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Instructor: Kathy Cennamo

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Framing Human Subjects

When framing human subjects, there are a few special considerations:

1. Don't cut people off at their joints

When framing people, try not to place the edge of the frame at a joint. It's better to have the shot end midway between the shoulders and the elbows than at the elbows. And better to have the bottom of the frame fall mid-way up a person's thigh than at the knees. It just doesn't look right!


Don't end the frame at a joint.

Better

2. Provide adequate headroom. 

Headroom is the space above the head that you see in the frame. Try to place the subject's eyes about 1/3 of the way from the top of the frame. On close-ups, if you put the subjects nose in the middle of the frame, you will be very close to having appropriate framing.

3. Provide adequate leadroom. 

Leadroom is similar to headroom but refers to the amount of frame in front of and behind a person. If a man on camera is looking to his left, you want to place him on the right side of the frame so that he has "room" to look for something. Or if a woman is walking from left to right, place her on the left in order to give her "room to walk" in the frame. Remember, if someone is looking or walking in one direction, you need to provide room to look or walk into.

The field of view is not the only thing to consider when framing a shot. Please go to the Next part of this lesson: camera angles.


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