Take Better Pictures!

For many of us, photographs are a big part of the transgendered experience.  Just about everyone has a portfolio online these days, whether it be here at TGForum, or somewhere else.  But, it’s not a new phenomenon.  Even before the Internet came along, we all had stacks and stacks of photos shoved away in a shoebox somewhere, brought out to soothe the soul when we couldn’t dress, and for self-critiquing.

Digital cameras have all but rendered the film camera obsolete.  And there are a plethora of photo editing programs so anyone can tweak their shots, and hopefully improve them.  Software, like Photoshop, can turn just about any snapshot into a masterpiece.

Yet, as I cruise around online, I see bad photos in abundance.  What’s the deal-e-o?  Quite simply, Photoshop ain’t cheap, and similar programs can be confusing, with all the options they offer.  However, there are some simple tips that will improve just about any picture, and they’re simple enough that any Luddite can use them.

1. Clean your room!

Your hair and makeup may be perfect.  Your dress and your shoes may be ideal.  And your pose may be sexy as all get out.  But, if you’re standing in front of a mess, the photo isn’t going to be as good as it can be.  Case in point:

  It looks like a crossdresser exploded.  No-one wants to see your dirty knickers.  And trust me, you don’t want people thinking you’re a slob.

Before you even put on the paint, tidy up!  And, preferably find a corner with little clutter to be your backdrop.  Knick-knacks and props are fine, as long as they’re clean.  However, you want the viewer’s eye to be drawn to you, not to a busy background.

Professional models typically have a big white piece of paper to stand in front of.  Those can be pricey, and difficult to hang and store.   So, for the budget-minded, hang up a clean sheet, or blanket.  Ideally, it should be a single color.  Bedsheets with patterns are busy and distracting, and more importantly, they scream, “It’s a bedsheet!”  You want people thinking about you when they see the photo, not what’s behind you.

2.  Get the crops in!

This is a personal pet peeve of mine.  You’ll see a beautiful T-girl, but, she seems to be a mile away from the camera.  And meanwhile, you can see the couch, the ceiling fan, a china cabinet, and the lamp plug.  Once again, it’s busy and distracting.

Yet, it doesn’t have to be that way.  Using the most rudimentary photo editing program, like MS paint, you can crop, or cut, all that clutter out of the picture.

Before

After

See the difference?   It’s not perfect, but it’s better.

And a photo doesn’t always have to be symmetrical.  Look at the first photo posted here: The subject, (me), is slightly off to one side.  Kinda makes you wonder what the model is looking at, doesn’t it?

3.  Get away from the door!

Doorway, or Portal to Hell?

What is it about T-girls and doors?  Everyone has a photo of themselves in front of a door, it seems.  Is it that we’re symbolizing a desire to get out?  Is it demonstrating the repression of a society that doesn’t approve of men wanting to look pretty?  Or is it just that a door typically doesn’t have a lot of clutter in front of it?  Okay, good.  We’re learning something, even if we don’t realize it.

However, the problem with doors is that they offer a sense of scale.  This may not be a problem if you’re 5’3″, but if you’re tall like myself, standing next to a door, with heels just emphasizes the point that you’re not the average gal.  It’s an illusion destroyer.  And isn’t illusion what we’re trying to create with all the makeup, wigs, corsets and whatnot?

If you simply must stand in front of a door for a photo, try to set the camera up so that it’s looking down on you.  Then crop the top of the door out of the photo.  Doing that, and obscuring the knob and hinges will help disguise your true height by skewing the perspective of the door.  We all know how big a door is, because we see them all the time.  By hiding some of the visual clues of the door, we can trick the viewer into thinking the door is bigger than it really is, thus, making yourself seem smaller.

4.  Lights!

Play with light and shadow.  Try changing some of the settings on your camera.  Most digital cameras have different settings for daytime, and nighttime shooting.  Go back and forth, and take pictures without the flash.  (Although a word of caution, if you set the camera for nighttime photos, and turn off the flash, you’d better have enough light in the room, or you won’t see much of anything.  And be aware, nighttime shooting, and no flash essentially lengthens the time the shutter is open, so hold still, unless you want to be blurry.)  Experiment!  It doesn’t matter!  It’s digital!  You can junk the pictures you don’t like, keep the ones you do, and most importantly, you’ll learn what works.

5.  Mix it up!

Dare to be stupid

There are few things more annoying than looking at 500 photos of the same outfit, the same expression, and the same pose.   Go ahead and take 500 photos, but try something crazy.  In each picture, try a different expression.  Or a different pose.  Or change hair, and jewelry.  Don’t be afraid to sit funny, or lie on the ground.  Don’t just stand there!  Put on some music, and dance!  Position yourself into something that’s not very comfortable; often those poses produce the most striking photographs.

Alter where you’re looking.  Don’t just stare into the camera like a deer in the headlights.  Again, see the first photo.  Looking away from the camera creates a small sense of mystery, which in turn leads the viewer into creating a story about the picture.

6.  Props, where props are due!

Once again, go back to that first photo.  A coffee cup.  A prop can be something that simple.  I have some realistic-looking toy guns I like to use every now and then.  Hold a yardstick, and suddenly you’re looking more like a schoolteacher.  A suitcase and a cellphone add to the image of a high-powered executive.  Just be aware that the same rule that applies to doorways applies to props.  A normal sized coffee cup might look small in your hands, so see if you can find an extra-big mug for your photo.

Conclusion:

Your photos can be simple snapshots of you in a favorite dress.  Or they can be something bigger, better, more lasting.  Let them tell a story.  Even if that story isn’t true.  Once you’ve set the stage for the viewer to create a narrative, it’s no longer just a picture, it’s creeping into the territory of “art.”

Tags: featured, photos, pictures

Category: Transgender How To