Portrait Photography How To

If you’re shopping for a portrait lens, or just trying to figure out which lens you own is best for people pictures, we encourage you to watch this video from AdoramaTV before making a decision. Phoenix-based pro Mark Wallace offers an interesting perspective that may challenge some of your preconceptions.

Wallace discusses why his typical approach is to use a fast telephoto lens for studio portraits and a wide-angle lens for people pictures on the street. Then, just as quickly, he refutes this conventional wisdom by explaining that under certain circumstances these rules are meant to be broken.

Wallace uses nice photos and interesting graphics to demonstrate the importance of depth of field, perspective, and field of view for portraiture. He then explains why you should keep these considerations in mind when choosing a lens for the type of people pictures you shoot most.

You can find more helpful videos on the AdoramaTV YouTube channel, and be sure to look at a recent story we posted in which one pro says “the jawline is the key to flattering portraits."