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I want to talk about different ways that photographers take pictures of plus size people, bc I've been thinking about it a lot lately and I've noticed photogs tend to use three different shooting strategies: crop and hide, "flattering" angles, and embracing into the composition
The first, and my personal least favorite: crop and hide. The subject's body is often partially hidden behind scenery or other people to minimize them, and close up shots are cropped extremely specifically to avoid showing too many fat features, like large arms
Nude Carbon
Nude Carbon
I don't have a lot of personal examples of crop and hide bc I don't work with photogs that generally do this. The previous shots were the closest I could find, but they're from sets that have lots of photos that actually show my body
I've noticed this is prevalent in weddings and senior portraits, less cosplay bc there is the intention to show off a costume. Larger people than me are also significantly more likely to get cropped and hidden, and I recognize that I'm writing this from a smaller perspective
Secondly, and common in cosplay, is the "flattering" angles. Lots of shooting downwards, using angles to increase the size of the head proportionate to the body
Kitty Wolf Photography, Nude Carbon Studios
Kitty Wolf Photography, Nude Carbon Studios
These "flattering" angles are intended to make the subject look thinner and minimize or hide features like double chins, large stomachs, big arms, etc.
I have a personal vendetta against the idea of flattering anything, bc it works to minimize what society deems imperfections, which are often just simply facts of existing as a human, like signs of fat and aging.
Lastly, we have photos that embrace fatness into the composition. These not only let fat features be visible but actively work to make the lines and curves into an important part of the photo
@hello__dylan, Dumplingfox Cosplay Photography, Kitty Wolf Photography
@hello__dylan, Dumplingfox Cosplay Photography, Kitty Wolf Photography
It's about working to make the body a pleasing part of the image without forcing it to be skinny. See in the previous photos the roundness of my arm, the breadth of my shoulders, etc contributing to the composition. Here @hello__dylan highlights my face as soft and also beautiful
I think it takes a photog who has spent time and effort unlearning fatphobia and working on their art to take pictures like this. I find this style most prevalent in photos that are part of explicit body positive projects and some boudoir
These categories are not completely without overlap! Here's a shot taken at a flattering angle to minimize face roundness, where my stomach is not only visible but highlighted nicely by the light reflecting off the sequins of the dress
Nude Carbon Studios
Nude Carbon Studios
I want to quick point out that every single picture I used in this thread is a picture of myself that I love. I think it's cool to talk about composition and angles, and I think we need more frank, honest talk about photographing different types of bodies in this comminuty
Special shout out to @hello__dylan bc a lot of these thoughts were sparked by conversations we've had about photography
