A method is for positioning an imaging-relevant component of an imaging apparatus in an application-appropriate position for recording medical image data from a target region of a patient. In an embodiment, the method includes: acquiring information on the target region of the patient, acquiring a position of the patient relative to the imaging-relevant component, determining an application-appropriate position of the imaging-relevant component, determining a positioning instruction, and outputting the positioning instruction. An imaging apparatus of an embodiment includes an imaging-relevant component. The imaging-relevant component has a mechanical guide configured to position the imaging-relevant component along at least one degree of freedom of movement relative to a static arrangement of the imaging apparatus and/or a patient.