Plus-size bride that hates having pictures taken...

Well Richard's a guy so.....

I feel ya girl! After doing our e-pics I am on a diet to loose this "I'm in love weight" I put on. But a trick I do is stretch your neck up then point your chin down it helps with the double chin. But practice before hand so you don't look silly. I have no advice for arms.

Charisa- If you read OP remark, it had nothing to do with weight shaming. She is criticizing the community as a whole. Based on the fact someone didn't like her terminology in another thread. Nothing to do with weight here, so chill.

From, Plus sized women who understands.

I don't think OP was snarky at all, her comment was no negative fat-shaming terms. Unless there was something I missed in the edit.

Anyway OP, I 100% disagree with the PP about no head-on shots. I am by far my widest and biggest looking in all my 3/4 turned shots. Head-on looks the best by far for me, and as some PP have posted, they look amazing in their head-on shots. It's true though, try to remember to do chin out a little, shoulders back (like good posture, since we all tend to slump), and don't press your arms against your sides.

I still HATE the photos of me that I just saw from my friend's wedding, but I have to say, every single plus-size bride that posts her photos looks gorgeous. I never think "oh gross her arms are so fat" but that's one of the first things I see on myself. You will look AMAZING, and happy, and glowing, that part is true. We're truly our own worst critics (see my earlier post about boleros so I can cover my chubby arms lol).

@AMW she edited her post. But the no negativity about her "word choice" is still in her post and pretty much still uncalled for.

Like I said, there are lots of plus-sized brides on this site. You're bringing negativity to yourself by calling yourself those things (we didn't) - none of which I think are bad except maybe fat and overweight. YOU are the one using poor word choices. Anyway, I hate to beat a dead horse so I'll stop but one last thing:

Have you ever tried calling yourself a beautiful, full-figured woman?

Going to go ahead and mention that I just read through your post about the best arm exercises to tone up for the big day. Literally no one was cruel. A couple people snarked on you calling it "wedding arms." But nothing so cruel and negative that it could be compared to body shaming (which I have NEVER seen on WW. Snarkiness and nitpicking of verbiage maybe. But never would anyone on here make someone feel bad about their body. Ever).

Now, to answer your question, keeping your chin out and not resting your arms against your sides gives a slimming effect in photos. And any photographer worth their snuff should be able to pose you and capture you in the best possible ways. Regardless, don't worry about this on your wedding day. Don't ruin your day with negative thoughts about your body. Every bride is beautiful on their wedding day, because it's about love. ETA: I think there are contouring techniques your MUA can do for your chin as well.

@GymRat

Holy AG and Mandi those are beautiful photos! OP, the photographer can help you pose too. You'll be beautiful.

You are going to be beautiful no matter what! I'm quite curvy as well (5'1"-180lbs), and I hate my double chin. I was told to press my tongue against the roof of my mouth to reduce my double chin when I smile. It seemed to work pretty well! I wouldn't worry about it too much, though! You will be a beautiful bride, and everything will work out wonderfully! Just smile and enjoy your special day!

From one plus size girl to another I understand that it is a hard road to accepting your body but you will be beautiful on your wedding day.

I only recently allowed myself to accept my fat body. Its so freeing to be able to sport my crop top out and rock my bikini by the pool and not give a damn

and its always a confidence booster when FH looks at me and gets an instant hard on LOL

I truly advise you to look at yourself through the eyes of your partner. you may see flaws but i bet he doesnt notice it at all

Whoa a little late to this thread but as a women who as been both super super fit and now overweight and plus size I don't take offense even if someone says something snarky. I literally was once only 5'4 135 and now and 200lbs. OWN who you are at that moment. Your pictures should come out fine. If this was a concern during planning you probably picked a photographer that knows how to angle you anyways. If not google plus size models and pose like them. But as a person that has been both sizes and currently at the big size and wanting to be about 50lbs light come my wedding day, to me you didn't really try that hard if you didn't lose any weight or you didn't really want too, which is fine. I encourage people to own who they are no matter what. At the end of the day its about what you eat, your mindset and if your moving enough. Weight aside your FH loves you anyways. That is why he proposed to the way you are now.....he will think your beautiful no matter what. OWN it rock it and enjoy your wedding day.

ETA:WORDS

Hi FroggieGirl. I would talk with your photographer. I, myself, would appreciate the candor regarding your concern. There are posing techniques photographers use all the time for everyone but having your concerns addressed up front will allow the photographer to think ahead and be more selective with poses and angles so that you can truly relax, not worry and enjoy your day.

