Im 5’3, which I never really thought was super short but the longer I am in photography, the more that I have noticed I’m often shorter than my adult clients. I have also learned along the way.. primarily from my sister who LOVED the “up angle” so much that I began joking about standing on tables and ladders to photograph her. I have to admit though, she was right, that angle is more flattering than the “up the nose view” that is apparently just life from my perspective.

Nowadays I have learned to compensate by having my clients sit or kneel, but honestly some people feel like they look a little “frumpy” sitting down so I take a step stool with me sometimes or look for a higher area to place myself and put my clients downhill There is one thing that I don’t do to compensate for my lack of height anymore and thats standing in chairs. As usual, I don’t learn anything the easy way so heres a little life lesson story that has helped me remember not to stand in chairs. I was photographing a gorgeous outdoor wedding, I think it was my third wedding ever. It was time for the garter/bouquet and since I was still a more timid photographer at the time everyone had gathered around and I couldn’t see. Now today I would simply ask the guests to please step aside since I was the photographer but nah, I thought I could just work around them. I grabbed a metal folding chair and didn’t even think twice before I hopped up in the chair. As I put pressure on the back with my foot while jumping straight up, the back of the chair was folding down and I was going backwards fast. I have no idea how, but my left foot landed behind the chair and while I was tangled up and flustered, I didn’t hit the ground or drop any of my equipment. And from that day on, I just nicely ask people to let the shorty through or find my handy step stool. Now that I think about it, maybe that is part of the reason I love photographing children so much.. they are always looking up to me 😉 Its okay to roll your eyes at my joke, my children do that too!