Photos are a great way to express your femme self. Whether you take selfies or go to a studio, beautiful images can be a real confidence booster.
Fortunately, you don’t need supermodel genes to look great in photos. It’s all about skill – and avoiding some common mistakes.
Read on to learn about 5 common photo posing mistakes… and how to fix them!
1. Shooting Shoulders Straight On
If you have broad shoulders (like most crossdressers and transgender women), you should angle your shoulders away from the camera to create a slimmer look. This downplays their width, creating more feminine-looking body proportions.
2. Holding Your Body Too Straight
There’s nothing worse than looking stiff and awkward in your photos. The secret to flattering, feminine photos is to create softness and curves with your body. Experiment with bending your arms and legs slightly, tilting your head, pushing a hip out, and relaxing your fingers.
3. Shooting in Unflattering Light
Lighting makes all the difference in the world in photos. The #1 rule is to avoid strong overhead or side lighting since this creates ugly shadows on the face. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- If you’re indoors, move away from overhead lights and try placing a couple lamps with soft lighting around you.
- If you’re outdoors, avoid shooting in strong midday sunlight. The best time of day is to shoot at dusk or dawn when the sun has a soft, diffused glow.
- If you take selfies, try a selfie light ring that attaches to your phone. This allows you to take flattering photos in low light settings.
4. Placing the Camera Below Eye Level
Nobody wants to rock a double chin in their photos, so never pose with the camera below eye level. The lens should be at or above eye level to diminish a double chin and downplay a large jawline. As an extra bonus, this angle also makes your eyes look bigger.
5. Not Engaging Your Mind
I love watching America’s Next Top Model because it shows that modeling is as much about mindset as it is about natural-born beauty. If you’re not feeling fabulous, it WILL show up in your photos.
So how can you increase your confidence when taking photos? An easy trick is to imagine that you’re portraying a character (either real or imagined). For example: Gisele Bundchen, Cleopatra, or Sophia Loren. “Modeling” somebody else is a great way to channel their energy in photos.
Let’s see your best shot!
Taking great photos is only the first step. Sharing them with the world is where the real magic happens!
On that note, I’d love to see the photos you’re most proud of. Please share your femme photos in the comments below!
Love,
Lucille
P.S. If you enjoyed this article, you’ll love my Stepping Out Secrets Program! This training program covers the 6 “alluring arts” that must be mastered to present yourself as a woman. It even includes a bonus module on photo posing!
transformation tips?
This is my favourite shot!
It was taken indoors with natural light coming through the window!
The day I took this shot everything from the makeup to the dress just felt right!
I even used makeup to create an optical illusion of having a cleavage!
I don’t thing that I could ever repeat that shot!
You look amazingly beautiful hunny
You look fabulous love to know how you created cleavage
looks so natural:)xx
Hi Elvira…of course you can..you are very lovely..and very feminine…just an encouragement..you can always look better if you try..thanx for sharing….
Just like to know if this is a good pose
I feel akward posing. I think i need a photographer to help me
I stopped in my scrolling when i seen tbis photo you look so incredibly pretty. I mean like super beautiful. Your eyes are amazing. I hope im able to look this good one day. This photo is amazing hunny you truely are a beautiful beautiful (sexy) woman.
Gorgeous eyes you look stunning:)xx
Wow! I wish I looked that good
You don’t look awkward! Your photo appears to meet all five of Lucille’s tips.
I’ve taken a lot of self-portraits using a tripod and the delayed photo setting. Not looking directly into the camera is a great way to get a seemingly candid photo of oneself.
Of all the tips, “engaging your mind” is one of the most important tips and you certainly seem engaged in your photo. t’s stunning and exceptionally well done. 🙂
Hi Lucille..Hi everybody….your timing for me is absolutly right on…I am organizing some friends and maybe a pro…to take some photos right now..and am hoping to do some amazing new things with hair and makeup and settings and acccesories and outfits and lighting and lots of natural energy…so,any positive input is great..I think that Lucille and Jennie are some of the coolest girls alive..please support them by purchasing some of Lucilles most interesting and very well documented info videos…very,very professionally done..with lots of real experience and lots of very real research…you will not regret it..so,little Robin,is submiting her best picture right now..but with some help..and positive influence,like this…my next best picture will be really nice…Thanx Lucille..xoxo Robin
Very nice pic.
Dear Lucile, I wish that I could send a photo of myself,but alas I don’t know how to move the photo from one place to another. I guess that I will just stand on the side line and wish. Lena.
Hi, Lena! Perhaps I can help? What kind of camera do you have? If it’s a digial camera at all, somewhere on the side there should be an opening to connect a cable from your camera to your computer. Once youhave that cable hooked up, it’s simply a matter of copying the pictures over to your computer, and then sharing with us! 🙂 If this isn’t helpful, you can send me a note on my deviantArt site, if you like; I posted a link with this message.
Hugz!
Mellissalynn
Hello! I’m also 77. These were taken where I work on New Year’s Day.
I got wonderful compliments on this ensemble and got to wear my new red heels that took me so long to find in my size.
I like what the 5 tips said they are so true(the angle you take pics of self,soft lighting,camera angle high, avoid the hot sun bright sun , relax you body hang loose, shoot shoulders not straight or you see square man look and something you have to rememberas you dress and try and look femminine wether you are tv/cd/shemale or a post op girl/gurl
Hi Lucille! here is one of my pictures please let me know how to improve the immage. ON this picture I have no makeup on only lipstick. I am 77 years old and I do not know how to apply makeup. since last year when I first noticed you on the web I enjoyed every comment you ever made along with the books and information of how to be feminine. BEST REGARDS M.M.