Expert Verified

Daniel Hughes — Reviewed writer, former magazine editor

Approved Guide

How to Handle Look Thinner in Photographs Step by Step

When look thinner in photographs leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.

Link copied to clipboard!

Part 1

Dressing Thinner

Mix baggier clothes with snugger ones to make a proportioned outfit.

If you’re wearing wide-cut pants, pair them with a snug top. Or, wear a shorter skirt with a looser top tucked in. Wearing all tight clothes can highlight areas you may not want to draw attention to, while all baggy clothes can make you look fuller everywhere.

If you’re wearing wide-cut pants, pair them with a snug top.
Or, wear a shorter skirt with a looser top tucked in.
Wearing all tight clothes can highlight areas you may not want to draw attention to, while all baggy clothes can make you look fuller everywhere.
If you’re wearing wide-cut pants, pair them with a snug top.
Or, wear a shorter skirt with a looser top tucked in.

Wear a belt to accentuate an hourglass shape.

Natalie Tincher Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist Expert Interview If your waist is the narrowest part of your torso, a belt will accentuate its slimness. Make sure the belt is in proportion with your overall stature—if you're taller, choose a wider belt, or wear a more narrow belt if you're shorter.

Natalie Tincher Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist Expert Interview If your waist is the narrowest part of your torso, a belt will accentuate its slimness.
Make sure the belt is in proportion with your overall stature—if you're taller, choose a wider belt, or wear a more narrow belt if you're shorter.
Natalie Tincher Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist Expert Interview If your waist is the narrowest part of your torso, a belt will accentuate its slimness.
Make sure the belt is in proportion with your overall stature—if you're taller, choose a wider belt, or wear a more narrow belt if you're shorter.
Natalie Tincher Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist Expert Interview If your waist is the narrowest part of your torso, a belt will accentuate its slimness.

Wear flat-fronted, straight-leg pants to lengthen your leg line.

Try to avoid pants that are pleated in the front, because they tend to add bulk to your waist area. Pants that fall straight from your hips will create the illusion of a longer, leaner leg.slightly stretchy, flat-fronted, flared pants to flatter your curves. Try to avoid pants that are pleated in the front, because they tend to add bulk to your waist area.

Try to avoid pants that are pleated in the front, because they tend to add bulk to your waist area.
Pants that fall straight from your hips will create the illusion of a longer, leaner leg.slightly stretchy, flat-fronted, flared pants to flatter your curves.
Try to avoid pants that are pleated in the front, because they tend to add bulk to your waist area.
Try to avoid pants that are pleated in the front, because they tend to add bulk to your waist area.
Pants that fall straight from your hips will create the illusion of a longer, leaner leg.slightly stretchy, flat-fronted, flared pants to flatter your curves.

Choose solid dark colors or vertical stripes to look slimmer overall.

Natalie Tincher Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist Expert Interview No matter what type of clothes you wear, choosing solid dark shades is always a good choice for looking thinner. And if you like patterns, vertical stripes are your best bet for looking slimmer. Other patterns can be okay too, as long as they are in darker colors and the print is low-contrast and in proportion with your overall size. Natalie Tincher Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist Expert Interview

Natalie Tincher Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist Expert Interview No matter what type of clothes you wear, choosing solid dark shades is always a good choice for looking thinner.
And if you like patterns, vertical stripes are your best bet for looking slimmer.
Other patterns can be okay too, as long as they are in darker colors and the print is low-contrast and in proportion with your overall size.
Natalie Tincher Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist Expert Interview
Natalie Tincher Style Strategist & Wardrobe Specialist Expert Interview No matter what type of clothes you wear, choosing solid dark shades is always a good choice for looking thinner.

Part 2

Striking a Flattering Pose

Angle your body instead of standing sideways.

While facing the camera completely straightforward shows your widest view, turning completely sideways can highlight your stomach. Instead, stand facing the camera and put all your weight on 1 leg. Push the hip of that leg back as far as you can, and let the other leg hang loose in front of you and bent at the knee.

While facing the camera completely straightforward shows your widest view, turning completely sideways can highlight your stomach.
Instead, stand facing the camera and put all your weight on 1 leg.
Push the hip of that leg back as far as you can, and let the other leg hang loose in front of you and bent at the knee.
While facing the camera completely straightforward shows your widest view, turning completely sideways can highlight your stomach.
Instead, stand facing the camera and put all your weight on 1 leg.

Tuck one side of your body behind someone in group shots.

If you’re in a photo with a group, use other people to your advantage! Angle your body so that one side is behind someone else to instantly appear thinner.

