I’d like to start out by telling you girls I do all my photo shoots at home by myself using a Nikon D3100 camera sitting atop a Vivitar VPT-3600 tripod, which is adjustable in so many ways. I have my self-timer on the camera set at 10 seconds to release the shutter, which gives me plenty of time to get in front of the camera and strike a pose with or without a prop. And both these photo items I use (noted above) can probably be purchased on Ebay for a very reasonable price! I encourage all of you wanting to post top quality photographs to strongly consider purchasing a single lens reflex camera rather than using a phone to take your photos.
I start my photo shoot procedures by getting out all of my shape wear, hose, tights, heels, boots, ankle booties, and fashion jewelry that I plan on using for that day’s shoot. I have those items placed in two different bedrooms in our home for easy access during each photo shoot. All clothing items are kept hanging in three closets, and I try to change into at least six different outfits throughout the course of a single photo shoot. The biggest mistake I always make is dragging out way more than I’ll use during every photo shoot. Here’s one tip to keep that from happening! Use only one set of one color of shape wear and a matching bra – such as the color black – and then wear only dark dresses or tops the entire shoot. On your next photo shoot, try doing just the opposite using nude color shape wear and a nude colored bra and then wear all light-colored tops and dresses! You’ll be thanking me after future photo shoots! “You’re more than welcome” in advance girls!
Next up is putting on any shapewear required, if any, before doing my nails to keep the nail polish from getting ruined while putting on some rather snug fitting shape wear. In certain cases, with certain styles of dresses, I use no shapewear at all. After the shape wear is in place it’s time to paint my fingernails and my toenails–if I’m planning to wear high heeled open-toed sexy sandals. I use Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy 550 “All On Red” nail polish and always match it up with my Maybelline 635 “Very Cherry” lipstick. As you can see from my photos, both the lipstick and nail polish are always really red! Why, you ask? Great question! When you see college or pro cheerleaders or college majorettes, they will always be wearing really red lipstick and matching nail polish. Because it gives them a very youthful and sexy look! At least that’s what they all tell me, and I’ve spent over 55 years on the sidelines of college and pro football games at the highest level of competition. When I ask that question to any of these girls, the answer is always the same – “Because it gives us a very youthful and sexy/attractive look!”
After the nail polish is dry, it’s time to put on my makeup. As many of you girls know, I’ve never had a professional makeup artist do a makeover on me. I’ve learned every one of my makeup skills online through Google, which takes me directly to YouTube makeup instructional videos. The videos done by both pros and amateurs will show you how to apply any kind of makeup ever invented and how to use any application brush imaginable! Facial makeup types include the following: liquid and powder base makeup, blush, contour makeup, brow makeup, eye shadow makeup, eye liner (most all girls’ toughest challenge), mascara, and lipstick. You should take the time to watch the instructional videos on each one of these types of makeup! Proper application and blending are the two keys to that professional look you’re shooting for!
When all your makeup is properly applied, it’s then time to put your hair on! I’ve wrote an article on wigs located in the Hodgepodge area of our Article section, it’s worth a read and important in creating the best look for you. You’ll find out you will need to do some experimenting with colors and lengths of hair to get it just right for your facial features and skin tone. I prefer chin length or just a bit longer bob lengths and cuts of hair, and I have two “go to” colors – my auburn with dark roots and my blonde with dark roots. The girls seem to like them equally on me; leaning more towards the blonde by just a “hair” – get it! LOL
And now ladies – IT’S SHOWTIME! Time to start taking those gorgeous photos! You’ll have to experiment with what works for lighting and distance from the camera in each room. The girls seem to love my outdoors photos, so I sneak out on the front or back porch where I use ambient light, which is best right before sunset. If you have a Nikon D3100 or any other up to date single reflex camera, it comes with an automatic pop up flash which usually takes care of all your lighting issues inside! Just set the self-timer for 10 seconds to give you plenty of time as noted above to possibly grab a prop and strike a pretty pose with or without a prop. I like busy rooms with lots of things behind me, beside me, or even in front of me to add interest to the picture. Don’t just stand there in front of a blank wall for all your photos. They will get rather boring in a hurry! Use colorful props with lots of flowers, stuffed animals, framed photos, sports equipment, books – if you wanna look absolutely brilliant, toys (not the ones you use in the bedroom silly), bicycles, lawn mowers, cars, trucks, SUVs, and even piles of food items in your food pantry – my favorite is a jar of Jiff Peanut Butter! Juice your photos up by adding all these items, which add interest to a pretty picture! I don’t want my photos to just be all about Scarlett! I want to have several other things in my photos for our girls to look at! It can be fun to create a theme for doing a photo shoot.
And last, but certainly not least, is THE SMILE! For God sakes, don’t pose with a look as if you’re about to go off to your own funeral. Remember, you’re thrilled to be a girl in these pictures! You love the feel of those ladies’ clothes against your skin! You love the feel of those sexy heels or knee-high boots or ankle booties! You’re happy as a clam because you are so enjoying the thrill of crossdressing! You see that thrill of mine in my genuine smile, which is on display in every single photo I’ve ever posted! And that’s hundreds and hundreds of photos! I understand that some may not want to display less than perfect teeth in their photos; you can still give a big smile without showing one single tooth! Did ya know that girls! SMILE, SMILE, SMILE, AND THEN SMILE SOME MORE! Please girls, if you want a more youthful and happy look, don’t forget to SMILE!
