Photographing The Big Beautiful Teen

[Benji]

The BBT. We all have them and not only do we want to take off 15 + pounds off of their frame, they want us to do it also. They most likely will not come out and say to you "I want to look 15 pounds lighter," or, "make me look skinny" but they ARE hoping you have the skills to do it. In the image below I did several things to make her appear thinner. First of all in my clothing consultation I told her to bring along LONG SLEEVED CLOTHING. I told her short sleeves will add 15 pounds to a head shot. Everything she brought along was long sleeved!

Before I posed her I first placed the prop that she was to be seated in at a 45 degree angle to the background and the camera position, that way when she sat on it SHE also was at a 45 degree angle. This is the first thing I do and already I've taken off several pounds. Then I had her "sit tall." A subject that is slumped over will look ten pounds heavier. Again she "lost" several pounds. Then I had her lean "over the belt buckle" in order to stretch out her torso, a couple more pounds won't show now. I then placed the main light where it would give me short lighting. Short lighting will slenderize any one's face and "take off" several pounds. Short lighting is where the shadow of the main light is on the side of the face closest to the camera. I also used a rather strong lighting ratio of main to fill to darken this shadow even more and that "took off" several more. Lastly, I used the 1-3-2 technique (because she is a female) and made the capture.

Benji

[AlbertP]

I look forward to your tutorials. Greatest thing on the web!

[Stormdancing]

Very good advice. Keep em coming. I appreciate the work you put into explaining your techniques.
I'm sure this young lady loved her pictures.

[Song4themoon]

Great advice and great shot!

[Bobj616]

Thanks for the explanation. I have used all these techniques before but you explain then a lot better than I ever could. Bob

[fantasiesimage]

would have been a nice touch to add a kicker behind her left...

[Benji]

"would have been a nice touch to add a kicker behind her left..."

Yup, it would have. I didn't think about it until it was too late. Thanks.

Benji

[Kevin2]

Benji, what is the "1-3-2 technique"?

Thanks, Kevin

[Max@Home]

Hi Kevin2,

The 1-3-2 technique is explained in the 'Tutorial' subboard right under 'Portraits & People' :

http://www.photocamel.com/index.php/topic,15099.0.html

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[tonypeckman]

I was a little thrown by the switching of the 2 & 3. It says "1-3-2" method instead of his other tutorial "1-2-3". Maybe I'm anal (I'm a procedure writer for an aerospace company, so very detailed), but I thought maybe there was something different to do.
I love this site!

[Victor]

re Adding a Kicker
This is a question, not an argument. Wouldn't adding a kicker reduce the slenderizing effect of the shadow on her left?

[Benji]

Vic,

If I would have remembered to add a kicker light it would have been snooted so that it would have ONLY illuminated her dark hair and nothing else. That way the short lighting on her face would be unaffected.

Benji

[kieranmullen]

it seems a bit dark on the right side. Was this done on purpose?

KieranMullen

[Benji]

Originally Posted by kieranmullen

it seems a bit dark on the right side. Was this done on purpose?

KieranMullen

Yes. Dark shadows will make the face appear narrower because we tend to look at the bright areas of skin and at the same time tend not to look at the dark areas.

Benji

[Forrest]

Great explanation - this is a lot I need to keep in mind. I've been doing more and more portraits lately and I'm sure your advice will come in very handy. Thanks for it.

I can't see a photo, though? Would be very interested to see the way the techniques you've described work together.

[AlexisG]

Very good tips. I love your explanations.

[AlexisG]

Very nice shot too. I am sure she loved it.

[rossken]

Thanks

That was well explained. Except... what is the 1-3-2 technique?

Cheers
Ross

[rossken]

I just saw the previous explanation of 1-3-2.

Ross

[Fusion]

Good image, well shot and lit, it achieves what it sets out to do show a less than skinny girl in a good light. Good eye contact. Was she pleased with the image ?? Ian