Newb Question about Camera Height for Portraits

[S Dot B Photography]

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?

Thanks.

 

[Big Mike]

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.

 

[ScottsdaleImages]

I totally agree with Big Mike. 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 funky photo-journalistic style, that is not a hard and fast rule. I'd try some classic angles and then some different angles.

 

[KmH]

As Mike alluded to, beyond the classic head shot the best camera height for a portrait is dictated by the body type of the subject as well as the pose.

 

[flyin-lowe]

Portrait Photography Tips

There are some useful tips here.

A few months ago somebody had a link to a site that had like 100 portrait tips or something like that. I don't remember much about it but it covered almost every aspect of taking a portrait. Anybody else remember or know of the link?

 

[S Dot B Photography]

thanks a lot for the tips i appreciate it