How can I photograph someone without emphasizing a prominent nose?

Asked 8/28/2012

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I’m photographing a friend who feels self-conscious about her nose. What posing, camera angle, focal length, and lighting choices can help make a nose look less prominent in portraits? Are there different approaches for a nose that appears long versus one that appears wide?

lighting composition lenses portrait posing

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

13y ago

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You want to be shooting more or less dead on to the subject, not to the side. The rule of thumb is that the line of the nose should not 'break' the line of the cheek, and this is doubly true for nasally well-endowed subjects.

Avoid wide-angle lenses like the plague - you need to be looking at a 100-135mm lens ideally, as it will flatten the photograph somewhat.

Lighting should be very soft to prevent the nose casting tell-tale shadows. A large softbox is ideal, or if you are using natural light try fixing a thin white cloth or paper to a window to soften the light right down.

EDIT: Since you've mentioned that the subject's nose is wide, I would disregard the first point and instead shoot from an angle. I'll leave the answer as it is otherwise so both wide and long noses are catered for :)

Originally by user3205. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user3205

13y ago

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Use a longer focal length and soft, even light. A short telephoto lens is the usual choice for portraits because it reduces perspective exaggeration that makes noses look larger; avoid wide-angle lenses at close distances. Around the classic portrait range (roughly short telephoto) is a good starting point.

For a longer or more projecting nose, photograph the subject more straight-on so the nose doesn’t break the cheek line in profile. For a wider nose, a slight angle can be more flattering than a full straight-on view.

Keep lighting soft and fairly frontal to minimize nose shadows and texture. Large soft light sources, bounced light, or window light diffused through a white cloth can all work. Even illumination from slightly above and in front can help flatten the appearance of the nose.

In practice: step back a bit, use a longer lens, avoid side-on views that emphasize the nose silhouette, and favor soft, gentle lighting over harsh directional light.

How can I photograph someone without emphasizing a prominent nose?

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