The best lens for portrait photography.

Learn how to capture stunning portraits with helpful info on the best lenses to have in your toolkit.

Portrait photography is so much more than taking someone’s picture. With the right approach, you can convey impactful moods and powerful meanings in your photos — a lot of which comes down to which lens you choose. Let’s dive deeper into some options for the best lenses for portrait photography and when you might use each.

Zoom lenses vs. prime lenses.

The first thing you’ll want to consider is the type of lens you’ll need. In portrait photography, there are two main types of lenses: zoom lenses and prime lenses.

• Zoom lenses: This type has a wide range of focal lengths, which offers extreme versatility with your photos. Plus, it will save you from lugging around multiple lenses. This is an excellent option for beginners who are trying to develop their style.
• Prime lenses: This type has a fixed focal length and offers sharper and better images than zoom lenses. They’re considered the best lenses for portraits, but they are more expensive, and you’ll need to carry more of them.

Focal lengths in portrait photography.

When you choose a lens, it’s necessary to consider the focal length. Here are some standard focal lengths to consider:

• 50mm lens: This type is ideal for full-length and waist-level portraits while offering a shallow depth of field. Because it’s relatively inexpensive, this is a great beginner lens.
• 85mm lens: This is the classic portrait lens. You can capture full-length and waist-level shots, as well as tightly cropped headshots that may be otherwise distorted on the 50mm.
• 135mm lens: This lens has a higher price tag, but results in a beautiful background blur in your photos. It also allows you to get close photos of your subject without invading their space.

Once you find the right lens to meet your needs, discover more photography tips and techniques to try.

Explore what more you can do with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom as you begin experimenting with portrait photography.