You wanna take pictures of WHAT???

Welcome to the digital age. We now have the technology to take pictures of everything and post them on various sites for the world to see. We take pictures of our family, friends, food, the outdoors, things we find funny, etc. etc. Most of these pictures are taken by amateurs (my "I lack all artistic ability"self included) and some are not all that flattering. Lighting and angles are not always taken into account, which can result in the triple chin picture that always happens when taken from a low angle. Here are a couple tips I learned from a photog friend:


1. Chin down. Always.
2. Camera should be at a high angle.
3. Face the light.
4. Stop with the "duck face". YouTube that if you need to.
5. Bootie out, belly in, shoulders back.


Simple enough, right? You would think so.


So, I was chatting with a girlfriend the other day about my Bikini Comp training and the program designed by Stacey Cooper and she said she would never commit to a program like this because getting on stage in a bikini would never happen. She would never get on stage in her double dark, shiny, SHALACK and prance around in front of judges in a bikini and stripper heels. This girl is in AMAZING shape, but is also a little shy. I get it. It's not an everyday kind of activity and I sometimes doubt my own sanity when I really think about the events of the show I have registered for. Lots of ladies will be prancing around in their SHALACK, bikinis and heels to show off the hard work they have been doing for the last several months. I know.....

It's
Not
Normal


But, it is a goal to work towards.


We were talking about alternative goals to work towards and she mentioned a Boudoir photo shoot. Apparently, this super-shy girl did a Boudoir shoot for her husband before their wedding. She did the shoot with one female photographer in a studio with professional lighting and fun music. There were different chairs, walls with fabrics of different colors and textures and plenty of props to choose from. She brought her own lingerie and her 30 minute shoot resulted in 350 pictures, 50 of which she LOVED and made into a book for her husband.



She said it was all about lighting and angles and her husband LOVED them. High five, sister!


As women, we tend to obsess about our bodies. We weigh ourselves, monitor the fit of our clothing and chat with our girls about any weight gain or loss. That's just how we are and any marketing exec with a brain knows that as well. Ever take note of the commercials during shows on Lifetime??


I was thinking that my friend was a little odd for taking almost nude pictures for her husband, but then I also thought it was a really great way to capture the beauty of her amazing, pre-children body. It's important for women to feel beautiful and documenting that beauty for future viewing is a great idea. I got to see the pictures and they were artistic and beautiful.


If you are more on the normal side of the fence than I am and would rather stick needles in your eyeballs than prance around on stage in a bikini, consider an alternative fitness goal. Take professional photos, plan a weekend in Vegas, a girls' day at the spa or buy yourself a new pair of jeans. The goal can really be anything, but it should be something tangible and should have a definite deadline.


Does "I wanna lose 20 pounds by January" ever really work? Nope. There is no plan, no date and no reward. So, pick something super fun, get a specific plan, grab a buddy and get to work!


GOOD LUCK!!