Tips & Poses for Flattering Plus Size Boudoir Photography

People of all body types and genders are turning to boudoir photography to boost their self-esteem, create a memory, or make an unforgettable anniversary present for their partners.

That said, every boudoir session is unique, and what helps you look and feel your best can vary from person to person.

If you’re new to boudoir photography or simply refreshing your style, these tips are designed specifically for plus-size boudoir sessions for women.

If you’re not ready to specialize yet and are looking for more general advice on this type of photography, we’ve got you covered! Check out our guide to boudoir photography for great tips to get started.

For now, let’s dive into the specifics of plus-size boudoir photography for women.

Whether you’re a plus-size model or a photographer, these curvy boudoir photography ideas will make your next photo shoot a huge success.

1. Effective Posing Can Help You Highlight Her Body Shape

Different body types have different needs. We all know this from our everyday lives: we buy an outfit that looked great in the catalogue but doesn’t look good on us, or something that looks great on you doesn’t quite work on your friend.

Plus-size boudoir poses play an essential role in capturing the essence of the subject’s beauty. Understanding and mastering how to pose your model can make all the difference.

These posing tips will help you whether you’re the model or the photographer – remember, working together gets the best results.

Pose 1: Full frontal

There’s no pose that conveys empowerment as much as a full frontal portrait. This is why it’s one of the best boudoir poses for plus-size women.

Most people posing guides will tell you to avoid having your body straight towards the camera because it makes you look ‘boxy’. However, body positivity shows us that you don’t need to look slimmer to be beautiful.

Step away from stereotypes and use this power pose to achieve beautiful plus-size boudoir portraits. It’s also a great look for pregnancy and maternity photoshoots.

Pose 2: Arching the back

This pose is vital for plus-size sexy poses, as it really highlights the curves.

Arching the back emphasises the booty, especially if the photo is taken from the side or from behind.

If the photo is being taken from the front or a side-frontal angle, this pose can highlight the chest.

Pose 3: Pop the hip

Popping the hip accentuates natural curves, making it an essential move for sexy boudoir plus-size poses.

As you stand, the weight should always be on one leg. This allows the hip to pop and highlight the natural curves; it also gives the other leg freedom to bend a little and look more natural.

Pose 4: Arms up

Hands and arms are always the most difficult body parts to pose.

For plus size boudoir photos, having the arms up works wonders to highlight the natural curves and make a balanced composition.

You can be standing, sitting, or crouching, with one arm flexed and the other extended. If you have long hair, you can play with it, etc. This is a very versatile posing tip.

Your plus-size boudoir model can be looking towards the camera, to the side or turned away – you have lots of options here.

You can also find some inspiration in our guide to bikini poses for swimsuit photoshoots.

Pose 5: Hands around the hips

Putting hands on the hips or around the waist draws attention to this area, which is very suggestive. It can be only one hand if you prefer.

Hands on the hips can also create a dominant or empowering posture.

You can also have the model grab their clothes if you want to give the hands something to do and make it a bit more flirty or playful.

Pose 6: Lying on your back with a crossed leg

This is a classic pose for boudoir photography. It requires the camera to look down at the plus-size model, either straight from the top or from the side at a high angle. This gives you the chance to show off the entire body.

The pose accentuates the body’s S-shape. You can set different moods by changing props or clothes to make the image sexier, naughtier, more feminine, playful, etc. – the facial expression is crucial for this.

Pose 7: On the side

Lying on the side can create a beautiful curve, perfectly capturing the subject’s allure. This pose pops the hip and slims the waist, creating a beautiful curve.

Your boudoir photo ideas can involve the model lying completely on her side or just from the waist down and having the torso upright – this can have the benefit of elongating any stretch marks on the exposed side of the body.

A mid-way variation can be lying on the side with the arm bent and the head resting on the hand. This pose is a nice one for pregnancy boudoir photos, too, with the hand resting on the belly.

Pose 8: Sitting on a couch or chair

This pose is great for a photoshoot or a plus-size boudoir selfie because you can frame and focus on the couch or chair, then take your place after you’ve set the camera timer.

You’ll also get the possibility to change locations – think about a high chair in the kitchen or the couch in the living room. Boudoir photos don’t always have to be in the bedroom.

For example, have you thought about doing the session outdoors? That’s also an interesting setting – just make sure it’s somewhere private so your plus-size client can relax completely.

