Among the most basic things you better learn in photography is portrait orientation.
Knowing how and when to use it will help you on your way to becoming a confident photographer.
What Is Portrait Orientation?
Portrait orientation refers to when the longest edge of a photo is vertical.
How you take a photo in portrait differs depending on whether you have a smartphone or a dedicated camera.
When you hold a smartphone in your hand, the natural orientation of the camera is in portrait.
The longest side is vertical, making the photo look taller rather than wider.
However, when you hold a professional camera in your hands (e.g.
As the name suggests, portrait orientation is commonly used to take portrait photographs of people.
Naturally, it captures the human body well, since humans are taller than they are wide.
That’s all there is to it.
It’s especially useful for emphasizing lines in a composition that draw your eyes upwards.
Furthermore, it helps to convey emotion by letting us see a person’s body language.
Once you feel comfortable taking photos in portrait orientation, you could start exploring different lenses.
For more tips, see our guide onhow to choose the best lens for portrait photography.
Adding a tripod to your setup can also give you more time to arrange your portrait photo just right.
