Vertical or horizontal? Choosing the right orientation
Orientation changes the story and determines where a photo can be used. Learn when to shoot vertical, horizontal or both.
Most people shoot everything horizontally because that is how the camera sits in their hands. But orientation is a creative and practical choice.
When to shoot horizontal
- Landscapes, beaches and wide views
- Interiors and real estate listings
- Website banners and YouTube thumbnails
- Groups of people standing side by side
When to shoot vertical
- Full-length portraits and fashion
- Tall subjects: church towers, doorways, palm trees
- Instagram feed (4:5), Stories and Reels (9:16)
- Phone-first content and posters
Shoot both
For any important scene, take both orientations. A client might need a horizontal hero for the website and a vertical version for Instagram. When we shoot commercial and real estate work, we deliver both for exactly this reason.
Plan for the crop
If the image will be cropped to 4:5 or 9:16, leave space around the subject and keep important details away from the edges. A vertical grip like the VG-C4EM makes shooting vertical much more comfortable for long sessions.
Next: Layers and depth: building photos with foreground, middle and background