Best wishes!

First of all, takes a deep breath. Photographers know all sorts of posing techniques to give you your best angle, and surprisingly their lens choices can also slim you (So if you are practicing in a mirror, realize that what the lens sees isn't always what the mirror shows you).

I am a size 24, and a photographer- I promise you that no matter your size, you can look beautiful!!

A few tips, the biggest thing I can say is to relax and breath. Trying to suck it in and hold your breath always makes your face look strained. Ask the photographer for a moment to take a few deep breathes, roll your shoulders back and straighten your spine (imagine a string on the crown of your head pulling you towards the sky). Deep breath to relax your face, shoulders back lengthens the neck and displays the collarbone, and straight spine pulls in the lower abdomen and lifts the ribcage to bring in the waist.

Now, giving your body a little twist (Torso towards the lens and hips/legs angled slightly) will give feminine curve. Take it a step further by slightly (and I mean SLIGHTLY) tilting the upper part of your hips forward will lift the bum and smooth the lower abdomen.

Arms- keep them loose and slightly out from the body. Not like a bird trying to fly, but enough that the heaviest part of your arm isn't pressed against your side (which causes strange bulges and adds weight). Sometimes it helps to hold the bouquet a few inches (2-3) in front of you rather than against you.

And tell your photographer your concerns so she can help pose you. And though poses may feel awkward, remember the lens will slightly distort things and she will be using that distortion to make you look your best. So sometimes a pose is not flattering in real life, but through the lense its breathtaking.

Chin down off to side is my fav trick

My best advice - shake that negativity off, embrace the happiness of the event, embrace your beauty (beauty is not a size). It will show through every photo, I promise

It was rude to imply people would body shame you or snark about that. I'm a big girl- over 200 lbs at the moment but working on getting healthier. No one on this site has ever made me feel bad about myself in the looks department (or any other department, really) or any other bride/groom for that matter. Other posters have encouraged me, encouraged others, and pushed each other to reach their goals. Whole threads were created for that purpose. Earlier today on a thread, I nicely asked someone to remove a comment that I found offensive and considered fat-shaming. You know what she did? She edited it. No fuss. Most people don't want to purposely hurt other's feelings.

Every person has their own version of beauty and I think the WW community has a healthy respect for that. Your comments make it seem like you have a lot of resentment or anger towards yourself. The only person stopping you from being happy with what you see in photos, full-figured or skinny, is you.

Anyway, my advice is to let your photographer know your concerns and allow their expertise to guide you. As far as the rest of it, you need to accept what you will look like to yourself in your wedding photos because you admittedly didn't do anything to change it. Your groom obviously finds you amazingly beautiful and attractive how you are today. Focus on that.

ETA correction

Chin out & angle your face. And smile, always smile.

You'll be glowing regardless, just keep your mind on the fact that cameras will be everywhere, and somehow, you'll look great in all of them!

Juts want to add, you will not like every single photo of you. But even a thinner bride would not like every photo ever taken of her. Be kind to yourself and appreciate the ones you do like and the photos where you look happy and in love!

Making a < with your arms is very flattering- it makes your arms look slimmer and also your waist. When your arms are down by your side, it all blends together and appears bigger to the eye than you are. Holding a bouquet is fabulous for getting this flattering pose! Stand up straight- chin down, roll your shoulders back, twist your upper torso so that your shoulders aren't square on but angled at the photographer. It makes everyone look like a million bucks! I was a college cheerleader and we spent a lot of time posing for pictures, so I've got this pose down pat lol. Practice in a mirror!

In my opinion, I don’t like seeing women use those words to describe themselves. I have struggled with body image issues and it’s taken a lot of time to “unlearn” the very negative self-talk that women do.

A lot of women say they are fat. “Im fat” is how you described yourself. You have fat on your body, everyone does (and some more than others and that’s okay too!), but you are not “fat”. You may have freckles or moles on your body but nobody ever says “Im freckles” or “Im moles”. You may have fat, moles and freckles on your body, but that’s not ALL of who you are, its a small part of the package that makes up your beautiful self!

And actors say that once they get in costume, they feel much more “in character”. I feel like the same with be true for your wedding day. Once you are all done up and you feel happy and beautiful, it will be only natural for you to look happy and beautiful too!