Well girls, those are my top hits as far as Scarlett’s tips on photo shoots! I hope you enjoyed them and will plan to put them to work in your future pictures posted here at our wonderful CDH!
I truly love every one of you girls!
Sincerely, Scarlett
1)Have you not posted a photo yet in the All Crossdresser Photos section of Crossdresser Heaven? If not, why not?
2)Where do you think you need to improve in order to post some quality photos of the femme side of you here at CDH?
3)Of all Scarlett’s physical and fashion attributes, the one attribute which gets the greatest number of compliments is my smile! Is there any reason why you wouldn’t smile for a photograph you would post proudly on this site?
Girls feel free to answer one or more of the questions I’ve posed to you above. I would love to hear your responses to either my article or any of the three questions asked of you at the bottom of my article!
I love the thrill of cross dressing and based on the CDH girls' comments in response to my posted photos, I must be pretty good at exploring the feminine side of myself. I find it sexy, sensual, exciting, challenging, and ever changing. I'm so very blessed now to have as much money as I want to spend on Scarlett and can now, for the very first time in fifteen years, actually purchase dresses, tops, and skirts while shopping with my wife! I never thought that would ever come to fruition!
I can now store all of Scarlett's things in our huge dream home when just a short period of time ago, it would all have to be kept in a temperature controlled storage unit.
I love Crossdresser Heaven and know it's the classiest and most tasteful cross dressing site on line. All the girls are full of support and encouragement and if folks come to the site with alternative motives which aren't in line with our founder’s rules and regulations, they are quickly deleted from our site. Vanessa Law, our founder, keeps this site classy at all times. She has much help from her Ambassadors, Chat Room Monitors, Photo Monitors, Article Editors, and many more personnel to keep this site classy, encouraging, and supportive.
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Ruth-Ann
2 years ago
Brilliant article, Scarlett. Thank you so much. I haven’t posted any photos yet. I’m a late bloomer This article is hugely inspirational to get a gurl started.
As a former professional photographer, I want to say that you have done an excellent job of describing the process for us. There is one thing you might want to experiment with — an overhead hair light. A light that either shines down or is bounced off of the ceiling. it should be placed above and slightly behind your head. You will need a dark but not necessarily black background. The light will create that halo effect that makes your hair shine,
Thank you Dana for taking the time to read this article. I did my best to try and help these girls out because many of them have some serious difficulties posted so really good photos of themselve.
I think I need that overhead light to possibly delete so of those shadows that appear when I take photos of myself in our study or our master bedroom.
Super write up Scarlett! Your smile as the rest of you, is so beautiful! My SO has taken over pictures and so much of what you’ve related here, she has said (learned so much). She also gives me a real-time screen, which is so helpful (over hours) to get a variety of emotive styles or zeroing in on what she’s after. Yes shoots are most always one outfit, same colors (perhaps change of accessories) which helps her choices. Lighting is one of the key gems she’s shown me. (Umbrella diffusers) Rarely lightroom work needs to be done. She adds gothic… Read more »
@Scarlett398 You were into the important, most helpful ideas that make photo taking better, more fun via the results; so much appreciated that you challenged all to take more pics…Mentioned UB’s just to extend our talk on the subject! big luv, Kyra <3
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Brilliant article, Scarlett. Thank you so much. I haven’t posted any photos yet. I’m a late bloomer This article is hugely inspirational to get a gurl started.
Thank you Ruth-Ann for letting me know I served as in inspiration to you!
XOXOXO Scarlett
As a former professional photographer, I want to say that you have done an excellent job of describing the process for us. There is one thing you might want to experiment with — an overhead hair light. A light that either shines down or is bounced off of the ceiling. it should be placed above and slightly behind your head. You will need a dark but not necessarily black background. The light will create that halo effect that makes your hair shine,
Thank you Dana for taking the time to read this article. I did my best to try and help these girls out because many of them have some serious difficulties posted so really good photos of themselve.
I think I need that overhead light to possibly delete so of those shadows that appear when I take photos of myself in our study or our master bedroom.
Thanks for the tip Dana!
Super write up Scarlett! Your smile as the rest of you, is so beautiful! My SO has taken over pictures and so much of what you’ve related here, she has said (learned so much). She also gives me a real-time screen, which is so helpful (over hours) to get a variety of emotive styles or zeroing in on what she’s after. Yes shoots are most always one outfit, same colors (perhaps change of accessories) which helps her choices. Lighting is one of the key gems she’s shown me. (Umbrella diffusers) Rarely lightroom work needs to be done. She adds gothic… Read more »
@Kyra Marin Hi Kyra, Scarlett here. Sounds like you have to photo tricks down pat!
I never bothered with getting umbrella diffusers which would have helped a bunch with betting rid of those shadows!
XOXOXO Scarlett
@Scarlett398 You were into the important, most helpful ideas that make photo taking better, more fun via the results; so much appreciated that you challenged all to take more pics…Mentioned UB’s just to extend our talk on the subject! big luv, Kyra <3
@Kyra Marin Thank you so very much for your kind note Kyra!
Love, Scarlett ❤️