Pose & style reference · Camera angles and views
Three-quarter view (3/4 view)
Also called: 3/4 view, 3/4 view face, three quarter angle, half profile
In short
A three-quarter view, or 3/4 view, shows a face or body turned roughly 45 degrees from the viewer, halfway between front view and side profile. You see the full near side of the face and part of the far side, which gives a strong sense of depth while keeping both eyes visible.
Reference photos
Photos are shown from mfan8.com with credit to the photographers and models. Tap a photo to open the full set.
Why the 3/4 view is the go-to angle
Most portraits in painting history and most character illustrations use some version of the three-quarter view. It shows the shape of the nose, the cheekbone and the jaw, which a front view flattens, while still letting the subject look at the viewer. The far side of the face shrinks and partly hides behind the nose and cheek, and that overlap is what makes the head feel round.
For bodies, a 3/4 turn also slims the silhouette and shows the depth of the chest and the outfit's side seams.
Three-quarter view variations
| Angle | What you see | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Classic 3/4 (about 45°) | Both eyes, far eye narrower | Balanced, natural |
| Slight turn (about 20–30°) | Far cheek barely hidden | Near-front, friendly |
| Deep 3/4 (about 60–70°) | Far eye partly behind the nose bridge | Dramatic, close to profile |
| 3/4 from above | Top of the head, smaller chin | Soft, cute |
| 3/4 from below | Jaw and underside of the nose | Heroic, strong |
| Body 3/4, face to camera | Shoulders turned, eyes on the lens | Classic portrait pose |
How to draw a 3/4 view face
- Draw the head as a ball and curve the centre line around it, shifted toward the far side.
- Wrap the eye line around the ball as a curve, not a straight line.
- Place the near eye at full width and the far eye narrower, tucked against the nose bridge.
- Cut a plane on the far side for the cheek and temple; the far cheek overlaps the far eye's outer corner slightly.
- Put the near ear behind the jaw and leave the far ear hidden.
The classic mistake is drawing both eyes the same size, or placing the nose on a centre line that is still straight down the middle as if seen from the front.
How to pose and photograph a 3/4 view
Ask the subject to turn the body about 45 degrees from the camera, then bring the face back partway. Light from the side the face is turned toward (short lighting) narrows the face and adds shape; light from the camera side (broad lighting) opens it up.
- Watch the far eye: if the nose crosses into it, the turn has gone too far for a 3/4 view.
- Keep the eyes slightly toward the lens so more of the white shows on the far side.
- Drop the near shoulder a little to lengthen the neck.
FAQ
What is a 3/4 view?
A view of a head or body turned about 45 degrees from the viewer, between front view and profile, showing the near side fully and the far side partly.
Why do the eyes look wrong in my 3/4 face?
The far eye should be narrower and sit closer to the nose bridge, and the eye line should curve around the head.
Is three-quarter view the same as half profile?
They are used for the same idea, though half profile is sometimes used for a deeper turn closer to the side view.