Pictures en femme.

[Emma H.]

Taking pictures -- one of the ways to, of course, show who you are. But what happens when you're done taking them, and you're looking at how they turned out, and you're not so satisfied? What do you do?
Recently, I said I'd release an avatar for myself. So I'm wondering what are your secrets for taking pictures en femme?
Thank you

[Kiera]

oh thats an easy one if i take a few pics and i look at them and i dont like them....in the bin with them lol...but its amazing what picasa can do to plat round with them also..well we do wat we have to to see that girl we know is in there....

[Anthony Simon]

I don't have an avatar (nor any pics in the gallery) so I don't have an answer to this. Which is not to say that I haven't thought about it. So...

Recently they had the Olympics over here and the BBC broadcast from just outside the arena. They put their newcasters in front of a gigantic window looking out over it. The weatherforecasters (part of the news) got stuck out on a gangway in direct sunlight. These people, of course, have the vast resources of a big corporation to make them look good. But the fact was putting their broadcasters, particularly the women, in this sort of lighting played havoc with their appearance.

I well remember a couple of the weather girls, placed in the harsh, direct sunlight. It made complete mincemeat out of their makeup. The sort of result is very much like what I get when I stick myself in front of a camera en femme and take a photo using flash. That is you can see the basic face through the makeup - the makeup appearing obviously applied and incoherent. So lighting is absolutely key - and even professional makeup people working with GGs have problems with it.

Emma, you say you have GG friends who know about you and the CDing. Wouldn't a possible answer be to get them to take photos of you in outdoor (though not particularly harsh) lighting so they can move you around in it until they get a decent shot or two (always assuming your makeup is OK in the first place)?

[Carol Ann]

You know the old saying "the camera doesn't lie"
I am with Kiera as I use Picasa, but hon the truth be told we look like we are good or bad, so if you don't like it dump it and try another look.

[Arielle Enid]

So far women have told me: Shoulders up, head pointed down but eyes pointed up. If you have to look up turn your head to the either side and then look up at your target indirectly. Doing this also accentuates your eyes and makes them look "bigger" which is a very attractive trait in a woman. Males are more bold and look "proud and bold" so they would look up, stand tall and stare their target right in the eyes; whereas women are passive and calm so when looking up they slowly turn their head to the left or right while looking at their target indirectly. Doing this also hides your Adam's Apple (I don't have one that is really visible but most males do). Other male habits that are tough to shake when en femme are actions such as "clinched fists" (chill out, loose the tense level, relax those arms, open those hands) or "slouching" (Be a confident woman and lift those shoulders a little, after all you are proud of dressing up). Getting your nails done and hiding your shorter ring finger (most males have longer ring fingers/shorter index while females have longer index fingers/shorter ring combinations, fortunately for me my right hand has a longer index finger than ring) also help in getting the effeminate look we all want as well.

Stretch your head from side to side often, women have more fluid movements whereas men have more blocky/abrupt movements. This will give you better poise. You do not have to be a pro photographer but for anyone taking pictures lighting and the "rule of thirds" (knowing your point of view or target) can make or break a picture no matter how pretty you are. You can look in a mirror and see a pretty girl but you will be extremely disappointed when your pictures come out looking like a "man in a dress". These things can apply to both female and male, I have seen real girls that are beautiful in person look horrible in pictures due to poor lighting/targeting that exaggerates jawlines/facial hair (when in reality those features are not visible at all) which could make pictures come out undesirable. Hope this helps, oh yeah never be afraid to ask a woman to help you out with posing; unlike us, most (not all) were born with the gift of fluid movements and poise. Practice makes perfect; remember women do a lot of their communication through body language, how you carry yourself is everything. Good luck and have a lot of fun!

[Anna]

Hmm, interesting tips Arielle, thanks for that.

Sorry Emma, didn't mean to hijack!!!

[Michelle M]

I love Michelle Phan. She posted this video just a couple days ago on posing for photos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrC9eUwPIoo

[Paula G]

Secrets? ~ no secrets, just a digital camera with a delay, a tripod and lots and lots of shots. If I take enough I usually manage to get one or two that work. I find sitting shots are good as then the camera is shooting from above and I'm looking up at it, but basically just take enough shots and there is usually a good one in there somewhere.

[Janet Bern]

A few years ago I made an appointment with "Glamour Shots", a
national chain that are in Malls and asked if I could bring my clothes
and be made up for picture. I was amazed at how much fun the women and the
photographer had doing it as did I. It was very expensive though.

[Davita]

One of my GG buds and I have had that on our bucket list for years. The price has delayed us I have to admit.

I would love to see what I would look like having been perfectly made up and then have the picture "adjusted" to maximize the pretty and minimize the yuck. The closest I have to a glamour shot is a picture after a make over at the dept. store. It's just not the same.

Janet, thanks for sharing your experience; glad you had a wonderful time.

[Nell]

I took photography classes in college, but you can get one at your local art museum or school. They are great to teach beginners about composition, shows, etc. I use a Nikon for my work...with a 28 MM wide angle lens and zoom to 80. I would love one that zooms to 100+ , but I digress.
Buy yourself a cheap tripod at +/- $28 USD, aluminum, extending to +/- 5 feet high. They are light weight and collapsed will fit in a knapsack.
The good cameras have timer on them that gives you so many seconds to get inlace. If one shot is no good ..delete it. Take another shot.
Some times I will take 40 shots with different clothes or positions and find only 6 good shots.
Cheers..!