Someone once asked me if I was taking photos or auditioning for a Cirque du Soleil act — the way I kept flipping my camera around. Truth is, sometimes the story just doesn’t fit sideways. That’s when it’s time to… get vertical.
The Problem: Stuck in Horizontal Mode
Most of us default to shooting horizontal (landscape mode) because that’s how our cameras naturally sit in our hands. But sticking only with horizontal flattens tall subjects, leaves empty space, and can make your masterpiece feel like… a wide, empty stage with no lead actor.
The Solution: Flip It
Turn your camera vertical and watch your story change instantly.
- A lighthouse becomes towering.
- A tree becomes majestic.
- A person becomes the true star of the frame.
Vertical orientation cuts clutter, forces focus, and gives drama where horizontal gave “meh.”
Pro Tip Alert!
Pro tip? Shoot both. It only takes a second, and sometimes the vertical ends up being the keeper.
Behind the Shot
Setting the camera up in portrait mode opens a whole new way to see a scene. Vertical images allow you to include multiple layers—sandy beach, wet sand, waves hitting the shore, a distant wave rolling along the spit of land, and finally the horizon and sky—all in a single frame. Each layer adds depth, leading the viewer’s eye through the scene in a way that horizontal shots often can’t. Vertical composition is special: it forces you to think differently, look higher and lower, and embrace the full story from ground to sky. Give it a try—you might be surprised how much drama and depth you can capture.
Get Vertical – it’s like an invitation to take a step forward, and walk that beach.
Get The Gear
Gear tip!!!! Buy an L-Bracket to make it stupid quick and easy to switch between landscape and portrait modes!
Try It Yourself
Next time you’re out shooting, don’t just point at the horizon. Hunt for a foreground object — a log, footprints in the sand, even a tidepool. Layer that with your middle and background, and suddenly you’ve got a story in three acts.
More Ways to Learn & Collect
Vertical shots add drama, scale, and energy—but only when composed with intention. Dive into my books, workshops, or prints to master towering perspectives and see how vertical framing transforms your images from ordinary to unforgettable.
Dive deeper into the lessons and stories with my fine art photography books
Learn hands-on techniques in my photography workshops—practical, fun, and inspiring.
Bring peace, beauty, and storytelling into your space with fine art prints.
Get Vertical – Bonus Challenge
Find a tall subject—a tree, building, or lighthouse—and frame it vertically. Try three shots: tight on the subject, including some foreground, and one that stretches to the sky. Notice how the vertical orientation changes the story.
