How to omit feet (framing)

Related FAQ: What are some tips for Solo Must Have NFBSN?

Many abbywinters.com customers appreciate seeing a model’s bare feet, with many of those identifying as foot fetishists.  These customers get very frustrated when feet are excluded from view due to sloppy framing choices.

It is always fine to make a considered choice to intentionally exclude feet from frame, customers want to feel close to models and bringing the camera closer to isolate a body part is a big part of delivering that (and a big part of the abbywinters.com paradigm). However, whenever the camera moves closer to the model, consider that what is left outside of the frame is not “obviously” missing to the customer.

Framing an extremity just out of the shot can create an odd perspective – in the case of feet, artificially shortening the model. Working to extend the appearance of a model’s legs is flattering and appealing, shortening them is never desirable, even when working with a petite model who is shorter than 152 cm (5 feet).

Marleen S’s Solo shoot is a good case study for this topic. There is some great foot content in this shoot as part of the Layering of Clothing use (with the tights/panty hose) and the Long legs fetish but there are also several occasions where her feet have been needlessly framed out by the photographer – really frustrating for customers. Poor framing like this also reduces the overall shoot quality and as abbywinters.com makes a premium product this is an issue that can lead to a reduction in sales.

Poor framing examples

ABOVE: This portrait image should be landscape-oriented. There is lots of “dead space” at the bottom of the frame taken up with caramel carpet. When there is not enough room to easily accommodate a model in a portrait-oriented frame, landscape offers the width to include all. Whenever it is not possible to fill the whole frame with mostly model (not the room), the SP should change the orientation of their camera to see how the alternative framing option looks. Camera orientation decisions should be considered calls throughout a shoot.

Successful framing examples

ABOVE: SPs work so models fill the frame from top to bottom, side to side, including everything that is most appealing in that moment. This image of Marleen S is a great image because all the pixels are dedicated to the model. If the framing had been less precise and the tops of her toes were cut off, the quality and impact of this image would be significantly reduced.

The framing concepts covering in this FAQ apply to all abbywinters.com shoot types.