It often makes a very big difference in a portrait to ask the subject to tilt their head up or down. Here we have Nicole going from a chin-up pose to a chin-down pose, and if you want to see more, check out the way down and way up pages.
Bottom Line: Chin up or down makes a very big difference in a portrait.
100mm, f19, studio flash
Left
Right
Chin way up — clearly too far. Nicole is looking down her nose at us. Haughty.
This is a military-looking, at-attention look. Might work in some situations.
Chin is just a little bit higher than normal. Adds optimism.
Pretty much straight-ahead look, not as optimistic as the one to the left.
Chin slightly down, and now Nicole looks even less optimistic, almost sad.
Chin down more than normal, and the look is getting quite sad indeed.
Along with sadness, this pose brings a pious look to the shot.
Chin way down; looks like the judge has just pronounced her guilty.
Chin way up — clearly too far. Nicole is looking down her nose at us. Haughty.
This is a military-looking, at-attention look. Might work in some situations.
Chin is just a little bit higher than normal. Adds optimism.
Pretty much straight-ahead look, not as optimistic as the one to the left.
Chin slightly down, and now Nicole looks even less optimistic, almost sad.
Chin down more than normal, and the look is getting quite sad indeed.
Along with sadness, this pose brings a pious look to the shot.
Chin way down; looks like the judge has just pronounced her guilty.
