How Focal Length Affects Picture-Perfect Portrait Photos (VIDEO)
Some styles of photography cry out for specific types of lenses (although we’re strong proponents of experimenting beyond common conventions). Wide focal lengths, for example, are the primary choice of landscape shooters, while very few experienced wildlife photographers would venture out in the field without a long telephoto of 400mm or more.
Portrait photography, indoors or out, is a bit different because there’s a range of useful focal lengths that will get the job done, depending upon the specific look desired and whether or you want to inject a bit of creative distortion into a shot. This tutorial runs you through the most popular options and what to expect.
Instructor Mamad Hormatipour is a photographer, director and educator based in Stockholm whose long list of clients include notable brands like Coca Cola, Ben & Jerrys, and Hitachi Energy. His goal for today’s episode is to “explore the ideal focal length for taking mesmerizing portraits that will leave your audience in awe—so matter if you are just starting out or a more experienced portrait photographer.”
As Mamad says, “from wide-angle lenses to telephoto lenses we’ll cover it all and help you understand what works best for different portrait styles.” In short, this quick episode is a must-see for anyone looking to elevate their portraiture game.
Mamad begins with environmental portraits shot on the street with a beautiful model. He uses various lenses from 24mm to 200mm to capture the same basic setting, thereby illustrating how the appearance of the subject is rendered as focal length changes. Sometimes in a very good way, and other times, well, not so much.
There’s a list in the description beneath the video with the lenses, cameras, and other gear that Mamad prefers, along with links where the items can be purchased. That said, the valuable tips he provides in this video generally apply to whatever equipment you currently own.
There’s much more to learn about portraiture and other popular styles of photography on the Mamad Hormatipour YouTube channel.
Macro photography is another genre where focal length plays an important role. So be sure to watch the recent tutorial we featured that discusses lens choice, compositional tips, and recommended camera settings when closeups are the name of the game.
