Camera Height for Portraits

12 years 11 months ago #78149 by chipmunk
I have a question about shooting a portrait, what do you guys think is the best camera position when shooting a subject that is taller than you. Should I shoot at eye level or should i stand on something to get on the same height level, whats the most appealing?


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12 years 11 months ago #78151 by village rat
Most of the time, it's most attractive to have the camera slightly above eye level of your subject. Also, looking upward is often slimming, so with heavier subjects it's advantageous to get even higher.

How tall the subject is (vs your height) shouldn't be a factor. You can have them sit/kneel/stand on a lower level etc...or you could get yourself higher in any number of ways.


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12 years 11 months ago #78155 by QC 89
Classic portrait technique is to have the camera slightly above eye level looking down. And there are plenty of ways to make that happen.

However in today's photo-journalistic style, that is not a hard and fast rule. I'd try some classic angles and then some different angles.


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12 years 11 months ago #78157 by chipmunk
Thanks. :)


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12 years 11 months ago #78179 by Johnnie
I agree, usually you want your camera just above eye level. You should pay attention not to shoot into the nostrils/nose.


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12 years 11 months ago #78405 by Henry Peach
In traditional portraiture camera height in relation to the subject depends on how much of the subject is in the photo. Camera just above eye level works good for head and shoulders portraits. It would cause some distortion in body proportion (maybe desirable, maybe not) in a full length, standing portrait. It would definitely make someone look shorter.
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12 years 11 months ago #78417 by MLKstudios
I'm with HP on this. Shooting from below is not often a good idea, but shooting down isn't either.

I'd suggest shooting with the camera level at the same height they are.

Matthew :)

Matthew L Kees
MLK Studios Photography School
www.MLKstudios.com
[email protected]
"Every artist, was once an amateur"

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12 years 11 months ago - 12 years 11 months ago #78429 by Henry Peach
Although obviously not as rectangular, the same perspective issues occur when photographing people as buildings. Put a box around your subject and image the converging lines squeezing parts of the subject that are farther and spreading parts that a closer.
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12 years 11 months ago #78599 by Baydream

Johnnie wrote: I agree, usually you want your camera just above eye level. You should pay attention not to shoot into the nostrils/nose.

:agree: THAT was an important rule I learned during a critique..

Possibility. shoot from a bit low and have the tall subject looking down at you with arms crossed - just before he punches you :rofl: Wait- forget that last part.

Shoot, learn and share. It will make you a better photographer.
fineartamerica.com/profiles/john-g-schickler.html?tab=artwork

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