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Question from Kathrin: “Do you short photographers have sometimes also trouble getting a good portrait especially if the people are taller then you? I do.. I know I can pose them – sit them down etc. but I photograph only outdoors and sometimes you want some pose that doesn’t work because you short.. Is it just me who sees this? If not how do you handle this?”
Christina: I always bring a step ladder with me. Sometimes it gets carried around for no reason, most of the time I use it.
Samantha: step stool/ladder
Anne: I have a collapsible stool I bring with me. It’s small and light, but gives me added height. Or I find a or stairs to stand on.
Lindsay: I’m 5’2, I always bring a step stool (from Marshalls, they fold up flat) or I position myself on higher ground.
Shebli: I bought a folding step stool that I keep with all of my photography stuff
Cara: Step stool, always. especially if I’m photographing men, they are always WAY taller than me.
Steve: I always have a two-step stepladder in the car, sometimes known as kitchen steps, when taking portraits, the pose always looks better with the model looking up slightly, help to eliminate double chins!
Clara: LOL I’m too short and I have this problem too. I use anything to climb or sometimes I raise my arms praying to get the shot
Sarah: Stepladder for sure!
Jennifer: Step back and then crop!
Sarah: Ya I’m short too!!! Need to bring a step ladder!
Sadie: I’ve heard some people bring a step stool for standing on. I’m also short (5′), but am still pretty new and haven’t had a lot of problems with it. For individual portraits, I just have them sit or I’ll stand on something that puts me a little higher. Most of my families have had small kids and I guess that makes it easier on me, it seems to look fine from my angle with young kids in the picture. I also like having faces close together; so on the ground with young kids works well a lot of the time.
Cynthia: I found a ladder that doubles as a dolly on Amazon. Really light.
Jennifer: A step ladder or higher ground can help, but I use old school rules usually – if I’m shooting a full length portrait, I’m at waist level, 3/4 at chest level, head and shoulders at neck level, and the close-up is the only one above and I usually have them sit down for that. That goes out the window for artistic shots, but for portraits, that’s the way I do it.
LaTosha: I raise my arms and angle my screen down so I can see what i am taking pictures off
Meghan: Yep this happens to me. I use a step stool or step ladder. It’s a pain to carry around but I’m so happy I have it. I use it in almost all of my sessions!
Andrea: I bought a 2 step aluminum step stool from Target that weighs 4 lbs. It is so light weight so, even if I don’t end up using it, I don’t regret bringing it along.
Justina: Same exact thing as Andrea. Literally!
Katy: I stand on anything around me. I have most of my “spots” mapped out and I never wear a dress. It’s amazing…the things you’ll do for the perfect shot.
Deirdre: I carry a step ladder with me… I’m 5 feet tall and run into this all the time.
Mollie: I am 5 1 and deal with this ALL THE TIME! Been keeping an eye out for little portable step ladders.
Amanda: Step stool.
Amanda: I’m 5’8″ and I carry a step ladder
Michelle: I bring a light fold up stool
Beth: I bring a step ladder as well. Small investment, huge help!
Alysha: I’m quite tall so it’s not an issue for me, but I do find myself in contortionist positions sometimes trying to get a really good angle of shorter people…lol. I have a photographer friend who is only about 5’1″ and she carries a little foldable step stool with her bag.
Pam: I am rather short myself and I always bring a step ladder with me, sometimes it gets used, sometimes, not. Better to not need it and have it than to need it and not have it…
Maria: Do you have camera with flexible LCD screen? If so, try tilting screen down & hold camera above your eyes.
Connie: You need to be on the right shooting plane to get the proper angles so bring a step ladder i struggle i also am short
Stacy: Besides using a stool I will sometimes shoot with my 70-200. This way I can get further back and zoom in. By getting further back it gives the illusion of being more on their height level.
Tandy: I have an adjustable LCD screen on my Nikon D5100 so it works awesome!
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