Effect of focal length in portraits
Sunday 11 May 2025, 18:36 by Nando Harmsen | 4,006 views | 5 commentsThis article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.
You often hear that a longer focal length is very suitable for portrait photography. It gives good perspective in the proportions of the face. But it also has a major effect on how the background appears in the image.
You are not going to use a wide-angle lens for portraits. Although you can achieve special effects and exciting compositions, it is a no-go for a proper portrait. The most noticeable feature is the nose, which becomes far too large in relation to the rest of the face.
From a focal length of 50mm onwards, you will hardly have this problem. Unless you get too close, of course, which I have done in this example. But for a normal portrait, anything from 50mm is perfect. If you use a smaller sensor format, convert it so that you have the same angle of view.
Besides the proportions of the face, focal length has a major effect on the background. As the focal length gets longer, the angle of view becomes smaller. Everything appears larger in the image. It is not just the model who appears larger, the background is enlarged too.
Because your model appears larger in the image, you may want to compensate for this. By taking more distance, you can make your model the same size again. However, the background remains enlarged by the same amount, even if you move further away from your model.
With a longer focal length, you get less of the background in the image, and the blur also becomes greater. This makes it easier to separate your model from the background. The smaller angle of view also gives you the chance to be selective when it comes to the background.
You can take perfect portrait photos with 50mm. You can take perfect portrait photos with 100mm or even 150mm. One is not automatically wrong, and the other is not automatically right. Every angle of view gives a different look. Choose the one you think best suits your portrait.
Keep this rule of thumb in mind. The larger the angle of view, the greater the role of the surroundings in your photo. The smaller the angle of view, the more attention is focused on your model. Choose the optimum balance for your photo by making a conscious choice of focal length.
About the author
Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.
You might also like
-
Choose the right perspectiveby Nando Harmsen
-
Nature photography tip: Consider a droneby Rob Dijkstra
-
Street photography tip: Use the worm's-eye viewby Michiel Heijmans
-
Turn the World Upside Downby Nando Harmsen
-
A workshop must not be an escape from your own uncertaintyby Michiel Heijmans
-
An Ode to Holiday Snapshotsby Michiel Heijmans
5 comments
-
Mac wrote on Tuesday 13 May 2025 at 08:04 | replyGouden regel voor portretfoto's is altijd geweest 85-135mm lens.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet.
de 85mm en 135mm zie je alleen tegenwoordig niet zo veel meer (vervangen door zoom lenzen). Maar in de analoge tijdperk had iedere fotograaf of een 85mm of een 135mm in z'n tas voor portretten. -
Donald Willemsen wrote on Tuesday 13 May 2025 at 14:25 | replyKlopt Mac, in het analoge tijdperk gebruikte ik voor portretten altijd een 135mm op een fullframe. Nu op cropsensor gebruik ik vaak 85mm om ongeveer dezelfde beeldhoek te krijgen.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet. -
Fotospullen@onsmail.nl wrote on Tuesday 13 May 2025 at 16:01 | reply
...... en dit alles natuurlijk geheel afgezien van de vraag wat een portet is... een head shot.... iets ruimer.... of juist veel ruimer.....
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet.
Maar, wat mij betreft, moet, in beginsel eigenlijk in alle gevallen de betrokkene met respect worden afgebeeld. En dus bv geen rare perspectieven etc -
Jacques wrote on Tuesday 13 May 2025 at 22:08 | reply
Waarom lees ik hier niets over het verschil tussen crop- en fullframe camera’s. Wel zo relevant in dit geval.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet. -
Nando
wrote on Tuesday 13 May 2025 at 22:56
| reply
Dat is niet relevant. Het verschil tussen 50mm en 150mm op een cropsensor is hetzelfde als tussen 50mm en 150mm op een full frame. De beeldhoek mag dan wel verschillend zijn, maar je vergelijkt geen verschillende sensormaten.
This comment was written in another language and has not been translated yet.
Have your say
Please note: Articles older than a week can only be commented on by signed-in visitors.Would you still like to comment? sign in or create a free account.
Elja Trum
Photofacts; everything to do with photography!
Would you like to take better photos and keep up with what is happening in photography? Photofacts publishes articles that teach you something about photography — from a product announcement to a practical shooting tip or a look at a website. Photofacts covers photography every day and is a hobby project of Elja Trum's that got out of hand. The articles are written by a team of volunteer authors. If you would enjoy writing one or more articles for Photofacts, do get in touch.More about PhotofactsPhotofacts is made possible in part by
