Camera height and angle

[cargo]

Hi all.
Been reading about what are correct height and camera for taking people photos. I am talking about just general run of the mill average size/shaped people but in searching the internet you seem to get bogged down by proffessional talk eg: Looking at peoples size shape nose length etc. I do understand and am fascinated with this stuff but in all honesty thats for the people whom do this for a living.
From what I have read. Head/shoulders, camera about eye level. 3/4 camera at chest. Full length camera at waist. Please correct if wrong.
My other dilhema is if at chest height or waist height or even eye level am I to keep the camera straight on to the subject at all times ?

Gaz

 

[Phil V]

The guidelines are just that. You went to all the trouble to look them up, what's the point of dismissing them now it looks complicated (they're not for pro's, they're for results).

No-one follows these as 'rules', they exist (like compositional rules) to give you an awareness of the results of different techniques. Whilst shooting if you look through the viewfinder and think 'that's not quite right' a lightbulb will come on and remind you what's wrong, you might choose to slip into a 'rule' or you might push in a different direction.

 

[DizMatt]

part of comes down to change in proportions
for example, if you want to keep the top and bottom of people in proportion then take a tube or something and take the photo from different heights.
similarly shooting up at people gives a different impression to shoot down at someone
no rules, just good guidelines of which you should be aware so you don't accidentally make a CEO look diminutive for example

 

[cargo]

The guidelines are just that. You went to all the trouble to look them up, what's the point of dismissing them now it looks complicated (they're not for pro's, they're for results).

No-one follows these as 'rules', they exist (like compositional rules) to give you an awareness of the results of different techniques. Whilst shooting if you look through the viewfinder and think 'that's not quite right' a lightbulb will come on and remind you what's wrong, you might choose to slip into a 'rule' or you might push in a different direction.

Point taken Phil. To be honest I am over thinking things I think. As you say it what looks right is right. Thanks for the reply

part of comes down to change in proportions
for example, if you want to keep the top and bottom of people in proportion then take a tube or something and take the photo from different heights.
similarly shooting up at people gives a different impression to shoot down at someone
no rules, just good guidelines of which you should be aware so you don't accidentally make a CEO look diminutive for example

Cheers Matt, nice little experiment there puts things into laymens terms.

Gaz

 

[Deleted member 67219]

Hi all.
Been reading about what are correct height and camera for taking people photos. I am talking about just general run of the mill average size/shaped people but in searching the internet you seem to get bogged down by proffessional talk eg: Looking at peoples size shape nose length etc. I do understand and am fascinated with this stuff but in all honesty thats for the people whom do this for a living.
From what I have read. Head/shoulders, camera about eye level. 3/4 camera at chest. Full length camera at waist. Please correct if wrong.
My other dilhema is if at chest height or waist height or even eye level am I to keep the camera straight on to the subject at all times ?

Gaz

Just shoot from where it looks good. Screw the rules.

 

[Pookeyhead]

^this.

As a rule, shooting from low down with heavier people will exaggerate their heaviness, and vice versa... but it's all down to context. Maybe that's what you want.

but in all honesty thats for the people whom do this for a living.

Why just for people who do this for a living? LOL

Rules like the ones you describe are prescriptive, and will end up generally just producing photos that look broadly similar. I would suggest the opposite... that such rules are really the province of the amateur. Most professionals realise that "rules" are merely starting guidelines for those learning, and quickly learn to beak the rules, and it's the breaking of rules that result in original work.

From what I have read. Head/shoulders, camera about eye level. 3/4 camera at chest. Full length camera at waist. Please correct if wrong.
My other dilhema is if at chest height or waist height or even eye level am I to keep the camera straight on to the subject at all times ?

Gaz

Stop worrying about it. If you start taking portraits in such a restrictive, precise, procedural manner, they'll all look the same.. they'll be boring.

I swear some of these "tutorial" websites are just doing more harm than good when it comes to teaching people photography.

There is no correct way to take a photograph. So long as you can control your camera... understand the basics of photographic theory, and are in full control of your equipment, everything else is entirely up to you.

 

[cargo]

Hi David. Thanks so much for your wisdom. Your last line has resonated with me. I suffer from self confidence (lack of at times)

Gaz

 

[Pookeyhead]

Confidence will come when you start to enjoy our own work.

 

[David Bell]

I would agree with the rules in the OP, particularly for shots closer to the subject. Shooting a close-up full length portrait with a 35mm lens with the camera at head height will result in a very distorted picture (short stumpy legs). That's an extreme example. Shooting at waist height with a 200mm lens from a distance will look much better...