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We all peruse the photos here on CDH. I think it’s probably the first stop for most of us here on the CDH tour. For me, a closeted girl, taking pictures is the main event. Most of the “regulars” that I follow here certainly take a lot of them as well. I always say that being a crossdresser is a vanity project with us as the stars. And from a lot of the photos I can see that many of us are unburdened by modesty.😊 There are some extremely good looking girls in some of the photos posted here.
So here’s a few questions that I, as a regular picture taking girl in love with herself, thinks about when it comes to taking photos. Pick one you like and post a reply.🥰
1. What are your favorite locations for them? Why? Is the lighting better, it’s your favorite room, it’s a generic background, etc.?
2. Where do you get your inspiration for poses? I try to mix things up -but find that I go back to the well a bit too often as far as the same looks and angles. I wouldn’t mind mixing things up a bit more.
3. What ARE the best angles? Many girls do a lot of “Top looking down” shots with their face the center of the pic. I’ve kinda tried this with no success. Maybe I just don’t do closeups, I dunno, but those pics I’ve never been able to pull off to my standards. Straight on shots seem to come out the best. Anyone have any tricks they can share to make us even more ravishing?
4. Do you mainly use your cell phone to take them? GoPro camera? I do have a tripod with a remote and that has made a big difference in my happiness with the outcome of them. My wife will sometimes help take them from time to time too.
5. Is that you in the photo or your alter ego? I look through mine when I’m done and think, “Who is that girl trying to act all sexy and seductive?” And why for crying out loud!? I’m a happily married guy who’s quiet and conservative. But change into Grace and I’m all leggy and pantyhosed up! Definitely a bit on the “tarty” side if I’m being honest. But many girls seem quiet, shy and demure in their photos and I wonder if they’re always that way in both modes.
6. Something that always makes me wonder is reading about outings or events that girls have attended, fully dressed up, yet they have no photos. None. If you’re “out and about” why not have some pics of you on your profile? I’m sure there are good reasons for it, if someone can enlighten me.
Anyway to wrap up, this is what I’m thinking about as the New Year begins. How to take a better variety of photos of my favorite subject: ME🥰
GP
I have taken many photos over the years and my main ones are either on the cell phone and still have a digital camera too. One tip is to take as many images as you can as you can always delete the ones you do not like. Try to record the lighting, shade and so on then when you see a good one you can remember how it was taken. This is how I did it by experimentation so a shot can be taken in one click as knowing the parameters to work in.
Use of the flash can enhance features and the overall image. Even in bright sun it can help and also in shade by highlighting your image. Flash can also take out age lines!
Nowadays there is enhancing technology which I do not use and cannot comment on. I would rather see the real image than enhanced.
Grace,
#5 - Yes, that's me in all my photos.
#6 - Some CD's do go out but primarily to events with other CD's and in "safe" locations where they are not liable to be seen by much of the general public. This lowers the risk of being outed, posting photos online raises that risk.
Great topic Grace
If I spend the time to do my makeup, I am going to take pictures. I always use my cell phone which is a bit older and doesn't have the best camera. Any pictures not a close up always comes out blurry that's why I usually take the looking up pic. The lighting is best in my bathroom but I usually take my pics from my couch. When I take a pic I like, I definitely feel it represents the real me.
I hope to be able to take more poses when I get a better phone.
Hugs
I almost always use a camera rather than a cell phone. I used to use a gopro, which I could put on the top step by my driveway and take a photo at a good angle. It was voice activated so I could set myself and then shoot. But because of the limited locations, it was difficult to change the background.
I now use a nice digital camera and tripod for most of my photos. I can set it up where needed, make sure I'm not in shadow, and play with the angle and zoom to get distrating things out of the background. I have a remote app which also has a timer feature so I can determine my pose, find a position where my full body is in view, find the position on the ground where my phone is out of sight, then push the shutter, place the phone down and move back a step or two to get my photo. One reason I don't use the phone is because I can't get full body shots.
