Where to aim from??

Hi guys,
Having just made my foray into photographing people (my comfort zone is macro flowers/insects), I have discovered I need to learn something. At what height should I be aiming from to get proper proportions on my subjects? Admittedly I'm still getting the hang of the 24-70 and trying to figure out how to avoid giving folks a potbelly, and presumably figuring that out will be on the same tracks. My poor people look somewhat dwarf-like which is rather bizarre given that I'm actually shorter than most of my subjects.
Any advice gratefully received!

You are going to get the most "normal" proportions when your camera is level and the focal plane is parallel with the subject. For a headshot that means eye height and for a full body that means roughly waist height.

If your subjects look dwarf like you would shoot from a lower angle to make them look taller. The focal length of the lens can also affect on proportions; use a longer lens to minimize distortion.

To nit-pick semantics, stand farther away to minimize distortion, then use the appropriate focal length to get the framing you want.

If the subject is higher than you they appear dominant. That can be useful, but doesnt promote intimacy. You also see up the nose and make the chin appear prominent, unless they look down then you get neck wrinkles.

If the subject is lower than you they appear submissive to the viewer. You can use a higher angle to shoot people with weak chins so when they look up it defines the chin line better. larger women can be shot from above as you hide part of their lower body behind the head/face/chest.

The best angle for most portraits is to maintain the eye angle to that you create intimacy, much in the way you would talk with a friends. It all depends on what you want to portray.

Sounds like you could use a read through the perspective control sticky. It's a great place to start for this sort of info

I lot shots from above. Kids go eye level. men I like to shoot from below--take a knee and shoot.

When starting, general rule is to shoot from about eye level of the subject, this generally gives a decent shot of the face. Practice this and you will get into the habit of shooting lying down for babies, kneeling or sitting for kids, and anywhere from a half crouch to standing on tiptoes for adults (or tall teens).

Once you are comfortable moving around to get to eye level, you can start to experiment for the more dramatic/mood enhancing shots.

based upon your complaint about potbelies, it sounds like you are shooting near the 24 end of your 24-70, try setting the lens between 50 and 70, then move out to get the shot. This should help eliminate distortion, also try to shoot with the camera back on a prallel plane to your subject, tipping the camera can give more distorted results.

Goo luck and happy shooting!

Thank you all so much!! Thanks for the link Snyd, have bookmarked it for reading carefully later. I think a big part of the problem was the tight spaces I had to shoot in, the ones where I could stand a decent distance away came out much better, which ties in to your recommendations. Thanks guys for the advice, hopefully I'll do a better job next time someone asks me to take pictures for them!