Portraiture 101: Facial Views and Camera Angles
Portraiture can be tricky if you are unfamiliar with finding the right angle for your subject. The best portraits show the subject’s best angles and features. To be more comfortable shooting portraits, you must first familiarize yourself with the principle facial views and camera angles that you can work with.
Facial Views
Facial views refer to the angle in which the subject is facing relative to the camera. There are four facial views being used in portrait photography.
The first one is Full Face, wherein the subject is facing straight towards the camera. Here you can view both sides of the face equally.
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The second one is ¾ view where the subject turns slightly on either side, leaving just one ear visible to the camera, while 2/3 view requires the subject to turn even more, allowing the nose to touch cheekbone on the side away from the camera.
The last one is the Profile View. The subject’s face is angled at 90 degrees from the camera lens. In this view, you only see only one side of the face, outlining the nose and the mouth as seen in this photo.
Camera Angle
Where the camera is placed and at what angle the shot is being taken creates a big difference in your image. Knowing the guidelines and principles of these camera angles will help you immensely in portrait photography. Mastering and practicing various angles will save you the time and effort in trying to find the best angle for your subject during your shoot.
High Camera Angles which are above the subject’s eye level, is one of the most flattering angles for portraits, as it focuses on the subject’s eyes and hides double chins, slimming the subject in the photo.
Low Camera Angles which is usually below the eye level or chin, creates an illusion of making the subject taller or gives a sense of power to the subject. It is necessary to take note of your subject’s features before taking this shot, because not everyone can pull off low angle photos.
Couple or group portraits are commonly taken at an eye level angle. Couple portraits can also be done at an angle slightly higher than the eye, while group shots can be shot from a marginally lower angle.
Lenses for Portraits
Choosing your lenses is essential in your portrait shots. We all know that different lenses give different results in your pictures.
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It is vital to practice these different angles and facial views for you to understand what works best for each subject. By going at different angles, you will be able to comprehend how each changes the shape of the face.
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Article By: Tabitha Fernan