Need tips on shooting plus sized model

[srwatters]

In my quest to become better at the discipline I've chosen, I know that I need to photograph women other than sub-size 6 models. To that end I've scheduled a shoot with a plus sized model (5'9" size 14) in a couple of weeks. I'm looking for some tips on posing, wardrobe, shooting angles, and lighting to make her look her best. From looking at the shots in her portfolio, I think that her face, hair, and cleavage are her best features to accentuate.

I'm also evaluating her as a possible MUA for future shoots, so I'm getting an additional benefit from the session. Those of you on OMP or GG can see her portfolio as #156631 or Alexis_Rose respectively. I think the GG portfolio shows more and better work. What I see working best are higher shooting angles and oblique facial poses. Keeping the hair framing her face makes her look thinner. Softer light seems to favor her and clothing off the shoulder work well IMHO.

If you've worked with plus sized women or have any pointers or examples for me, please reply. I want to do a good job for both her and I.

Thanks in advance!

[saroy]

Size 14 is plus size? Sigh....

I know, I know, modelling has its own set of definitions.

Anyway, as a size 14 myself (thanks for these wide hips, Mom! ), I'll be interested in seeing your shots and what angles you choose to shoot. Not that I'm a model, but I'll still be interested.

[srwatters]

Oops... Sorry. I hope not to offend any women with the reference to the size being a 'plus'. I am rather blunt and tactless when it comes to features and sizes. I'm looking to make each model look her best and often catch myself asking a size 4 turn her hips to make them look slimmer. I know there is no way a size 4 needs slimmer hips, but you get my point. I don't mean they are big... My set-side manner needs some fine tuning in this matter

I'll post the images here first as usual. I really want to research this so I'm prepared for the session.

[Ray]

She's got quite the intellectual credentials..

[saroy]

Oh don't worry Scott, no offense was taken! Just a little teasing...I may be a size 14, but I can still run farther (and possibly faster) than a lot of size 2's. Modelling is all about what size you wear, but thank goodness fitness isn't!

[MyKey]

Try turning the model on an angle showing part of her hips and the rest of her curves but not all of them. Doing this will show she is a women with curves but lower the extreme or larger curves of the normal "crackhead" model figure

Get lower and shoot up with a wide angle, this will make the legs look longer as well as the rest of the body.

Finally if she has double chin problems shoot slightly downward for tight head shots, this slight angle is hard to notice when looking at the image yet hides some of the double chin underneath her facial structure and still looks natural.

Besides these posing tips, strong ratio lighting is always good (fade the heavier or larger sides out into darkness) you can never tell the true size of a women if you can not see all of her, yet done right gives a very romantic, sexy, fun feeling to the picture while keeping a professional quality to your image.

[Joe_Lorenzini]

I love how she qualifies for Mensa but yet has the sense of humor to paint her breasts like Wal-Mart happy faces. Should be an interesting shoot Scott!

_/oe

[TxKent]

I would not try to minimize her curves - I'm sure she's proud of them... Not everybody who is fat (yes, I used the f word) wants to hide it. I'm married to a big beautiful woman. Whenever I take her photo - I don't try to minimize anything.

[MyKey]

Originally Posted by TxKent

I would not try to minimize her curves - I'm sure she's proud of them... Not everybody who is fat (yes, I used the f word) wants to hide it. I'm married to a big beautiful woman. Whenever I take her photo - I don't try to minimize anything.

If she is this type of women I would agree 100% with you. Just as the new photo ads show in Dove Soap, it is a breath of fresh air, real women for real people. However many women are not as sure about themselves as you are about your wife, and want to look as skinny as the camera and PhotoShop will allow, in those cases showing all the curves will upset them greatly. I have had clients who want to me liqufiy just about every part of their bodies, giving them a tummy tuck here, a breast lift there, a face lift and even removed the loose skin under their arms and inner theighs. While they LOVED the images, which is the main goal of course, the final product did not look a lot like them due to the weight loss. If more women were like your wife it would make the photographers job a lot easier and much more fun too.