Does the camera really add 10 pounds?

Do the cameras and phones we use really add weight?

It’s such a common thought that it was even featured on Friends!! But does the camera really add 10 pounds and make you look bigger than you do in real life?

The simple answer is that it can not only make you look heavier but also distort your features which is no good for anyone’s confidence!!! How often have you left to go out to work or dinner taking one last look in the mirror and being as happy as you can be only to see a photo taken later that day which makes you look awful!!

Focal Length is the key factor in the camera adding weight.

The main culprit in adding weight is what’s called the focal length of the lens itself. Of course lighting, etc. plays its part, but it's the focal length that will add the weight and distort your features.

Focal length is measured in millimetres (mm). Don’t worry too much about the geeky technical side but it’s the numbers that are important. The commonly agreed ideal focal length so that we all look as we see with our eyes is between 85mm & 135mm. Although this is not the focal length of our eyes, it gives a similar result to how we are used to seeing the world (cameras and eyes work with focal length a bit differently).

Now, if you have ever seen a portrait taken with a fish eye lens (like the one above) which is normally between 8 and 15mm, you will see a very obvious distortion in the features. Everything that’s close to the lens looks bigger and the other features taper away. Although this is an extreme case, it hopefully gives you an idea of what the difference between say 15mm and 85mm can have on a portrait.

Taking Selfies? What focal length is your mobile phone?

In a world of selfies, it’s worth considering what focal length the camera in your smartphone has. Taking any portrait at that distance can be tricky but with many mobile phone lenses being around 26mm, it's no wonder that so many of us hate ourselves when taking a selfie! We have listed the most popular makes and models below with their focal lengths to give you an idea if you want the best selfie camera!

In our headshots, we typically shoot between 85 and 135mm. Once you get to 85MM, there is a very small difference once you go higher. Unfortunately shooting at 200mm will not remove an additional 10 pounds!! The variance is more to do with how the background looks. For instance on our 70-200mm lenses, you get a nicer bokeh (blurry background) than you do at 85MM.

So, does the camera really add 10 pounds? Yes it easily can but with a little know how. You can get amazing accurate portraits.

Now it’s just the wrinkles, tired eyes, blemishes and everything else to worry about. Thank goodness for Photoshop!!!!

Lumosia offer headshot photography throughout the UK for businesses of all sizes. You can find our more about what we do at www.lumosia.com

If you have any questions or would like to discuss having us photograph headshots for you or your team, call us on 07810004451. You can always email about any corporate photography requirements to [email protected]