Pose & style reference · Camera angles and views
Side view reference
Also called: side view reference, from side, full body side view, lateral view
In short
A side view shows the whole figure turned 90 degrees to the viewer, so you see one side of the body and the silhouette of its front and back. It is the clearest angle for posture, the S-curve of the spine, walking strides and the depth of an outfit.
Reference photos
Photos are shown from mfan8.com with credit to the photographers and models. Tap a photo to open the full set.
What the side view shows
From the front, the body hides how it actually balances. From the side, you see the head sitting slightly forward of the shoulders, the chest curving out, the lower back curving in and the knees nearly straight over the ankles. That stacking is why turnaround sheets always include a side view.
Photographers use the full side view for movement such as walking, running or dancing, and for outfits with interesting depth: puffed sleeves, bustles, capes, backpacks and long hair.
Side view variations
- Standing side view: neutral posture, arms relaxed, used for model sheets.
- Walking side view: one leg forward, opposite arm swinging forward.
- Side view with head turned to camera: the body in profile, the face in 3/4 or front.
- Seated side view: shows the seat, back angle and leg fold clearly.
- Silhouette side view: subject backlit so only the outline reads.
How to draw a figure from the side
Draw a vertical plumb line from the ear down to the ankle. In a relaxed standing posture the ear, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle land close to that line. The spine is not straight: it curves forward at the neck, back at the ribcage and forward again at the lower back.
The ribcage tilts back and the pelvis tilts forward, so the front of the torso is not a straight vertical. The arm hangs from the middle of the shoulder, not from the front, and the feet point toward the direction the figure faces. Watch the thickness of each limb: from the side the thigh is deeper than it is wide from the front.
How to pose and photograph a side view
Keep the camera at waist or chest height and square to the subject so the body is not foreshortened. A slightly long lens from farther back gives a clean silhouette. Use a plain or distant background so the outline separates clearly.
- Lengthen the neck and drop the shoulders; poor posture is obvious from the side.
- Step the near leg slightly forward so the legs do not merge into one shape.
- Lift the chin a little and turn the eyes toward the light.
- For backlit silhouettes, meter for the sky so the subject turns dark.
FAQ
What is the difference between side view and side profile?
Side view usually means the whole body seen from the side. Side profile refers to the face seen exactly from the side.
Why does my side view figure look stiff?
The spine is probably drawn straight. Add the natural S-curve and tilt the ribcage and pelvis in opposite directions.
What camera height works for full-body side shots?
Around waist height, square to the subject, so neither the head nor the feet are distorted.