Backgrounds matter

[Maggie]

You might know that you should wear the same thing when you take a b&a photo for weight loss, but have you ever thought about what's behind you in the picture? Did you know that a white background is likely to make you look bigger than you are? Or that if you are wearing black and are standing against a black background you're unlikely to get a clear view of your body shape? When you take pics, make sure that you choose the same background for all your photos and don't wear clothing that's the same color as what's behind you. The point is to look the same in each photo so you can actually track your results :)

[tammybear]

I never thought about what's behind me when I take before and after pictures, but you're right Maggie, that would make a difference in how the picture comes out! Thanks for the tip :)

[bruceH]

A good tip! Thanks Maggie.

[char]

You're so right, Maggie! I never realized it until you pointed it out, but I think the reason why I dislike my before and after photos so much is the background is always different and I can never see my progress! Is there any specific background color that is the best? Would it be better to use a solid background or one that is a print?

[Maggie]

I'm glad you guys found my advice helpful! I hope you find better success with your pictures. I certainly have. I use a neutral background when I take my pictures now. It's a shade of gray. I would personally avoid using an all white or all black background. I find white can lead to too many shadows and black is too dramatic.

[ChristySmiles]

This is great advice. The only other thing I'd add is to make sure you're taking the picture in a well lit room. You don't want any shadows behind you because this could make you look bigger than you are, too.

[tracy1976]

Honestly. I don't care about what background is behind me or what I'm wearing. I just snap the picture because I know I won't look my best regardless of how much I try to convert my home into a studio...

If you've lost weight, you'll see it when you compare your photos as long as they were taken far enough a part (a month or two), no matter what color wearing or what you're standing in front of.