Difficult Portrait Session

[NicoleScraps]

I just a old high school classmate contact me on facebook asking me to take a family portrait for her. I have been talking a lot about photography on FB and put the offer out to take photos for anyone who would like to be my guinea pig.
Here's the deal. Both she and her husband are VERY over weight. I know that I am not going to be able to hide that fact. However, I would like to pose them in a way that does not accentuate it, if possible.
Has any had a similar situation in the past? Any recommendations or photos that you would like to share with me for inspiration?
Thanks so much!

[SusanH1970]

Pose them both at an angle to the camera - NOT straight-on. Shoot from slightly above so they're looking a little up at you, that helps with reducing a double chin. Darker colors in clothing will help slim them. Make sure with lighting, be it studio or natural light, that it's not flat and there's enough shadowing to slim them a bit. They know they're heavy so they're not expecting miracles, but strategic posing and lighting will be more flattering.

This maternity mom I shot was very unhappy with the weight gain she'd had from the pregnancy (she's normally stick-thin). See how I posed her at an angle, and I shot from slightly above (I was on a step stool)? I also had her wear the black dress - it still emphasized her belly for maternity, but slimmed the rest of her. I feathered my lighting so she was shadowed on her left side, which helped slim her a bit. This was studio, but it can be done with natural light as well.

Hope this helps.