As to poses, there's a lot I can say I learned from Diane Crowe's sessions at Keystone. A couple of points here. Don't take full-on photos, angle yourself. It makes you look smaller and less broad. Do something interesting with your feet. Point one foot to the camera, or cross your feet, or even stand on one leg with the other knee bent up at a right angle. Break the angle between your hand and arm, or curl your fingers, to make your hands look smaller. Posture, posture, posture. Stomach in, chest proud, elongate the spine. Thrust a hip out or shift your weight (perhaps bend the front knee slightly) to compensate for your lack of curves. (For an example, check out the beginning of Heidi Phox's videos to see how she shifts her body after walking on camera.) Smile with your eyes to give you a bright look. Even if you're wearing sunglasses it will brighten up the whole face. Yes, it's a lot to remember but it will improve your photos.
Is that me in the photos? Yes, it's me having fun.
As to why someone would go out in public but not even have a profile picture here, remember that these pictures are visible to the internet, even without an account here. They are highlighting you. Going out in public you're going to be seen by security camera, but these will probably not be looked at unless there is something they need to check out. And you're not going to be photographed and put on the internet as the main subject by everyone you see. So I can see why people could still not want to put their photo here publicly even if they go out in public becaue of the longevity of their CDH photo.
I'm hoping to make time for photos in daytime. Most of my pics I make are at night with ring light and overhead lighting, fighting with shadows and reflections. The other I haven't tried is to actually do photos outside 😐.
I will admit I'm almost 70 worked a professional job mostly outside. So for me I could never be elegant or pretty I have more off a bulldog sucking a wasp kind of face ha ha. I am so happy that there are apps out there for phones (face app and youcam makeup) it makes such a difference to my photographs it is like a different me even I enjoy looking at me.
I really don’t know what makes a good photo of me but when it is I save it! And delete 50 other photos lol
Picking one definitely number 5 I have an unusual alter ego lol definitely into some wild items lol other then that all my pics are done by my cell phone my poses usually due to the tightness of the outfits I choose I have to watch for other things that may be much noticeable down yonder lol
1. Locations: I take most of my photos in my office - the closet of which houses my clothes and heels. It's mostly just because that's where I am when I'm done dressing. Occasionally the window gives some nice sunlight, but that's more happenstance.
2. Poses: From other girls, real or virtual. Occasionally I'll stumble upon something I think looks good on my own, or just try a few things out. It's a mixed bag. You'll see me in pretty much the same 3 or 4 as I think they suit me best.
3. Angles: Straight on is usually best, with the camera at about chest height. I've taken some more 'boudoiry' types by putting the camera on the floor...and really those turned out amazingly well, but are not for standard photo taking. For selfies I will put the camera up slightly, but not raising it above my head as is commonly seen.
4. Camera: My cell phone with a tripod and BT remote. I don't have a 'real' camera and I've no desire to have one.
5. Model: I think it's me. It's a feminine presentation of me, which comes with a saucier side, but definitely me.
6. Location ii: Taking photos of myself/my outfit usually occurs to me only when I get back from being out. I tend not to take them beforehand because I'm usually scooting to get out the door, and I'm usually too caught up in socializing while I'm out. If I am in photos while out it's usually in a photo with others.
1) Mine are either at home before I go out or my partner will take a picture of me while out. If I dress up to stay in (which is rare) I won't really do a photo.
2) I am trying to do more with poses so any photos I have now just don't really do well in that regard. They are all the same pose since I don't know how to let my hair down, so to speak.
3) Again, still experimenting but right now, everything is mostly straight on
4) Either mine or my partner's phone camera. They are pretty sophisticated nowadays and I don't feel the need to get anything "better"
5) Oh, yeah, it is definitely me. And when I can see traces of my sister or mom in the photo, it is even more affirming that I am maybe able to pass
6) I love getting my photo taken as Natalie (which is the exact opposite of boy me) and I love sharing photos. My issue is that this site doesn't really allow me to share those photos all that well. If I understand things so far, I need to upgrade to put photos into messages and to have more than 5 photos in my public gallery. I am not sure I am ready to pay $25 a month to be able to share in messages and forum replies. Not sure if external links (like imgur or flickr) are acceptable in messages, but if they are, you can bet I will share photos 🙂