Posing the Full-Figured Woman.
Photographing full-figured women is challenging, but they are often my
best clients. This is where your talent will shine. Remember to hide the
least attractive features like midriff rolls and varicose veins and chisel out
the good features. Not every culture desires the waif-thin runway model
look for women. You’ll find that many men prefer women with curves.
The challenge is finding clients willing to accept and be proud of their bod-
ies. You start discerning your client’s comfort and confidence level way
back at the consultation stage of the boudoir photography process.
If you are photographing a heavy subject, a good rule of thumb is to
keep the weight to the back of the image. Always chisel out the good fea-
tures. For instance, if a woman has large hips and heavy arms, hide the
arms behind a prop or draping and take the portrait from the waist up. If
your client has a double chin, avoid using reflectors under her eyes. This
would draw attention to the chin area. Change the angle of your shooting
Left—Here is an example of having your subject stretch out in order to eliminate wrinkles or double chins. Notice how the hands
define her chin and neck area.Right—I created a timeless, old-world look for this image. Her arm is lit in a manner that sculpts
and thins. Her hand is posed to focus on her wedding ring. I photographed her at a high angle with her chin tilted up slightly
to slim the neck line. I used a spotlight on her upper body to shape and accentuate that area. Her husband absolutely loved
this image. I stock many different types and colors of feather boas, including reds, pinks, whites, and blacks. I purchase my
boas from motherplucker.com. I’ve found that the turkey feather boas hold up the best and hide a lot of imperfections.
66 ELLIE VAYO’S GUIDE TO BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHY