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Half-body shot framing: Photography from waist up showing upper body & face. Learn composition, framing rules & when to use this angle.
Half-body shot framing: Photography from waist up showing upper body & face. Learn composition, framing rules & when to use this angle.
Photography framed from approximately the waist up, showing the upper body, arms, and head. Balances showing outfit context while maintaining detail visibility, commonly used for tops, outerwear, and upper-body accessories.
Category: Photography Technique
Why It Matters: Provides more context than headshots while maintaining detail; efficient for showcasing tops and jackets; allows gesture and pose variation; shows upper body fit and proportion; requires less full-body composition complexity.
Use Cases: Shirt and blouse photography, jacket and outerwear, upper body accessories, showing sleeve details, demonstrating fit through torso, lifestyle content, social media posts.
Example of Real Use Case: A workwear clothing brand uses half-body shots for their entire collection of blazers and dress shirts, allowing them to capture 3x more products per shoot day compared to full-length shots while still showing critical fit and styling details.
Software/Service: Standard photography equipment, medium focal length lenses (50-85mm), portrait lighting, ai photoshoot
Common Issues: Awkward framing cutting at joints, difficulty deciding where to crop, inconsistent framing between shots, limited styling opportunity, doesn't show complete outfit.
Do's and Don'ts:
✓ Do frame consistently (at waist or hip level)
✓ Do show both arms when relevant
✓ Do maintain natural posture
✓ Do ensure product details are clearly visible
✗ Don't crop at joints (elbows, wrists)
✗ Don't use for products where lower body is important
✗ Don't ignore hand and arm positioning
Related Terms: Headshot, Full-Length Shot, On-Model Photography, E-commerce Photography, Framing
Also Known As: Upper Body Shot, Waist-Up Shot, Torso Shot