However, every woman is beautiful. I really believe that.
Almost everyone that books a session with me expresses some sort of concern. I hear everything from "I'm a little older than your normal client" to "I have a plus size body, is that okay?" and even "Do you shoot girls that don't look like models?". My answer is that my "normal" clients are, well... normal! Every woman deserves to feel confident and comfortable enough to book a boudoir session. We all come in different shapes and sizes, we all have different personalities and attitudes, and that is something to celebrate. The media force feeds us a one-size-fits-all idea of beauty and that is absolute nonsense!
Ok, now that I have said my piece I wanted to put together a little guide to Plus Size Sexiness...
1. Pick lingerie that flatters you
Really this tip is for everyone. Lingerie that fits and makes you look good can do wonders for your self esteem as well as for your figure.
Be honest with yourself about your flaws and your assets (this does not mean to be hard on yourself). Try on everything in a full length mirror. Look at all angles.
Fortunately plus sized lingerie is not hard to find.
There is a fabulous website called Hips and Curves that caters especially to girls with... hips and curves :)
Their website is laid out beautifully and they carry high quality shapeware and the typical lingerie you would expect as well as costumes and accessories.
My personal recommendations are to stay away from stretchy cottons. Pick lingerie that either has structure or that is silky and that will flow over your curves. Don't buy items that are too small! They will press into your skin and create unnecessary creases. If you want to wear thigh high stockings get the kind that DO NOT stay up by themselves, they squeeze your leg and cause bulges. This happens to even the thinnest girls because of where the top of the stockings hit! Get the type with wide lace and a garter belt. As a bonus, garter belts flatter everyone. Just make sure it's not too tight!
My personal faves are baby doll slips (these show off cleavage and have lots of coverage in the midsection), corsets (well made corsets with boning will create a gorgeous hourglass figure on anyone), push up bras (just because you don't need padding doesn't mean you don't need lift and shaping) and little black dresses (there are so many options, try one with an empire waist and a low neckline).
2. Pose to flatter
Posing (and lighting) can make all the difference. Poses that stretch and twist your body will help you look leaner. Not every pose will work for everyone. Sometimes we will try things that won't work. It's not a big deal, we'll try something else. Boudoir photography requires a lot of experimenting. There are a lot of tricks like turning so you aren't square to the camera and putting your weight on your back leg that really help a lot. Check out this blog post:
The Skinny on Looking Skinny
3. Be Confident
Nothing is more sexy than a confident woman! I can't stress this enough. Ask any guy, it's true. Insecurity is not sexy. Don't compare yourself to other women, that's counter-productive. Think about the things you like about yourself. Pamper yourself from time to time. You deserve it!
