The Angle That Changes Everything
Gray in NYC, powerful portrait by Alice Alice Prenat.
I know you all know the trick to make yourself look "thinner" in photos. Well, maybe you do. Maybe you do not.
How many of you, when taking a selfie, have said, “Hold the camera up high. It makes me look thinner.”
It is such a common habit. But have you ever stopped to think about what that angle is really doing?
📸 When you lift the camera above your head:
It makes you look smaller. A high angle shortens your body and face. It can feel playful, even childlike, which is why younger women often use it.
It softens features. Tilting your chin up stretches the neck and jawline, bringing focus to the eyes.
But it also shifts the gaze down. The viewer is literally looking down on you. The result is less power, as though you are giving away authority in the frame.
So yes, that high angle might make you look “thinner”, but it is also making you look smaller.
And why would we want to do that? This stage of life is not about shrinking. It is about showing up as the woman you have become. Wise. Present. Powerful.
Eye level angle = instant authority. She looks like she knows her business. ©SimplyGrayPhotography
Next time you take a photo on your phone, start by holding the camera at eye level. When the lens meets you here, it feels equal. Your proportions stay natural, your eyes connect directly with the viewer, and your posture naturally straightens. You look open, honest and self-assured.
Camera held low, with angle tilted up. WOWSER! Look how confident and bold she looks and feels. ©SimplyGrayPhotography
Now, if you are brave enough (and I highly recommend you try), bring the camera slightly below eye level and tilt it up just a touch.
✨ This is where the power shot comes in. The angle elongates your body, strengthens your jawline and gives a sense of quiet authority. You take up space in the frame, not by posing harder, but by standing taller.
You will not just look different. You will feel different. You will look like the woman who knows her own story.
Every woman is built differently, and understanding how the camera sees you makes all the difference. Below are some examples that show the impact of small shifts in angle, especially for branding portraits, where your image speaks before you do.
📅 My Camberwell studio’s last booking date is 27 November 2025. I will not be returning until 2026, and in a brand-new location (still to be found!).
If you would like to book a session, ask a question, or just say hello, send me a message. I would love to hear from you.
💛 My personal goal in these years of life is to help every woman see herself with the same warmth and strength that others see in her.
©SimplyGrayPhotography
©SimplyGrayPhotography
©SimplyGrayPhotography
©SimplyGrayPhotography
©SimplyGrayPhotography
©SimplyGrayPhotography