Slimmer?
 

Michele,

Are there a couple of basic techniques to make a full-faced subject appear a little slimmer? Or is it the kind of thing that will take lots of experience, etc. . .

Any hints would be very much appreciated. In my last batch of photos of a 19-year old, she was concerned about looking 'fat'.

Thank you!

Barbara, I think in the instance of the cute little girl in your portrait, it must be the mom who is feeling the child is chubby, I think she's darling. Young children are supposed to have baby fat!

Joan

The various lighting techniques are a bit hard to explain in writing without images. Generally, to make a face look slimmer you want the lighting set up so that the side of the nose facing the camera (in a 3/4 shot) is in shadow. Frontal, symmetrical poses and frontal flat lighting can make faces look fatter.

I highly recommend checking out a couple of portrait photography books from the library or ordering some of the ones recommended in Cynthia's book list on this site. Unless an artist has the luxury of working only from life, mastering portrait photography (and especially lighting) is essential, in my opinion.

Thank you
 

Thank you Michele!

Joan

Thank you Leslie, Michele and Joan.

Leslie. As you will see in the new image I have taken note of all your advice and worked more on Taline, I was a little nervous about putting too much reflected light on the side of her face and under her chin because I didn't want to overemphasise her puppy fat too much. Thank you for pointing out the error in her hairline, I really had not noticed that at all and I think that it has made quite a difference as to the fullness of her face.

I have come to now realise that most of the problems that I had were because of my trying to 'slim' her down, it doesn't work and I learned the hard way. I was so intent on carrying out the parent's wishes to slim her down that I completely overlooked some of the differences that were staring me in the face!

Thank you everybody for looking and helping me out on what has proved to be quite a difficult portrait. I will never agree to make major adjustments to photographs again, if you consider what I am charging for it , which is peanuts by the way, I have worked for way below the UK National minimum wage ;C

Take care.

Barbara