Category: FAQ

getting beautiful boudoir photos as a plus-sized person

I want to be incredibly clear on my position here: photoshoots are for everyone, and boudoir photos are for everyone. You don’t have to ‘lose weight first,’ or ‘get in shape’ before you ‘deserve’ to make some memories! You inherently deserve a fun and comfortable experience celebrating yourself, enjoying life at any—and every—size.

One of the most common questions I hear is how to get flattering photos as a plus sized person! Modeling for photos isn’t about “minimizing” yourself. “Flattering” is not a synonym for “makes you look smaller.”

I think a pose that’s flattering is one in which you’re beautifully lit and feel great. One where you’re exuding an energy like dreamy or sexy or yearning. That’s why I include pose coaching automatically in all my sessions. Posing advice is useful for everyone, and I believe in posing each client to the best of their ability without regard to their body composition. It’s my goal to make you look amazing. It’s not my goal to hide your body.

Here are 6 tips to help you get great photos as a plus-size person:

• Find the right photographer
• Communicate with your photographer and team
• Focus on the Positive
• Be Brave
• Choose outfits you love
• Meet yourself where you are

Find The Right Photographer

Listen. You’re on the internet right now, which means you’ve seen some phenomenally fatphobic garbage opinions. I’m sorry about that. But the unfortunate reality is that not everyone has done the work to really integrate body positivity, body neutrality, or fat positivity into their lifestyles and their work—especially when it comes to plus size boudoir photography.

You probably know people like this, and many of them have genuine good intentions! It takes a lot of practice not to project society’s (or our own) body image issues onto other people. This could be as simple as a loaded statement like “Do you want to try on an outfit that fits better,” instead of asking a neutral question like, “Do you like the fit? Are you comfortable and ready to shoot?” And it won’t really be about you, but it might puncture the bliss bubble of your empowering photoshoot.

A body positive photographer will have plus size people in their portfolio. Ideally multiple different people, in multiple outfits, from multiple angles, because they welcome these clients with enthusiasm! They celebrate body positivity through photography with diverse body representation. They will also share their feelings about the importance of inclusivity and showcasing all sizes and shapes on their social media or promotional materials. Perhaps they’ll have lived experience in a plus size body as well.

communicate with your photographer/team

Everybody gets a little nervous before being photographed, even bold personalities and seasoned professionals.

Set yourself up for success with good communication. Do you prefer the left side of your face in photos? Make sure it’s not covered by your hairstyle, so it’s the side the photographer gets the most often! Do you hate a certain fashion trend, or love a particular color? Share that info!

Do you have any physical discomforts or movement limitations? Many people can’t be on their knees for prolonged periods (especially on hard surfaces!), for example, and this is a great thing to share with your photographer so they can keep your comfort in mind while planning dynamic or engaging poses.

And don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself if you’ve been in a pose too long and need a break. Even a conscientious photographer can get lost in their flow. You know your body better than anyone. I always tell my clients if they need a break from a pose to just take it without asking me, and if I haven’t got the shot yet we’ll try it again when they’re refreshed.

Be Brave

Confidence and enthusiasm are the most important things you can bring to a photoshoot. A can-do attitude always shines through!

If you don’t feel confident yet, fake it til you make it! Roleplay as you one year from now, as a person who is a devoted and loving caretaker for the body that houses your soul. Find some influencers with your body type and list the things you admire about them. Then imagine someone else making a list like that about you.

Enthusiasm will help you trust the process and have an open heart for yourself and your results. As mentioned above, you should communicate things you really don’t feel good about and never do anything that feels unsafe or uncomfortable. But if you’re on the fence about an outfit, ask if you can try it for a few photos. The worst that can happen if you don’t like them is you just don’t pick any of those for your final edits, and you never see them again. Or maybe you’ll discover you should’ve been wearing chaps with your buns out all along!

Choose Outfits You Love

Don’t feel like you have to cover up with clothes or with posing! This isn’t about hiding parts of yourself. Ideally it’s about embracing yourself as a whole—body and personality. I don’t believe in putting plus-sized people in baggy clothes or hiding them behind a bedsheet. You deserve to take up space and you deserve to be seen. But if you’re not there yet in your journey I get it! Booty shorts and crop tops for the daring, and elegant flowy caftans for the casual or modest. Be brave and take risks, but honor your comfort zone too.

Choose boudoir outfits that feel sexy, thematic, or well-suited to your vibe. Do you love lace? Let’s get lacy! Want sheer mesh? I love it. A slinky satin dress? Let’s get luxurious. Clients often say, “I never thought I had the body for this,” and are delighted to discover that they wear a look as well as everyone else.

I know shopping for clothing and lingerie as a plus sized person can be demoralizing; it’s the pits to find an outfit you think is cute, only to discover the brand thinks a US12 is an XXL and they don’t have anything close to your size. Part of why I offer a client closet is to take some of the preparation stress off my clients before their session. I have cute plus size boudoir outfits up to 4XL and I’m always hunting for new pieces. Bring your tried and true favorite looks, and play dress up too!

Focus on the Positive

Do you love your smile? Express that you want a bright and fun photo session instead of something more moody or mysterious.

Tell your photographer you especially want to accentuate your butt, your hip dips, or how long your legs are! Make sure a favorite birthmark is the star of the show, or specifically ask for photos of your hands loving on your curves and shape.

Do you love your expressive eyes? Practice in the mirror with emotion prompts to prepare.

I don’t like to dwell on negatives because I think obsessing over things you don’t like about your body unnecessarily increases stress, but if you know there’s a part you’d be more comfortable giving less attention in photos, share that too. You and your body are on a journey together. You’re teammates!

It’s a vulnerable experience to put your image in the hands of someone else, and we’ve all had results that just didn’t delight. But let me ask you something: do you think your friend who took that photo on a special night out thinks you look bad in it? Absolutely not. They think you look great! They’re looking at a person they love. And you should be looking at a person you love too.

Meet Yourself Where You Are

We are constantly changing and evolving creatures; there’s no ‘fully formed’ version of you that’s more valuable than the person you are. Take the photos and celebrate you now. And if two years from now you love yourself even better (manifesting that for you and for all of us), take the photos and celebrate you then too! It’s all part of your unique journey.

If you’re at a place as a plus size person where you didn’t need the body-positive pep talk elements of this post, I’m so so happy for you! I hope to see your beautiful self soon, either as a client or someone loving yourself in a world that needs every bit of joy it can get.

Here’s some plus size boudoir inspiration for you:

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