Welcome to our Infinitesimal Photography series, where we explain photography and lighting tips & tricks, myths, and techniques. For more educational activity and details on similar concepts, be sure to check out our Photography 101 Workshop.

In just 60 seconds, we are going to explain why the camera seems to add ten pounds to people in photographs.

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"The camera adds ten pounds."

This common phrase actually describes the effects of lens distortion caused by broad to semi-broad angle lenses, which tin brand people in pictures announced heavier than they really are. Wide bending lenses can not only widen out the body, simply they can too completely distort a subject's features.

To illustrate this indicate, we photographed Brandon on a Canon 5D Mark IV with a Canon 24-70mm zoom lens. Observe how Brandon's facial features change as we adjust our focal length and cycle from 24mm to 35mm, 50mm, and 70mm.

As we increased the focal length, we too increased our distance from Brandon so that his face up would occupy roughly the same corporeality of space within the frame for each headshot.

[REWIND: three Tips To Start Taking Better Photographs]

If y'all want to see just how dramatic of a difference at that place is, compare the paradigm at 24mm to the paradigm taken with a 70mm focal length.

That's quite a divergence! So, how do nosotros go along the camera from adding those mystical ten pounds?

TIP #i: Go along YOUR SUBJECTS Away FROM THE EDGES

Catechism 5D Mark Iii, Sigma 24mm, f/1.iv, 1/250, ISO 800

Lens distortion is heaviest at the edges of the frame, so nosotros recommend centering your subjects when shooting them somewhat close upwardly with a broad angle lens.

TIP #2: A FOCAL LENGTH OF 85MM OR GREATER WILL Avert Baloney

Canon 5D Marking Iii, Canon TS-E 90mm, f/four, 1/250/ ISO 200

For taking close-up portraits, we recommend using a focal length of 85mm or greater in order to avoid distortion. The 85mm focal length, in item, is known every bit a true portrait lens, and it offers neat compression and background bokeh at wider apertures.

[REWIND: Favorite Lenses Used for 10,000 Couples Portraits]

TIP #3: WIDE Angle DISTORTION Tin can Be USED TO YOUR Benefit

Canon 5D Mark III, Sigma 24mm, f/1.4, one/500, ISO 100

In the example to a higher place, we used the distortion to our advantage while capturing a conjugal portrait. The wider bending distorted the bride's figure and appeared to lengthen her legs and raise the curvy shape of her hips.

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