Gabbi Hall
People often say they admire my confidence. I’m telling you this, not to brag about how much I like myself, but to convey this: many, many women are on a journey of self-love and body positivity. (I definitely still am.) One of the best ways I have built up my confidence is through fashion and learning to accept myself–just as I am–in photos. It’s because of my own journey of self-acceptance that I want to share some photoshoot ideas and inspiration specifically for plus size women.
First, let’s get one thing straight.
There’s nothing wrong with looking fat in photos.
Repeat after me. “There’s nothing wrong with looking fat in photos.”
As SEO research for this blog, I Googled “plus size photoshoot ideas” and most of what I found made me kind of sad. In many ways, it’s a sign of how “fat” continues to be a bad, insulting word. A devaluing word. Frankly, that’s bullsh**. Your size does not define your value. It’s search results like these (just look at the video title) that makes me angry.
Okay, now I can step off my high horse and get to the good stuff: the plus size photoshoot inspiration.
Plus Size Photoshoot Idea #1: Birthday Celebration
For my 28th birthday, I treated myself to a photoshoot with Dani Rawson who was willing to wake up at the crack of dawn to capture some sparkle. The original idea for the shoot came from one of my favorite bloggers, @rachmartino, who takes birthday photos every year. The primary goal of the shoot was this shot with the big balloons, sparkles, and pure joy.
As seen on @RachMartino As seen on @HereGoesGabbi
You can view my other birthday photoshoot inspiration here and even check out one of the other looks inspired by Rachel.
Plus Size Photoshoot Idea #2: FaceTime Portraits
At the start of COVID-19 (which feels like a lifetime ago), photographers started to get extra creative. The incredible Lydia Hudgens started offering FaceTime photoshoots. Now, Lydia lives in New York, and I live in Nevada. Needless to say, FaceTime photoshoots were a great way to shoot with someone I had followed on Instagram for years. In just 45 minutes, we shot two looks. Pinterest was a lifesaver when collaborating from a distance because she could reference images and then instruct me on how to pose.
Photoshoot Look #1
As seen on a model As seen on @heregoesgabbi
Photoshoot Look #2
As seen on a model As seen on @heregoesgabbi
You can see my full FaceTime Photoshoot Inspiration board on Pinterest.
Plus Size Photoshoot Idea #2: Desert Drama
This photoshoot pushed me outside my comfort zone. It was more editorial style than I typically do as a fashion blogger on Instagram. I tend to stick to the usual photos and everyday plus size fashion. What I have learned about being in photos is that the outfits are important, but the movement and props make the photo. It’s the additional touches that make something special like mirrors or fabric or flowers.
Photoshoot Look #1
As seen on VSCO As seen on @HereGoesGabbi
Photoshoot Look #2
As seen on Jordi Koaltic As seen on @HereGoesGabbi
Photoshoot Look #3
As seen on Bohemian Diesel As seen on Here Goes Gabbi
Photoshoot Look #4
As seen on Pinterest As seen on Here Goes Gabbi
Photoshoot Look #5
As seen on Rihanna in Vogue As seen on Here Goes Gabbi
You can find all my desert photoshoot ideas and inspiration here.
Where Can I Find Other Plus Size Photoshoot Ideas and Inspiration?
I always start with Pinterest for photoshoot inspiration. Generally speaking, I have a rough idea of what I want to do in mind. For example, a birthday-themed shoot, a desert dream setting or FaceTime photoshoot portraits on a simple backdrop. Then, I start searching and creating a board.
The caveat to this is: There isn’t much plus size photoshoot inspiration on Pinterest, or rather, not much variety. The images are dominated by straight size women. The good news is: in my experience, a good pose, a good setting and a good vibe look amazing at any size.
What Are The Most Flattering Poses For Fat Women?
In simple terms: all poses. Of course, nothing is ever simple. The reality is that anyone can take an unflattering photo if they are caught at a wrong angle, in between poses or just making strange faces. I’d say 80% of my photos are not “flattering.” We tend to only share the highlight reel.
That said, there are a few things I’ve learned about posing and how to get more comfortable doing it.
- Practice posing in a mirror. Practice moving your face, your hands, your body. Figure out what you like. Experiment. Feel free to look “bad” because no one else will see it.
- Search Pinterest, TikTok and Instagram for pose ideas. There are so many tutorials out there. The poses make for a great starting point when you’re in front of the camera. Then, the trick is making them your own.
- Work with a photographer that gets your vision and understands plus size bodies. Check out their portfolio of work and see if they have photographed plus size women before. A great photographer gives great direction in my experience. A photoshoot is, ultimately, a team effort.
Surely, this blog post will be updated with more plus size photoshoot inspiration as I have it. If you’ve made it this far, I hope you found it useful. Until next time, here goes nothing.
