Where to Position Your Camera

JOEY LIPOVETSKY

Portraits generally look best when you position your camera at the subject's eye level, so set your tripod up so you're shooting level with their eyes. This is particularly important when shooting childrendon't shoot down on children (just like you don't shoot down on flowers), or you'll wind up with some very disappointing shots. So, with kids, you're either going to raise them up to your eye level (on a tall seat) or you're going to lower your tripod down to their eye level and shoot on your knees (I knowthe indignities we have to suffer for our craft and all that...). Also, now that you're at the right height, about how far back should you position your tripod from your subject? Your focal length will pretty much dictate that for you, but if you're about 8 to10 feet from your subject you'll be in good shape.