If you’ve never had a professional photoshoot, the thought of it can be incredibly intimidating. From the clothes you’ll need to buy or borrow to the experienced photographer and quality camera equipment, there are so many unknowns that it can seem like a huge commitment.
Photos can’t lie. They’re the perfect way to keep your body, size, and shape in check. And better yet? You’re in control of how much skin you show.
However, if you’re serious about becoming a pro body model, here are ten tips for beautiful body photography that will help prepare your mind and embark on this journey with confidence.
Table of Contents
1. Know your angles
It would help if you always understood what’s being photographed, as it will help you make the best possible poses that suit your particular body shape and features. It’s very likely that when posing for full body portraits, you’ll need to sit or stand in a particular way. So knowing these key areas can really help with your body model career.
You should have a good understanding of your body type, what looks good on you, and which poses suit you best. For example, if you have a small bust and are an avid smoker, it’s probably not the best idea to try to hide the former with your hands or arms. If you’re shy about these things, it can make them look larger than they are. That said, I feel that many photographers are totally fine with models not being confident in their bodies and will be very respectful of this fact when shooting.
Pro tip: Always make sure you have the permission of the person who is being photographed before you take their photo.
2. Think about what to wear during a photoshoot
Your body is something that can be, and should be, showcased in many different ways; however, what’s perfect for one occasion or location may not work for another.
For example, you could wear a skintight outfit for the beach, but it will be unflatteringly assembled with a suit. It’s also a good idea to think about what kind of outfit you’ll need to get any specific shot, such as remembering that if you’re trying to capture more of your legs, then put on a short skirt or shorts with your pants.
Research your location carefully before you go to make sure you’re willing to wear what they’re asking of you.
3. Tell a story
The best way to make your body look flawless is to make sure it’s in a comfortable position that makes you feel fabulous. A great way to do this is by creating stories and environments that you can play around with.
In addition, if you know what the photoshoot is for, it’ll be easier for you to mold your poses into something more appealing for their particular audience.
For example, if they’re doing images for a high-end body paint calendar, then you can be sure that it’ll look best with more creative and artistic shots. On the other hand, if they’re trying to do makeup advertising, they may want to take more natural photos that focus on your features.
4. Invest in accessories
Whether it’s wearing the right jewelry or choosing a beautiful bag to accompany you during a shoot, the accessory is something that can completely change your body model career.
It’s really important to wear the right things so that your body is presentable from all angles, and these accessories help pull this off perfectly. Special jewelry, the perfect bag, and even high heels can make your body look fantastic.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for changes
I think that it’s important that you’re comfortable with the image you’re presenting, and therefore, you must be the person to make these small changes.
If you’re uncomfortable with a pose, tell the photographer. If there are any wardrobe issues or lighting problems, mention them as well.
No one knows your body better than you do, so tell them where they can make changes if something isn’t right.
6. Create a color palette
This will help the photographer understand which colors will look best for you and the shoot. This could be a color, several colors, or even a combination of patterns and textures.
Make sure that you’ve chosen something that’s flattering to your skin tone, works well with the light, and will create an image worth remembering. It can be helpful to bring a few different options with you to try them on and see how they look in the location.
7. Let go of perfectionism
When it comes to body photography, as long as you’re comfortable in what you’re wearing, how you’re posing and the makeup applied.
Therefore, it’s best not to focus on minor details. Instead, focus on the whole picture and evaluate how the photo is likely to be used rather than playing around with small adjustments.
8. Look for contrast
When in doubt about what to wear, you can always throw on a bold sweater or pair of sunglasses.
They’ll instantly create a stark contrast between your body and the rest of the image and create a more interesting shot.
9. Be true to yourself
If you’re not comfortable with how you look at a certain time or place, it’s important to let that be known as soon as possible.
However, it could be the key to finding success and creating the photos you want. Therefore, you need to be honest and open with the people that are up to shoot you.
10. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
This is one of the most important things to help you make a successful body model career. Asking lots of questions will make your experience more enjoyable and show that you care about what’s going on.
It’s also a great idea to ask the photographer how they would like you to pose in different situations or locations to make sense for the shoot.
Final Words
To sum up, there are many more things apart from your body type that you should focus on to make your career flourish.
It would help if you built a strong portfolio, practiced your posing skills, and were willing to work hard.
Now that you know the 10 best tips to success as a contributing body model, share this article with young models and anyone just getting started in this area. They’ll thank you for it.
