The BIG Elephant In The Photography Studio
You can’t have a conversation about human photography without having a conversation about body image. YET, so many of us try to avoid the BIG elephant in the studio because we are afraid of offending others OR because we are so deeply conditioned to not even notice we are doing it.
So, today we are going to talk about “IT”.
Yes.
We are going to talk about
FAT
Fat and the ability to be photographed have somehow become mutually exclusive - as if one has something to do with the other.
And sometimes it’s not even ACTUAL fat, but rather the possibility of appearing fat that clashes with the ability to be photographed.
So, in this post I am going to address the common fears, concerns, and mindsets that contribute to this from the subjects’ perspective and then I am going to flip it and talk to this from the photographers’ perspective - because the fear of fat, existing as fat, looking fat, becoming fat, etc. affects LITERALLY everyone.
Let’s start with THE SUBJECTS.
If you are someone who is going to be IN FRONT OF the camera, this section is for you.
Have you ever said/thought the following before getting your photo taken?
“I need to lose X lbs before I do a photoshoot.”
“I need to cover up my….”
“I hope my arms don’t look flabby!”
“I hope they use ‘flattering’ angles…”
*COVERS UP TUM*
If so, chances are you are dancing with the BIG elephant in the studio.
So, as a professional photographer let me assure you:
-Whether you lose weight or not
-Whether you cover up your bits or not"
-Whether your arms look ‘flabby’ or not
-Whether the angles are ‘flattering’ or not
-Whether your tum is covered or not
YOU. ARE. WORTHY. OF. BEING. PHOTOGRAPHED.
Unlike rides at the fair, photography will not reject you for existing in a body over a certain size.
There is no magical number for you to be worthy of gracing the camera.
There is no “before” and “after” weightloss - there is only now and now is worthy of being documented because YOU are the same person regardless of what your body does or does not look like.
“Well, I just don’t like the way I look right now!”
Totally fair, but I promise you in 10-15 years you are going to forget WHY you don’t like the way you look right now AND after you have left this Earth, someone is going to find your photos and just be glad you are their link to the past.
Photography itself is a great equalizer - it’s only job is to capture moments in time.
If you experience a moment - you are eligible to be photographed.
If you exist in any way shape or form and are capable of reflecting photons (if you are reading this, you can) - you are eligible to be photographed.
YOU. ARE. ELIGIBLE. TO. BE. PHOTOGRAPHED.
“But what if I look FAT in my photos?”
What if you do?
What does it mean?
What does that represent?
Does the fatness take away from the fact that you did an amazing thing?
The reality is, you MIGHT look fat in your photos.
As a FAT person, I ALWAYS look FAT in my photos.
AND I look powerful.
AND I look sexy.
AND I look strong.
AND I look confident.
AND I had fun.
AND I felt empowered.
AND I did something scary.
AND I found things out about myself I never knew before.
Your photos are valuable
Whether or not you appear FAT in your photos
- you’ve just been taught otherwise.
The real question is:
“Would I rather look fat or not have existed at all?”
Now, PHOTOGRAPHERS. We need to chat.
Perhaps you got into this because you love photography as an art form, perhaps you love long lines and curves, maybe it’s because you like darkness and light and capturing exactly what you see. Regardless of why you got into photography, if you are photographing humans you need to understand that how you think about bodies (yours AND others) DOES impact your work.
“Oh, I love ALL bodies! ALL bodies are beautiful!”
Super, I’m glad you agree.
Now, does this include yours?
How you think about FAT bodies outside of the studio, informs how you interact within them inside of it.
The amount of times that I have had photographers express FEAR around working with bodies “over a size 16” (whatever the fuck that looks like) or frankly, bodies that look like mine.
But this isn’t about me.
This is about your job as a PROFESSIONAL photographer.
Are you watching shows on TLC that stereotype fat bodies for you to feel better about yourself?
What kind of message do you think that sends to you about fat bodies? Yours or others?
Are you sharing memes and gifs that joke about “getting your bikini body” or “me during Covid”?
What effect do you think that has on your clients that share those body types?
Now, don’t worry. I totally get it - body image/fatismia (previously known as fatphobia) is complex and difficult.
However, if you are desiring to help empower ALL clients and you are using marketing verbiage like “body positive” or “inclusive” then you need to consider your actions in and out of the studio.
Here are some handy steps you can take to improve your relationship with the BIG elephant:
Go through your work and ask questions about your posing, lighting, editing and shooting choices.
Why am I shooting from a higher angle for this client as opposed to that client?
Why did I opt for this pose over another?
What did I do with the lighting here?
Was it to “flatter”?
How do I define “flattering”?
Why did I think certain parts would be “better” if I smoothed them out?
Be honest with yourself about your findings. It’s imperative that we adopt a mindset of curiosity over judgement.
2. Start filling your newsfeed with diverse bodies living their best lives
Start by following a few of my favorites:
@shooglet
@lindobacon
@sonyareneetaylor
@mynameisjessamyn
@ashleighchubbybunny
@arti.speaks
@everybodieseducation
@sofiehagendk
@virgietovar
@themilitantbaker
@beauty_redefined
By consuming positive content about fat bodies, it will start to even out the unfair advantage of the negative stereotypes we have been force fed since we were babies. Over time this will help you to TRULY see the beauty in body diversity AND gain an understanding that fat people CAN be healthy, fat people CAN be successful, fat people CAN be strong, smart, empowered, confident, joyful, intelligent, etc.
3. Being mindful of your talk (both internal and external)
You can’t change something you know nothing about, so it is imperative that you face the reality of your own contribution to FAT stigma.
When you put on pants and they feel tight - what is your internal dialogue?
When you replay that experience to your friend - what is your external dialogue?
When you step on the scale, what determines whether your day will be good or bad?
Do you HAVE a scale, knowing that it wields a huge power over your emotions?
When you see a stretchmark, a roll or cellulite - what is the narrative surrounding those?
What you say extends beyond you to the people around you and the humans in your home.
The thoughts you have about your own body, ultimately will play a huge part in the assumptions you make about other people and we see it every day:
”How do I pose someone who is a size 18?”
hint: in the way that they want to be posed
”I have a plus size person coming in, how do I adapt my posing?”
hint: you ask ANY client of ANY size what their limitations are
”I don’t want my client to feel self conscious about her arms, how do I….?”
hint: did she explicitly tell you to worry about her arms? No? Then this isn’t a concern you should have.
”I am worried she won’t like these photos because of her tum….”
hint: just because YOU don’t like your tum, doesn’t mean a bigger person doesn’t like theirs
The media is doing a good enough job of wiring our minds to associate FAT with BAD, do you really want to be complicit in continuing this cycle?
