awww, many thanks for that last comment :D although I find it was simply a particularly good angle I found :)
I also find that pictures taken from a slightly higher angle are usually more flattering. It's all about the angles and light, it seems.
I think tips are always necessary, as the wrong angle can ruin the best looking people...
One useful tip I found somewhere on the internet is to keep your arms away from the body, that way the waist and the whole torso looks slimmer. :DDD