19Photo of this pose coming soon
Editorial
19
Off-Camera Gaze
What this pose solves
Breaks direct contact, transforming a portrait into a scene.
Direction: what to tell the model
- 01Designate a physical point on the wall as the target for the gaze.
- 02Three-quarter face, eyes looking beyond the nose.
- 03No smile; the mouth remains neutral.
- 04Request a specific thought, not a generic emotion.
The 3x1 Matrix
Wide Shot
Full body
Larger negative space on the side the subject is looking towards.
Medium Shot
Waist up
Face off-center, breathing room in front of the gaze.
Close-up
Face / hands
Iris displaced, maintaining light catchlight.
Common Mistakes
- Eyes looking too far, showing too much white.
- Negative space behind instead of in front of the gaze.
Variations
- Looking down, eyelids dominating the frame.
- Looking up, seeking the light.