make or break their careers. Stylists often work with their clients days ahead of time perfecting the version that showcases the designer gown they borrow, jewels or best feature. Here are a few pointers we can all take home from the A listers as we take a look at their go-to stances.



Simple works for Gwenyth. (Not even a clutch for a prop!) She looks effortlessly beautiful in her no fuss, natural, relaxed self ... but I am warning you that not many can pull off this non-posed, pose! Admittedly, arms at your side, slightly bent is probably best for a column styled gown, just remember to push your head forward from the neck to eliminate a double chin, and stand up straight with shoulders back and then down.




Halle Berry is still a pageant girl at heart (1st RunnerUp to Miss USA 1986) and nothing shows it more than her signature hands on the hip pose. The over exaggerated space between the arms and the body  makes the waist look smaller and the arms skinnier. Oh, and and it doesn't hurt if you can flex your biceps for the shot.





Taking the skinny arm on the hip trick one step further with a highly arched back, is Paris Hilton's go-to look. To do this yourself plant your hips at a two o'clock position, then twist your waist and shoulders to the opposite side (10 o'clock), lean back and pop your hand on the hip you are leaning in to.




Crossing your legs can make your hips look narrower and your legs look longer, but this pose only works if your legs are long and lean to begin with and you aren't grimacing like you have to pee. Taylor is proof positive that this pose can give you supermodel "legs for days" stature.





Rhianna might "Shine Bright Like a Diamond", but this is definitely her "money" shot. She does this over-the-shoulder, come hither stare, so beautifully (red, blonde or brunette!) by turning back, raising one shoulder and lowering her chin spot on to the camera.




J. Lo caught a lot of grief for this one legg-ed pose last month, accused of stealing the "Jolie leg" but I think that the Oscar belongs to Jennifer here ... Though many have tried and come close, she has always owned this signature pose. For this one, angle yourself ever so slightly putting all of your weight on your back leg with the toe pointed straight ahead to the camera, then jutt the other leg forward keeping the toe in the same line as your leg.



You might also like my other posts:


Video: My "Fashion Police" segment for the 2013 Oscar red carpet

Finally the instruction manual you've been waiting for! To learn all the secrets to posing in front of the camera, 191 pages of tricks and tips, check out my new book Face This: Real advice from Real Models! Available on Amazon, Kindle, Nook and iTunes. ($7.99)

Monday, December 17, 2012

How to look skinny and slimmer in your photos - the Camera doesn't have to add 10 pounds!



Well, it is true that the lens of a camera can distort an image, but you should use this to your advantage by arming yourself with all the best skinny model tricks you can! Hint: Check out my new book on how to look Picture Perfect!

Does a camera really add 10 pounds? First off, a photo is a 2D version of a 3D image and if you aren't in the right light the camera's image will flatten you out making you appear bigger. And then there's always that lens thing, a wide angle lens that has a short focal length can make you spread (as in widescreen effect) if you aren't adjusting and using angles to your advantage. This is what happens when we take self portraits with our camera phones. You know, that huge bug eyed photo of yourself when you are too close to the camera. The very best lens to use is a 50mm for true perspective.

In the end most photographers will agree that these mythical 10 pounds are mostly likely due to bad lighting and angles ... which is why the pose means everything! 

The worst thing you can do? Stand front and center, giving your belly the focal point. So if you're sitting, LEAN IN a little and if you're standing angle your body and twist at the waist leaning forward just a bit. It's a fine line between the lean and the hunch-back so keep your posture straight or you will look like you have a pot belly even if you have no belly at all.

Keep in mind that the flat image you see in the mirror is incredibly limited; facing forward to see yourself, and always looking slightly down. Usually you will automatically pose for yourself in a mirror with what you perceive to be your most flattering look, hiding a figure flaw or titling your head toward your best side. Even if you try to replicate this over and over, the camera won't see this version of you because it's your "mirror" image. It's a little like hearing your own voice, it doesn't sound like you ... to you

And always remember that anything closest to the camera will look the biggest ... so rock the hips away from the camera ladies! Oh, and buy the book.


If you'd like to learn more tips and Model's secrets you can purchase my book on Amazon or download it on your computer for Kindle, Nook or iTunes for only $7.99 {HERE}!