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Pose 9: Looking over the shoulder

Here’s one of the classic boudoir photo ideas, plus size or otherwise.

In this pose, your model gives her back to the camera and then looks back over her shoulder. This can be a very enticing look, as if she’s inviting the viewer to follow her.

You can play with this pose a little more by asking the model to reach her arm and hand back toward the camera – this has been a trend in travel photos on Instagram, but why not incorporate it into your plus-size boudoir photos for some variety?

Pose 10: In the tub

Running out of plus-size boudoir ideas? Try this one!

Poses in the tub are great for plus-size models because they allow them to show only what they feel like showing. If you use bubbles, you can mask away any imperfections.

Try milk bath photography to add some artistic and creative boudoir photos to the mix.

2. Choose The Right Plus-Size Boudoir Outfits for Curvy Models

Wardrobe plays a pivotal role in plus-size photoshoots as it helps to set the mood of the session.

Boudoir photography is not the same as nude photography; you want your outfit to be more suggestive than explicit –  of course, it depends on the result you’re going for.

Here are some tips to choose the right wardrobe.

• Wear the right size – This might sound like a given, but you’d be surprised as to how many women use a bra that’s a bit small, let alone finding the right corset, garter or something you don’t normally wear. So, make sure you get the right size and try it on in advance – you should feel comfortable in it.
• Use things that highlight your favorite body parts – We all have parts of our body that we like more than others. You should choose outfits that accentuate those parts. If you like your cleavage, wear a V-neck; if you like your booty, wear a thong, and so on.
• Consider the ambience you want to create – You can shoot plus-size boudoir photos with different styles: feminine, playful, dark, etc. The wardrobe will help you create this mood. It’s not the same to wear an airy silk teddy as a black leather corset; the choice is yours.
• Choose a color palette – In general, solid colors work better for plus-size boudoir photos and are less distracting. Choose colors that are flattering for you. A professional photographer can give you some guidance and make sure the colors you choose look good on camera.
• Not all plus-size boudoir photography needs lingerie – Many things can make you look and feel sexy that aren’t necessarily undergarments. You can use a sheer shirt and jeans or your favorite cocktail dress – look online to get a wide range of plus-size boudoir photo ideas.
• Accessorize – Boudoir photos aren’t just about the wardrobe. Accessories also allow the model to cover or reveal body parts, putting them in control of the photo shoot.

3. Light Can Be Used In Your Favour

Lighting is essential in all boudoir photos because it helps set the mood and shape the body.

You can use light to draw attention to specific parts of the body and use shadows to ‘hide’ any parts you don’t feel comfortable with.

Natural light from the window usually provides soft and warm light that’s very flattering for female portraits. However, you can use a hard light with strong shadows if you’re after a dramatic look.

You can also use gels or alternative light sources to achieve creative effects. Check out our guide to photography lighting to see what would work best for your plus-size boudoir photos.

4. Understand The Person, Not Just The Body

Here’s an important part of any boudoir photo, plus-size or otherwise: understanding the totality of the person.

Understanding how to photograph a plus-size model is important as you need to choose the light, poses etc., according to the body type to achieve the best results.

However, it helps if you also understand the model’s motivation, personality, and expectations to make the best photoshoot.

Even if women are the most common clients for plus-size boudoir photography, it doesn’t mean that it’s exclusive to them. The poses, colors and ideas may vary according to your client’s gender.

Boudoir photos can be about empowerment, reinforcing a positive body image, immortalizing a special moment (bridal boudoir shoots, for example), showcasing tattoo art, or serving as an anniversary gift.

Each of these requires a different approach – communication with your client is key to understanding what they are looking for and how you can deliver.

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5. Composition Can Go A Long Way

Last but not least, the composition in plus-size boudoir photos is essential. Like any other photographic genre, plus-size boudoir photos need good photography composition.

Thanks to this, you can guide the viewer’s eye to wherever you want it to look. You can shift visual weight to different body parts, making your images more dynamic.

To achieve the best composition, you need to work with the props and the environment – not just the model’s pose. If you are using props such as flowers, pillows, or mirrors, arrange them to create a balanced composition that highlights the model’s features.

The choice of lens and crop is also key: especially when photographing couples boudoir, use composition rules to place them and create leading lines between them.

Close-ups are a fantastic way to highlight sexy details and create suggestive images. Using composition guidelines such as the rule of thirds, you can better frame and crop the image to make it more powerful.