Faking Tallness 101

Taken in 2009, at 94 lbs.

If you are a vertically challenged lady like me, and would like to look tall in pictures, you must keep on reading. I'm going to keep it simple and concise so that you won't get bored (also because I'm lazy and cannot, for the love of all things holy, write a single middling paragraph).

If you are tall, however, and you just happened to stumble upon my blog, I would like you to know that I hate, hate, hate you! I hate you with passion!  May you become a garden gnome in your next life! There, I said it. I feel so much better now. :)

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Of course I didn't mean it (much). I'm not that bitter. I love being pint-sized. People usually think I'm much younger than I truly am (and boy do I revel in it!), and my height makes me look somewhat cute, like a gerbil.

On to the tips:

1. Zoom. Zooming in is way flattering than shooting up close (READ: if done right, it can make you appear thinner in pictures). Shoot a few feet away from the subject (you) and zoom in to fill the frame. This is possible even with compact point and shoot cameras. I used standard zoom lens for the shot above which somehow flattened me and made me look slimmer. The tripod was approximately a dozen feet away. I'm going to skip the technicalities since it can get confusing and I never really discussed distortion, focal length and whatnots even on my photo blog (perhaps I will when I have about 40 years of experience under my belt.)

2. Shoot from below. This will give your legs that almost abnormally-long, spidery effect ---- if you're into that sort of thing. I know I am. I normally shoot myself from hip level. Any higher and my legs will be their old, stumpy selves again. Low angle shots make me look much taller than I actually am in real life. I cheat, so what? The word cheating has a very negative connotation, you know? I'd rather call it resourcefulness. The first photo was taken from knee-level, by the way. That's how far I go sometimes. Desperate state requires desperate measures.  

NOTE: When shooting from below,  tip your head down a little to avoid showing your nostrils to the whole world.

Taken on my birthday last year.

3. Choose your wardrobe carefully. I'm pretty sure you know it by now. The shorter the dress, the longer your legs will look. My dress in the first photo is remarkably short. So short that I seldom wore it. Hemlines up the mid thigh (or above) are the most flattering. Avoid knee-length skirts. Dresses with waistline that ends below the bust give the impression of tallness too.

When we moved to the Middle East last year, I knew I no longer had the prerogative to wear anything I want out of respect for their culture. I often wear maxi dresses now but I make sure they are almost floor-length. Anything ankle-length or calf-length will not go well with my short frame.


4. High Heels. High Hopes. This is the oldest trick I know. I frequently opt for nude/sand/champagne colored heels if I want to feign tallness . They are the closest shades to my skin tone and they never fail to elongate my legs. Avoid ankle booties, lace up sandals, and any pair that cut your ankles or calves. Ballerina flats can be worn only if you are wearing mini skirt/short shorts/mini dress (the shorter, the better). I once paired flats with a not-so-short dress and my legs ended up resembling overstuffed sausages.


5. Crowning glory. Hats and headbands (especially those feathery ones that make you look like a peacock unfurling its tail for sexual display)and poofy hairdos can add a few centimeters to your height too.


6. Still not happy? Crop it (refer to the second photo, right side). Follow step 1, make sure you fill the frame, then crop it. Mid-thigh crop is ideal. Mid-calf will also do. Cutting it off right at the knees or ankles can make the subject look... disturbing. Very disturbing. So don't do it.


That's it. I hope this will help you in the future. Have fun making love to the camera!  :)