4
Choose the most effective viewpoint

One of the most important aspects when shooting portraits is deciding what viewpoint to take. Whether you shoot at eye level with your subject, slightly above it, or slightly below can have a major impact on the final image. There is no right or wrong answer, as much depends on the shape of your subject’s face and features and on your individual style of photography. You should experiment from different heights and angles to see which best flatters the subject. For instance, if your subject has a long nose, shooting from above will accentuate it – shooting from lower down will give a more flattering result. Conversely, if your subject has a double chin, a lower viewpoint is the worst option, while shooting from higher up will tighten the skin. Viewpoint can also have a subtle effect on how the subject appears – looking up can make them appear submissive; looking down can make them seem dominant or even haughty.

FACE TO FACE

Many photographers have a preference on viewpoint, and ours is to shoot from slightly above eye level. We find this gives a pleasing perspective and usually results in the most flattering outcome. Having your subject tilt their head up to look at you helps tighten their skin, which is useful if they are a little overweight or elderly. In this example, the subject was sitting near a window, and having him tilt his head helped to minimize the reflections in the lenses of his spectacles.

Canon EOS-1DS Mark II, 28–70mm f/2.8 lens, 1/100 sec at f/2.8, ISO 320.