Getting the right ‘power angle’ for these teenager portraits of Taryn

I’ve been taking photographs of Taryn since she was a baby, and it’s been a pleasure and an honour to watch her grow up.

From a happy, cheeky baby through to a courageous, intelligent and articulate teenager, Taryn is always a joy to work with. She is highly creative and is currently developing her own photography skills, which means we are continually bouncing ideas off each other during shoots (and sometimes haggling over who gets to take the next photo!).

These are my two favourite images from our most recent shoot together, and there’s a specific reason I love them: the angle.

When photographing women, the typical photographic approach is to shoot from a higher angle. Because the woman is looking up towards the camera, her eyes are open to their fullest, and big eyes are considered flattering and attractive.

However, this angle also infers a power dynamic. When viewing the finished photograph, it’s very much like ‘looking down’ on the subject. This creates a subtle but significant association of vulnerability, weakness and lack of power around the person you’re photographing.

Now, ‘weak’ isn’t ever a word I’d use to describe Taryn, and so I set out to capture images that represent her as I know her: strong, confident and good-natured.

I’ve lowered my angle for both these shots, which means when we’re viewing the images, we are ‘looking up’ at Taryn.

The first image (above) is clearly posed, while the second (below) shows Taryn looking more relaxed and casual. A little touch of foreground foliage on the second one provides an impression of a moment caught, rather than set-up, and I love how natural it feels as a result.

Portrait photography by Sarah Plater in Bicester, Oxfordshire