hi guys! something bothers me everytime i shoot peole, especially the last wedding i took of my friends. the groom was about 5'5" tall at most and the bride a little shorter. my problem is i stand at 6'2" and i always have this thought in my mind about whether i have a bad angle on the couple from way up here or should i be shooting way down there and maybe get a better angle for photos.

shooting at eye level will give me back pains for days! hahaha! so maybe what i'm asking is, is the view from up here worse or better than eye level or lower? what's the proper or advisable camera level in shooting the couple?

thanks!

Dex
:)

hi dex,

best is to try it out - shoot which has the best look for you. but i think the best portraits would work best with eye-level (of the subject, at least for 35mm format).

why dont you try a right-angle finder or a waist-level finder? or maybe those zigviews - http://www.zigview.co.uk/ :)

Ey Aris, Zigview looks Interesting! I am not 6'2 - but tall enough to have the same problems as Dex.

Hi Dex.

If you are shooting head and shoulders, perfect level would be eye level or slightly below eye level. If photographing full lengnth, the most flattering angle would be shooting at THEIR mid height. In your case since you are quite tall, that would mean kneeling down or bending. (Some pros keep their camera on a tripod if there are a lot of groups to photograph full lengnth) If you photograph them standing up, they will look like they have short legs and a long torso..especially with a wide angle.

Good luck and hopefully you don't break your back on the process:D

Tnx Aris, that's one cool thing I wouldn't mind having! haha! :D

Tnx Pilar, i'll take your advice as usual. Now I have some guidelines and won't be shooting blindly and doubtful! ;)

now that you mentioned it that really is a problem pala. at least squatting is good exercise brother =)

try splitting too to increase your flexibility at the same time. sorry i'm just too low tech =)

nice insights pilar =)

sigh, that's my problem, too, as i'm also 6ft. another reason why wedding photography is back breaking.

i prefer being tall though. much more beneficial to carrying a stool.

:<)