In this lesson: Learn when and why you need to shoot in portrait or landscape format

Mastering the art of matching the format of your photos to the subject will help you bring the subject to life and highlight more of its features.

There are two primary ways in which you can format your photos – horizontally (landscape format) or vertically (portrait format). Obviously, these formats get their names from the types of photos that are most often taken in that format. Because landscapes are typically wider than they are tall, horizontal format is the way to go. Conversely, because portrait subjects are taller than they are wide, vertical format is most appropriate.

The key regarding which format to use is to ensure that you examine the relationship between your subject and the space surrounding it. For example, a wider subject, like a landscape, would often best be photographed in a horizontal format while a skyscraper would best be photographed in vertical format.

Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. Using the sample image of the dam as an example, imagine if the photographer had moved to a vantage point further away and framed the shot in portrait format. Doing so would have allowed them to emphasize the dam as the primary subject and highlight its height in relationship to the surrounding landscape.

Similarly, though the sample image of the skyscraper is more impressive because of the portrait format – we get a better sense of the building’s height and scale – photographing this landmark in landscape format could also yield pleasing results. For example, a horizontal photo of the bottom of the structure would clue viewers into how wide the building actually is. Doing so might also give viewers a better view of the facade’s intricate details.

In short, just because the subject is wide doesn’t mean you have to shoot it in horizontal format. And, just because a subject is narrow doesn’t mean you have to use portrait format. As noted above, the key here is to match the subject to the best format, but you also need to keep an open mind that breaking that rule could result in an even more interesting photo.

Challenge Activity

This challenge activity will help you identify photo-worthy subjects and give you a chance to practice examining which format is best for highlighting the subject.

Step 1: Make an inventory of objects you find photographically worthwhile. Now organize them into two categories: those best photographed in landscape format and those best photographed in portrait format.

Step 2: Photograph each subject in the appropriate format, paying close attention to how the size, shape, or orientation of the subject in the frame is accentuated with the format being used.

Step 3: In a slight variation of the challenge above, make a list of environments that are worthy of a photo, again organizing them into “landscape” and “portrait” formats.

Step 4: Again, photograph these environments in the selected format.

Step 5: Now, challenge yourself to revisit each subject and photograph it in the other format. For example, if you used a landscape format to photograph a landscape, now take another photo of the same scene using portrait format. Using the landscape image of the red rocks and reflecting pool as an example, you might take a low shooting angle to highlight the texture of the foreground, and frame a portrait format shot that emphasizes the height of the rock formations in the background. Then, compare the two images, noting the difference in how the images look and feel as a result of the format used.