Shoot from a Slightly Higher Angle

Have you ever noticed that people who are really good at selfies always hold their phone up a few inches higher than their head, and then they look up at their phone when they take the selfie? The reason why is simple: it makes them look better. That slightly higher point of view, above eye level, is more flattering to the face as it accentuates the jawline. By looking up at the camera it tightens the skin in the face and neck, as well. It makes a bigger difference than you’d think, and it’s why many pro portrait photographers will shoot from a slightly higher angle, as well—it’s a more flattering angle. In fact, if their subject is standing, they’ll sometimes stand on top of something to put themselves up a little higher, so they can shoot from that angle. Matthews, a studio accessories maker, makes wooden boxes in a variety of different heights, called “Apple Boxes,” which are sturdy as anything, and I use them if I have a tall subject and I need to get up a little higher than them to get that slightly higher angle. In the shot shown above, I’m standing on the sidewalk curb, to get a higher angle on my very tall subject, who is also wearing very high heels.