Portrait Photography Tips Using a Prime Lens

"leopard eyes" captured by Philippe Roy

The Power Of Prime Lenses

A huge range of focal lengths in a single optic are made available with modern zooms. Companies or
people who design lenses work with a single focal length. Hence, chromatic aberration or distortion is
minimized.

However, designing zoom lenses can mean that compromises are often times necessary. This means that
prime lenses usually give much better results to the similar focal length on a zoom.

Important Techniques

A) Lighting Conditions

I normally set my camera to Aperture priority when photographing outdoor portraits. This happens a lot
provided the lighting condition is good.
I would also have the aperture set to two stop down from wide open as this results in a more shallow
depth of field.

There at times when the lighting conditions aren’t too good.During these times, I’d shoot one stop down
from the widest aperture available.

Otherwise, I may shoot wide open if I am positive that the lens works very well.

B) Focus on the Eyes

Another very helpful tip to taking stunning portrait photographs is to focus on your subject’s eyes. I
normally choose a focus point that’s on the top of the frame, either the left or right one. After that, I would
lock focus and then recompose. Finally, I’d make the shot.

Here’s something to bear in mind; be extremely careful and do it right when you focus on your subject’s
eyes. It is very common that photographers accidentally focus on the subject’s eyebrows rather than his/
her eyes.

Photo captured by Sean Nel

The Disadvantages of Using A Prime Lens

The main disadvantage that photographers encounter when photographing portraits with prime lenses is
the lack of flexibility as you cannot move with your camera.
A very good example is when a photographer is shooting models on the runway during a fashion show. At
a very limited time, the photographer has to shoot images of complete and three-quarter length shots.

Also, photographers will have to shoot tighter portraits of every model. This is hard to do with a prime
lens.

Get Close And Shoot Quickly!

Do you want to know what the two most important factors are to me when it comes to portrait
photography? The first important tip is to not be shy and get close to your subjects. Second, make sure
that you shoot quickly.

Photo captured by Henk-Jan Wesselink

Whenever your subjects notice you approaching them to take a shot, they’ll look at the camera. This
creates a sort of interaction that involves eye contact when your subjects look into the camera. Hence,
never be afraid of getting near your subjects to photograph them.