Taking a great photo as a midsize and plus-size person isn’t about shrinking yourself, hiding your body, or trying to look like someone else. It’s about learning how to work with different angles and movements (while channeling confidence) so that you can capture your best self. While conversations around posing for curvy bodies have been about making it look smaller, we prefer a more empowering approach: to pose in a way that celebrates your shape, shows off your style, and helps you feel more comfortable being photographed, whether it’s for an OOTD pic, selfies, professional headshots, or social media content.
Begin with posture
Stand tall—roll your shoulders back, lengthen your neck, and imagine that a string is gently pulling up your head. This will totally change your energy in a shot. Try not to be stiff, but to stay open and relaxed, keeping shoulders soft and avoiding locking knees. Elongating your look will also make your silhouette more defined while still being natural.
Create shapes with angles
While you can face the camera straight-on, it’s better to take on a more dynamic pose. For instance, turn your body to the side. Angle one shoulder toward the camera while keeping the hips slightly turned. You can also place one foot slightly in front of the other, creating a gentle line through the legs and making for a more intentional pose. Finally, you may want to try shifting weight onto your back leg and allowing the front knee to softly bend, which is another way to give the photo movement.
Creating angles in this way will show off those beautiful curves rather than flattening them!
Use your hands with purpose
Don’t freeze up and let your hands awkwardly stand by your side. Give them something to do! Place one hand on your hip, hold your sunglasses, and gently touch your hair. You can also lightly hold the edge of a jacket. Doing these small gestures might feel weird, but in reality, they make a photo more natural. Use your hands to draw attention to a fabulous outfit, holding the lapel of a blazer, highlighting a bag, or touching the waistband of your jeans. This will add more personality to a shot.
Don’t press your arms tightly against your body; leaving a bit of space makes for cleaner lines and a more relaxed pose.
Highlight your outfit
If it’s a full-body shot, your outfit should shine! Think about what you want viewers to notice if it’s the cut of a dress, a pair of boots, a cute purse, or a bold neckline, target that area and pose around it. For a look with a defined waist, place your hand near your waist. To show off shoes, extend one leg out slightly. If your blouse has dramatic sleeves, you can move your arms so that the sleeve shape is more visible.
The key to curvy fashion is letting the clothes move and breathe, and to achieve that, you need to enact dynamic poses that highlight your inner fashionista rather than flat, one-dimensional ones.
Do the “fake walk”
The fake walk has gone viral on social media, and while it looks bizarre to film, it’s shockingly effective. Pretend you’re walking, but you don’t have to go far. Take a couple of small steps, shift your weight, and naturally move your arms. This walk creates motion and makes for a natural, relaxed expression. It gives your outfit more life and doesn’t make you look as posed. Take several photos in a row (or do a ‘burst’ on your phone), and you’ll find that some of the best shots are the ones between movements.
Sit at an angle
Sitting photos can be awkward for plus-size bodies since the camera can compress the body further. Rather than sitting straight on with the knees facing forward, turn your body to one side slightly. Sit tall, angle the legs, and try not to sink into the seat. You can cross one ankle over the other, extend a leg slightly, or place a hand beside you for added support. Don’t collapse into the pose, but also don’t try to hide your body! Elongate and angle yourself for a more polished pose that exudes confidence.
Most importantly, avoid the number one mistake: don’t try to get it perfect on the first try! Practice as much as you can and experiment with angles and movements. Confidence is built through repetition, and you may find a pose that becomes your signature move for the coming years!
How To Pose With Confidence: Plus-Size And Midsize Photo Tips That Actually Work