If you’re in a photo with a group, use other people to your advantage!
Angle your body so that one side is behind someone else to instantly appear thinner.
If you’re in a photo with a group, use other people to your advantage!
Angle your body so that one side is behind someone else to instantly appear thinner.
If you’re in a photo with a group, use other people to your advantage!

Cross your ankles if you’re sitting.

Another trick for sitting photos is to cross your ankles instead of your entire leg. Crossing your legs at the knees can highlight bigger thighs, especially if you’re wearing a skirt.

Another trick for sitting photos is to cross your ankles instead of your entire leg.
Crossing your legs at the knees can highlight bigger thighs, especially if you’re wearing a skirt.
Another trick for sitting photos is to cross your ankles instead of your entire leg.
Crossing your legs at the knees can highlight bigger thighs, especially if you’re wearing a skirt.
Another trick for sitting photos is to cross your ankles instead of your entire leg.

Part 3

Making Your Face Look Thinner

Hold your chin up and out.

Avoid looking like you have a double chin by keeping your head held high. Stick your chin out to make your neck look a bit longer.

Avoid looking like you have a double chin by keeping your head held high.
Stick your chin out to make your neck look a bit longer.
Avoid looking like you have a double chin by keeping your head held high.
Stick your chin out to make your neck look a bit longer.
Avoid looking like you have a double chin by keeping your head held high.

Put your tongue on the roof of your mouth while you’re smiling.

Sometimes smiling in photos can cause your eyes to squint and your cheeks to look chubbier. A good way to avoid this is to stick your tongue to the roof of your mouth while you smile.

Sometimes smiling in photos can cause your eyes to squint and your cheeks to look chubbier.
A good way to avoid this is to stick your tongue to the roof of your mouth while you smile.
Sometimes smiling in photos can cause your eyes to squint and your cheeks to look chubbier.
A good way to avoid this is to stick your tongue to the roof of your mouth while you smile.
Sometimes smiling in photos can cause your eyes to squint and your cheeks to look chubbier.

Keep some volume to your hair.

If you wear your hair up, try a loose updo instead of a bun or slicked back ponytail. For down hairstyles, try adding waves or curls to draw attention to balance your face, or add some lift to straight hair by using volumizing powder at your roots.

If you wear your hair up, try a loose updo instead of a bun or slicked back ponytail.
For down hairstyles, try adding waves or curls to draw attention to balance your face, or add some lift to straight hair by using volumizing powder at your roots.
If you wear your hair up, try a loose updo instead of a bun or slicked back ponytail.
For down hairstyles, try adding waves or curls to draw attention to balance your face, or add some lift to straight hair by using volumizing powder at your roots.
If you wear your hair up, try a loose updo instead of a bun or slicked back ponytail.

Part 4

Using Camera Tricks

Hold the camera above your eye level.

When taking selfies, never hold the camera below your eyes. This angle is the least flattering and makes your face look larger than it really is. If you’re having your picture taken, have the photographer hold the camera high. The best angle for all photos is one that’s slightly above your eye level.

When taking selfies, never hold the camera below your eyes.
This angle is the least flattering and makes your face look larger than it really is.
If you’re having your picture taken, have the photographer hold the camera high.
The best angle for all photos is one that’s slightly above your eye level.
When taking selfies, never hold the camera below your eyes.

Avoid direct sunlight for outdoor photos.

The sun can cause you to squint when you’re taking pictures outside, which in turn makes your cheeks and jawline look wider. For outdoor pictures, try going out in the early evening to avoid the brightest light of the day.

The sun can cause you to squint when you’re taking pictures outside, which in turn makes your cheeks and jawline look wider.
For outdoor pictures, try going out in the early evening to avoid the brightest light of the day.
The sun can cause you to squint when you’re taking pictures outside, which in turn makes your cheeks and jawline look wider.
For outdoor pictures, try going out in the early evening to avoid the brightest light of the day.
The sun can cause you to squint when you’re taking pictures outside, which in turn makes your cheeks and jawline look wider.

Community Q&A

Be the first to ask a question about this guide.

References

Was this guide helpful?

6 people found this helpful

HowDadDo Around the World

🇨🇳 中文 🇪🇸 Español 🇮🇳 हिन्दी 🇸🇦 العربية 🇫🇷 Français 🇧🇷 Português

Subscribe to the HowDadDo Newsletter

Get expert tips, weekly how-to guides, and dad wisdom delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, just good stuff.

Help us build the world's best
dad manual.

Every guide on HowDadDo is written and fact-checked by real people — no AI-generated fluff. Join our community of experts helping dads figure life out.

Write a Guide Browse Guides