As photographers we are privy to sure experience and understanding that the average person is not. Our working human relationship with the nuances of camera and lens physics and how that plays into discipline representation is, actually, uncommon. And when it comes to shooting people, nosotros certainly have a better foundation on which to stand to make them look their best, especially portrait, fashion, and dazzler photographers, and one of the things we have to contend with is this persistent notion that the photographic camera adds ten pounds. inexact

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The idea that the camera adds ten pounds is a pervasive and persistent 1 throughout the mainstream and even in the modeling world, merely how true is information technology? Well, to add together a little more than fuel to the fire, more than provender for word, the Sci Show made a short 2 minute video in an attempt to explain it.

Now, of course, this was meant for a broad audition, so photographers acquainted with the 'phenomena' needn't exist cynical even though they address something all of us already understand, and that'south the effect focal length has on the appearance of a discipline, or more specifically, the relative appearance between parts of a field of study.

We sympathize wider lenses will misconstrue depending on orientation and altitude in a style that's typically less flattering (though if you've shot enough you know when you lot pull that wider focal length out to elongate a confront or effigy), and that longer focal lengths (upward to a point) 'compress' features in a generally more appealing mode.

Just other than that the video suggests that a large contributor to the theory is that when we see with our eyes nosotros are using stereoscopic vision, where as with a camera it's monoscopic, and that stereoscopic renders depth improve, given a better sense of relative depth perception, and a meliorate more than 'all-round' view compared to the flatter look of a monoscopic lens which tin can create the perception of larger features. Does that mean it'southward 10lbs worth? That's probably a matter of stance and seems arbitrary, but there does seem to be some chip of truth to it.

So What Tin can You Do?

Well, it comes downwards to knowing your subject area actually and having a item vision, and experience. There actually is no substitute for feel hither because I could tell you that 105mm is pretty ideal for headshots equally that's my experience from the typical distance I like to shoot, just yous've got to know when to place that equally a crock for the situation.

There's no blanket reply, and there are many things you can do to expect slimmer in a photograph, from lighting, wear, make-up, and posing is a huge one. We ran a story a bit ago with a series of videos and tips on 'How To Pose So Yous Don't Look Fat In Photos' that'south worth taking a look. Too, if you lot're a wedding photographer our latest premium content on Photographing The Couple covers a lot of this basis in detail to aid you brand your clients await their very all-time, every time. Check it out.