How To Look Perfect In A Picture
As you can see in the photo below, I was a big ham when it came to having my photo taken. This little one knew how to look perfect in a picture.
Sadly, the older I got, the more self-conscious I became.ย
From not realizing my own beauty to stripping down for a boudoir session, I've come a long way!
This is my personal journey and the five lessons I learned for how to look perfect in aย picture.
How To Look Perfect In A Pictureย
Lesson #1 – Have Fun With The Camera!
While I've alwaysย been photogenic, I didn't realize how beautiful I amย until a friend took thisย perfect picture of me.
We were having an adult slumber party, margaritas in hand, and she somehow convinced me to do a little photoshoot.
I sharedย the photoย on Myspace (boy did I just date myself) and receivedย a bunch of comments.
People called me a word I wasn't used to hearing – gorgeous.ย
This photo boosted my confidence and helped me to see a side of myself I neverย embraced before. The unexpected bonus was that it alsoย helped me to feel even more confident having my picture taken!
Since that experience, I've been known to do funย impromptu photo shoots with friends and even my husband.
Lesson #2 – Hire A Photographer Who Makes You Feel Comfortable
Flash forward toย the summer of 2008 when I was meeting with my wedding photographer, Andrea Akins, two months before the big day.
I felt compelled to tell her Iย am plus size (I like to state the obvious).
As well as how I preferred to be photographed, “downward angles and try not to get too many photos where I have more than one chin.”
She smiled and saidย she'd take good care of me.
I trusted her and the photosย turned out amazing.
I looked perfect andย learned the importance of hiring a photographerย who makes me feelย comfortable.
#3ย –ย The Way You See Yourself In Photos Isn't The Same Way Others See You
By motherhood, I had joined everyone, including my mother, on Facebook.
My sister was stunned to see me posting photos that weren't just downward angles. I looked like “me” on Facebook and even had the occasional double chin.
I'm so thankful I looked down and saw what others could see – a perfect photo!
Speaking of that chin, when I first saw the photo below I immediately focused onย my faceย but then I looked down and saw my son.
When I was able to overlook my perceived flaw, Iย saw a photograph thatย beautifully captures the love between a mother andย child.
I shared this photo on Facebook and people were blown away.
No one said anything about that darn chin.
#4 – Don't Attempt To Do Anything You Don't Normally Do Before A Photo Shoot
I hired my friend, Jenna,ย from Jenna Rice Photography, to take family photos for my son's first birthday.
While I knew she'd make me feel comfortable, I was feeling insecure about my body. So, I had the “brilliant” idea thatย fake eyelashes wouldย make meย look amazing.
Upon applying the eyelashes I realized they were too long and needed a trim.
I'm sure you can guess where this story is headed.
As I was cutting myย hand slippedย and I cut off a chunk of my own eyelashes! My husbandย witnessed my complete and utter meltdown and tried to be supportive while holding back his laughter.
I called Jenna in a panic and she was soย sweet. We rescheduled the shoot due to my accident and some pending weather.
I was lucky! If the session hadn't been rescheduled I would've taken horrible photos because I didn't feel confident.
I now avoid doing any major or minorย cosmetic alterationsย (from getting my hair cut to doing my own eyelashes) before photoshoots.ย
I also pick out my outfit well in advance.
As you can see in the photos below, all I need to look perfectย is a smile!
Lesson #5 – Let Go!
By now Iย was confidentย being in front of the lens.
Photos of the “real me” were all over Facebook and framed within my home. I only hired professionals to apply fake eyelashes before photos shoots.ย
So, of course, the next logical step was to strip down for the camera!
Okay, that's not really what I had in mind but when a few of my friends were signing up for a boudoir photo shoot, with Acoma Street Photography,ย I did too.
I thought it would justย be a sexy Valentine's Day gift for my husband, but what it ended up being was a transformative experience for me.
I had to put all of my trust in the photographer'sย hands.
The act of letting go and feeling like aย model was so empowering!
Theย photos are stunning but the perfect experienceย is what stands out.
Perfection, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
Looking perfect in a picture is all about embracing the experience andย hiring a photographer you who makes you feel comfortable.
Stop focusing on your perceivedย flaws and let goย (with or without taking your clothes off)!
- Will My Baby Bump Show if I'm Overweight? - September 14, 2025
- Plus Size Maternity Pose Guide: 25+ Confidence-Boosting Poses - May 26, 2025
- Plus Size Pregnancy Confessions: We Listen and We Don't Judge - December 15, 2024
Those are some great pictures ๐
Thanks Katie!
you look amazing ๐ happy and comfortable and it shows
Awe! Thank you Felicia!
These photos are all really beautiful…what comes across most is your happiness, and that is way more beautiful than any supermodel.
I am so blown away by your photos. I am plus sized as well and tend to avoid the camera. Your so pretty.
I can completely relate to your feelings in this blog. I am too a plus size woman and I hate taking anything below my shoulders. I’ve gone from skinny, to big, to skinny and back to big again. I’ve been struggling for years with my weight now, and i recently learned a lot of it is from my medications I have to take. I’ve become depressed about it. I’m still putting off Christmas photo’s because I just don’t want to do it lol. Since being a part of your Facebook page I’ve learned that I am beautiful. Even though I might not yet be comfortable with showing it off, my husband tells me everyday that I’m beautiful. Thank you for inspiring woman Everywhere that they too can be beautiful!