Refine The Head and Shoulders Axis

One of the basics of flattering portraiture is that the subject’s shoulders should be turned at an angle to the camera. With the shoulders facing the camera straight on to the lens, the person looks wider than he or she really is. Additionally, the head should be turned in a different direction than the shoulders. This provides an opposing or complementary line within the photograph that, when seen together with the line of the body, creates a sense of tension and balance. With men, the head is often turned the same general direction as the shoulders (but not at exactly the same angle); with women, the head is usually at an angle that opposes the line of the body.

Consider the Facial Views

As mentioned previously, the head should be at a different angle than the shoulders. There are three basic head positions (relative to the camera) found in portraiture: the seven-eighths view, the three-quarter view, and the profile view. Knowing these positions will help you provide variety in your images. In group portraits, you may even end up using all three head positions in a single pose (the more people in the group, the more likely that becomes).

The Seven Eighths View. If you consider the full face as a head on “mug shot,” then the seven eighths view is when the subject’s face is turned just slightly away from the camera. In other words, you will see slightly more of one side of the subject’s face. You will still see the subject’s far ear in a seven-eighths view.

The Three Quarter View. This view is achieved when the face is turned sufficiently that the far ear is hidden from the camera. With this pose, the far eye will appear smaller because it is farther away from the camera than the near eye. Because of this, it is important to position the subject so that their smaller eye (people usually have one eye that is slightly smaller than the other) is closest to the camera. This way, the perspective makes both eyes appear to be the same size in the photograph. This may not be something you have time to do when posing groups of people at a wedding, but when photographing the bride and groom, care should be taken to notice these subtleties.

Profile. In the profile, the head is turned almost 90 degrees to the camera. Only one eye is visible. In posing your subjects in profile, have them turn their heads gradually away from the camera position until the far eye and eyelashes just disappear.