A photoanthropometric study: a comparison of facial indices derived from professional and non-professional photographs

Stukaite-Ruibiene Egle, Simkunaite-Rizgeliene Renata, Barkus Arunas, Tutkuviene Janina

Department of Anatomy, Histology and Anthropology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania

 Abstract: Objectives. There are facial studies including professional photographs, however, studies investigating non-professional photographs are lacking. It is important to find out if non-professional photographs could be relevant for longitudinal facial analysis, as it could allow to perform such studies cheaper and save time. The aim of this study was to compare indices obtained from professional and non-professional photographs with anthropometrically determined indices.

Methods. Faces (in frontal view) of 18–21-year- olds (35 males, 39 females) were measured by direct anthropometry and photographed using a standard protocol (professionally). In addition, non-professional frontal photographs of the same individuals were collected. Craniofacial landmarks were superimposed on all photographs in the frontal plane. Ten facial parameters were measured in total, 25 facial indices were calculated. Indices obtained from direct anthropometry and from both types of photographs were compared.

Results. Fourteen of 25 (56%) facial indices did not differ in males and 10/25 (40%) in females (p>0.05) between those obtained from direct anthropometry and from professional photographs. Comparison of direct anthropometry with non- professional photographs revealed that 8/25 (32%) indices did not differ in males and 7/25 (28%) – in females. These mostly contained vertical parameters and eye measurements. Comparing professional and non-professional photographs, it turned out that 16/25 (64%) of indices in men and 8/25 (32%) in women did not differ.

Conclusion. In both types of photographs, indices including vertical facial dimensions and eye measurements were mostly consistent with those obtained from direct anthropometry. These parameters can be used interchangeably between photographs and direct craniofacial measurements and may therefore be suitable for longitudinal facial analysis using non-professional photographs.