| What is the best focal length for portrait | | | | close-up group portrait, the background will be |
| photography? In other words, if you are using a | | | | completely out of focus, if this is what you desire, |
| zoom lens, what is the best zoom position for | | | | thus fulfilling the previous point 2). This is because |
| taking a picture of one or more persons? What's | | | | the longer the focal length, the shallower the |
| different between a close-up and a full-length | | | | depth of field (even though this is rather |
| portrait? Answers to these questions will let us | | | | improper). Be careful, however, to put all the |
| make more refined images of the people we love | | | | faces in the same shallow plane of focus. Finally, |
| to photograph. | | | | avoid using extreme telephotos (300mm) |
| In order to answer these questions we first must | | | | because, again, perspective becomes distorted, |
| focus on what we want to do. Usually we want | | | | with all subject's features appearing compressed. |
| two things: | | | | Moreover, keep in mind that the closer to the |
| | | | frame edges, the stronger the distortion. This is |
| 1) Reproduce the persons with no distortion. | | | | even more so for wide-angle lenses. |
| 2) Throw the background out of focus to avoid a | | | | If you are making a 3/4-length or full-length group |
| distracting backdrop. | | | | portrait, a standard 50mm lens is the optimum |
| To fulfill point 1) we should avoid getting too close | | | | choice. This time you will be farther away from |
| to our subject. So this in turn leads to the | | | | the subject and the aforementioned |
| question: what is the correct distance from the | | | | foreshortening will not take place. Unfortunately, |
| subject? The answer is twofold, according to | | | | with such a lens it will be impossible to separate |
| whether you want a close-up or rather a 3 | | | | the subject from the background, thus rendering |
| 4-length to full-length group portrait. | | | | difficult the fulfillment of requirement 2). The best |
| If you are making a close-up, a short telephoto is | | | | you can do is using it with wide aperture, because |
| the best choice, let's say an 80mm lens. Such a | | | | this too helps reducing the depth of field. This |
| lens offers normal perspective, while a standard | | | | recommendation holds true even when the |
| 50mm lens would force the photographer to get | | | | photographer is forced to use a wide-angle lens to |
| too close to the subject thus altering the | | | | fit a big group into the frame and still maintaining a |
| perspective (a phenomenon known as | | | | reasonable working distance. |
| "foreshortening"). If foreshortening occurs, the | | | | Just in case you are using a compact digital or film |
| closer parts of the subject's face (the nose, the | | | | camera with a zoom lens, if it has a 3x zoom, its |
| chin) would appear greater than they are, and the | | | | focal length will be something like 35mm when |
| opposite would happen to the back of his or her | | | | completely zoomed out (wide-angle position) and |
| head. Or, in case of a large group, the faces of | | | | 105mm when completely zoomed in (telephoto |
| the people in front would appear much greater | | | | position). On the other hand, if you possess a 10x |
| than those on the back. That's why, in case of a | | | | zoom lens it will be about 35-350mm. These |
| large group, an even longer lens than the 80mm | | | | equivalences will help you apply the |
| would be better. If a 200mm is used for a | | | | recommendations of this article. |