Tech Tips : Getting the Above Angle

I walked downstairs and announced I was in a mood. I went into the kitchen, grabbed a glass of water, but before I could escape upstairs, JD stopped me and asked what was wrong. I itemized a few things (ending my list with and there aren't enough unicorns in my life!) and JD said it'd be okay. I stood in the hallway and swished the water in my glass. I admitted to wanting/needing change and he replied, So does that mean you're going to dye your hair?

He knows me so well.

Speaking of change, shall I change the subject to photography? Well, alrighty then…

f/1.4 1/4000 160 ISO 35mm

After posting Shannon and Bill's Orange County engagement session, Janet Cruz asked: Hey Jas, (I feel like we're friends, so if we were hanging out, I'd call you Jas, unless you asked me not to) anyway….. Wow,,,, beautiful! so, do you climb trees to get that “from above angle”? Inquiring minds want to know! Janet (you can call me “J”)

Hi J! I get asked this question a bit, considering how short I am. The best way to get an above angle to have clients sit on the ground and the photographer and I position myself to crop out unseemly positions of the subjects' arms or legs. However, whenever I have the chance to stand on something to make me taller, I absolutely will do it. Here's an example of what I mean:

In this case, there were 2-foot wooden blocks acting as a parking partition, so I climbed on top of one and asked the couple to stand close to me, so I could hunch over and get the shot I wanted. You can see the wooden blocks in this picture to give you a better idea:

Standing on something to get a different angle is a great way to diversify a portfolio, especially when given an environment like a field. When everything looks the same and the background is identical, a photographer must rely on his ideas and posing skills to maximize the location. Hope this helps!

Happy Thursday!