Here’s your chance to learn the clever tricks swimwear photographers and models use for their impressive fashion shoots. You too can be attractive from all angles by following these bikini selection and posing tips.
Choosing Separate Pieces
Bathing suits that look appealing on most figures pair these two separates:
Sporty tops: Structured yet comfortable coverage options with foundational lift stay in place and support your breasts during mild to rigorous sand and water activities. Check out Swimsuits Direct’s women’s sporty bikinis for secure tops with higher necklines, underwires, thicker bust line bands, wider straps, wrap-around torso straps, front zippers, racer backs, crisscross back straps, and customizable ties. More ways to identify active styles include longer crop tops and color blocking with contrasting trim. From primary and jewel-tone solids to floral and geometric prints, you’ll find trendy fabrics you’re eager to wear.
Cheeky bottoms: Featuring traditional triangle fronts, cheeky bottoms boast high-cut flip sides that flash outer and under rear curves. Shop Raisins’ women’s bathing suits for these sexy briefs with or without adjustable ties and strappy sides. Fabrics from vibrant floral or geometric motifs to pastel solids make selecting these flirty lower halves even more fun.
For additional athletic styles, browse our women’s active swimwear category. You’ll find fuller coverage options including one-piece bathing suits, swim dresses, tankini tops, rash guards, jackets, hoodies, shorts, skorts, skirts, and pants. Pastel, dark, and vivid colors make solids to floral, stripe, and other patterns popular choices.
Preparing for Perfection
Fabrics: Avoid crazy prints, or you may seem secondary. Pick shades contrasting with your skin over similar tones. Black may be the traditional solid to appear thinner. But any single color will elongate your silhouette. So expand your options to include everything from navy and white neutrals to bright blue and red variations.
Makeup: Accent your smile and eyes with lip color and mascara. Whatever boosts confidence in your beauty will make you glow more than cosmetics. If you can’t spare enough time to tan naturally, apply a body bronzer to feel and look leaner.
Lighting: Pose into the sunlight. If it’s to your side, shadows may be unflattering.
Background: Establish a clear setting without random objects or people in the background distracting from you.
Smiles: Your best facial expressions are authentic reactions that spring from within, so envision a smile-inducing person, place, thing, or event when modeling bikinis.
Posing by Camera Angles
Straight on: Front-facing shots may display your body head to toes. Shape-enhancing sporty tops that combine snug coverage with supportive push-up effects create enviable cleavage. Sucking in your tummy can cause a stiff, fake, and bumpy appearance with your ribcage visible through your skin. You’ll look better exhaling before flexing your abs.
Three-quarter turn: Rotate your body left or right slightly, swinging out one shoulder. Cross one foot over the other ankle. This three-quarter angle elongates your legs while narrowing your hips. Place a hand on the hip pointing outward toward the camera. Without arms dangling by your sides, you’ll appear and feel more natural with sleeker contours.
Profile: Swimsuit bottoms that rest around your hips without squeezing your sides are ideal for profile shots. Pose for sultry silhouettes by curving your body into an S shape. While poking out one hip, tilt your torso the other way. Twist your neck toward your prominent hip’s direction. Put hands on hips or hair.
From behind: Tops with detailed strappy or racer backs help you look hot from this angle. Stick your rear out slightly to show off cheeky bottom cuts.
Side view reclining face up: Lay your back down on the beach. Prop your head, shoulders, and chest up by your elbows. Extend a leg fully, pointing your toes. Bend the other knee to draw up the opposite leg. These adjustments tighten abs and create symmetry.
Lying face down looking up: Sporty bikini tops provide enough coverage for reclining face down. Shooting a 45-degree angle from the side captures your face, cleavage, and rump. Push your bottom out a little to highlight your bottom’s cheeky shape.
Underwater: Almost all bikinis may seem ethereal underwater, but sporty/cheeky combos add functional benefits. Secure fabric enables floating, swimming, diving, and posing without concerns over loose pieces slipping off and drifting away.