If you are like me then you love great pictures of yourself. When other people take my pictures I RARELY get the look I was going for... So I figured out a sure fire way to make sure I get my shot!


STILL WORK


Still work is a technique I created to get my perfect shot every time. Still work eliminates the guessing and allows you to capture your most flattering angles... this way the pictures come out looking just how you saw it in your mind.


Here is what you need:

1. A Smartphone
2. Camera Stand
3. Ring Light

Here is how it works:

1. Practice a few poses in the mirror first so that you know what looks you are going for
2. Prop up your phone
3. Press record
4. Review and screen shot your favorite moments
5. Add finishing touches

I have lots of fun using this technique. I get to experiment and capture any pose I want from multiple angles. I ALWAYS get a ‘money shot’ when I use Still Work. The better your camera is the better your photos will come out. I have not used a professional video camera for my still work yet, but if you have access to that type of equipment it is a plus. I use my iPhone and I get great images!


Now its your turn go try it! Send me some of your favorite shots and tell me how you liked or did not like the process. Tag #goodcurvy when you post your still work so I can see it that way as well.


Next I will fill you guys in on my favorite editing apps for adding mood to your photos.

Atlanta is where I learned everything I know about accepting my body and my curves. I came in with insecurities about my height, my shape, and my personal style. I grew up with women who were no bigger than a size 8 and wore designer clothes. The women in my life over a size 8 wore church clothes. I was over a size 8 and I wanted to wear designer clothes too. I struggled finding clothes and styles that complimented my shape. I struggled finding pants that were long enough. I struggled putting outfits together period. I had to do something. I needed specific guidance. I began working with a local modeling group by this time, but these were things that I still had trouble coming to terms with. I began looking for women on Facebook and social media that I could relate to and who seemed to have figured these things out and it turns out I didn’t have to look too far.

I would often hear of women who were doing great things in Atlanta as far as plus size fashion was concerned and the ones who stood out most were Nedra Phillips, Telethia Penn, and Francie Maupin. These women became the model trinity for me. They had mastered some of the things I struggled with the most. Somehow the seemed to have mastered these things and I was ecstatic to see the possibilities. I had not met any of them in person but I was already inspired.

Nedra Phillips was shorter than most girls, but her shape was out of this world and she did not hide her body. I was inspired by how she wore and modeled clothing that accentuated her shape.

Telethia Penn was my height inspiration. I often felt tall and awkward but when I saw her I saw the light. She was tall shapely and confident. She knew her angles and she could walk the runway like it was a sidewalk she’d crossed a million times.

Francie Maupin was a combination of both... very shapely and also taller than average. She was beautiful and confident but what stood out for me was her personal style. She was very classy and ladylike. She had a classic style that just rose above the rest.


I used these parts of them to fill the parts of me I couldn’t see. What I gained from these women became part of my journey.

All of these women have since grown and given back to the community. Each one of them hosts their own workshops and seminars to empower and uplift women.

Growing up was awkward because I didn’t know where my body fit. I couldn’t identify as neither “Skinny” nor “Fat”. I remember hearing my younger sister say I was “fatskinny”, and of course the contradiction confused me. I didn’t know where I fit in or if “fitting in” was even necessary. I felt completely lost; I needed a positive path.


I set my sights on a journey toward personal development, self-discovery, and positive body image affirmations. With prayer and meditation, I began to feel good about myself and accept my body with every delicious curve. With my new found grown woman freedom, I decided to do something new. I started modeling locally in Atlanta and I found a wonderful community of other Plus Size Curvy women who had the same concerns. What we had in common was we were all plus-size curvy women, determined to display the beauty of our unique shapes and sizes.


On my first audition for a model group, I didn’t get selected. At that time, In my mind, I thought they were THE BEST model group to be with.. Needless to say I was devastated, but before all hope was lost I discovered a new up and coming organization, Classic Curves. I casted for them and it turns out that they were a perfect fit for me and I was accepted immediately. Classic Curves was determined to build new models with all body types and this was the first time my height was referenced with positive purpose. I learned many of the fundamentals of modeling including; how to walk, apply makeup, how to pose, and we were even taught on how to be successful in future casting calls. For the first time in my life, I was getting the type of positive feedback I desired on a consistent basis. Classic Curves has since dissolved but I’ve met lifelong friends there and I cherish those experiences and opportunities given to me. Since then, I’ve attended all types of auditions and castings and I began to meet some of the most intriguing and interesting women who were also on the rise in the Atlanta Plus Fashion scene. This is how I truly began to see my own possibilities and understand that I now had a place and not only that, MY CURVES did too!