How to Take Photos to Make You Look Thin

For the Subject

• 1

  Turn your body at a 45-degree angle to the camera. This will prevent your broadside from being photographed and will make your frame appear more narrow.

• 2

  Place one of your feet directly in front of the other. Extend the front foot's toe a bit to elongate the appearance of your leg. The slight crossing of your leg makes your thighs and hips visually slimmer.

• 3

  Put one or both of your hands on your hips. This will make your shoulders appear less round. Additionally, when your arms are pressed to your sides, it broadens the appearance of "arm flab."

• 4

  Push your head and neck slightly forward but not so much that it looks unnatural. This will stretch the skin on your face an help decrease roundness and wrinkles. Tilt your chin slightly downwards to hide the appearance of a double chin.

For the Photographer

• 5

  Use a low focal length lens. Wide angle lenses tend to make the subject appear wider. A 55mm lens is a good starting point; anything smaller will work even better.

• 6

  Set up a short lighting arrangement. Place your main light towards the subject's face then take the photograph of the side of your subject that is in shadows.

• 7

  Stand on a chair to raise yourself slightly higher than your subject. Ask them to glance upwards towards you and push their chin out slightly. Make sure that you are not so high above the subject that it is obvious the shot was taken from above.

• 8

  Take a photograph using a flash when outdoors, even in full daylight. The bright front-end light will help reduce puffiness in the face.