Camera Angles

Hold the camera at the same height as your subject's eyes. This feels fair and normal, like you're just talking to them. Most interviews and everyday photos use it.

Try it at home: Photographing a dog? Kneel down to ITS eye level. It instantly looks way better.

Crouch down and shoot upward. Now your subject towers over the camera and looks strong, brave, or even a bit scary. Superheroes get low angles all the time.

Try it at home: Set the camera low and shoot up at someone walking toward you. They instantly look taller and more imposing.

Stand above and shoot down. Your subject looks smaller, younger, or in trouble. Straight down from the ceiling is called a bird's-eye view — perfect for photos of food or LEGO builds.

Try it at home: Shoot your snack from directly above with everything neatly arranged.

A WIDE shot shows the whole place, so we know where we are. A MEDIUM shot shows a person from the waist up, so we can see what they're doing. A CLOSE-UP shows just the face, so we can feel what they're feeling. Good videos mix all three.

Try it at home: Film 5 seconds of a wide, 5 of a medium, and 5 of a close-up of the same moment, then play them in order. Played in order, it immediately reads as a scene.

Imagine a tic-tac-toe grid over your screen. Put the important thing on a line or where lines cross instead of dead center — it just looks better. Also look for lines like fences, roads, or shadows that point toward your subject. Eyes follow lines.

Try it at home: Turn on your camera's grid setting and place your subject's eyes on the top grid line.