Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, we are officially in full-swing summer mode! That means… beach, bikini, and bronze, stat.
Yours truly got a bit of a head start in Turks and Caicos, so that should theoretically tie me over through the rest of summer. That said, it still means a whole lot of pressure to eat well, exercise, and look your best in that teeny weeny bikini you’ve been meaning to pull out of your dresser (you know, the one that’s stuffed all the way in the back).
Having had a baby nearly nine months ago, I can definitely say that I am not in the best bikini shape (though I’m slowly getting closer). That said, just because your body is still a work in progress (like mine) doesn’t mean you can’t take a slamming photo in a bathing suit. Like anything else in life – it’s all about practice, practice, practice (and knowing your best angles).
Without further ado, below are some tricks of the trade I’ve picked up from my time gallivanting on beaches over the years – read on and I hope they help! Consider this a swimsuit "cheat-sheet."
1) Perk your little bum up (facing the camera), turn, and smile. This always works because you’re effectively forcing your body to do a gazelle-like tilt. It’s slimming not only because it’s a sideways gaze, but also because you’re not presenting your stomach directly to the camera. The added benefit is that your arms will look thin as well.
2) Lie down flat on your back, and then gently lift your head as though you’re doing a stretch. This should be a no-brainer, your stomach always looks flatter when you’re on your back, and leaning up slightly (but still stretching your core) will make for a flattering photo. Where possible, also stretch one leg out and tilt the other so as to create further dimension.
3) Where possible, take some “action” bikini shots. It’s just a fact of life; some folks are not comfortable in front of the camera. Period. The more you ask them to pose, the tenser they become and the further you get from a nice bikini shot (or a good photo of any kind). Self-awareness, or rather, a lack thereof, is really your bff when it comes to swimsuit-shoots. Trust me, most of my favorite photos stem from movement shots.
4) Relax your shoulders, drop your arms, and turn sideways. Yes we all know that holding your arms to your waist creates the illusion of thinner arms, but what I’ve discovered is that if you just relax your shoulders, and turn away from the camera ever so slightly, you can make an equally flattering impact (without coming across as too affected). This strategy is very similar to rule #1, but in this case what you’re really showcasing is your lean side-ways torso, as opposed to your booty.
5) When all else fails -- lie on your tummy, lift your head up, and again, perk up that bottom! I’m not bootylicious like Beyoncé, so I could use all the help possible in this case. That said, I do love this pose – it’s freeing, easy, and comes across very nicely in photos. I first discovered it while posing on a boat in Cartagena and when given the opportunity, well – you know I just can't resist reprising that role!
So sit back, enjoy, and above all – embrace yourself! If you don’t own your body and your smile, then nine times out of ten your photos will simply come across as awkward and lackluster (and who wants a photo-bomb?). Really, you'd gone through all that trouble of planning a getaway and putting on a bathing suit, so why not look good in it?
My general rule of thumb is – greet the camera the way you’d welcome a dear friend, or better yet, an enthusiastic lover!!
I hope these tips will help and serve you well throughout the summer and pllease don’t forget to send me some of your bikini shots.
In the meantime... happy posing my prettykins!!!
