How can you use a large aperture to create stunning portraits?

1 Choose the right lens

Not all lenses are created equal when it comes to aperture. Generally, prime lenses, or lenses with a fixed focal length, have larger maximum apertures than zoom lenses, or lenses with variable focal lengths. For example, a 50mm prime lens can have an aperture of f/1.8, while a 18-55mm zoom lens can have an aperture of f/3.5-5.6. The larger the aperture, the more shallow the depth of field. Therefore, if you want to achieve a strong blur effect in your portraits, you should opt for a prime lens with a low f-number.

2 Adjust your distance

Another factor that affects the depth of field is the distance between your camera, your subject, and your background. The closer you are to your subject, and the farther your subject is from the background, the more shallow the depth of field will be. This means that you can create a more dramatic blur effect by moving closer to your subject and choosing a background that is far away or has a lot of details. However, be careful not to get too close, as this can distort your subject's features or cause vignetting.

3 Set your focus point

When you use a large aperture, you have a very narrow area that is in focus. This means that you have to be very precise with your focus point, or the part of your subject that you want to be sharp. Usually, the most important focus point in a portrait is the eyes, as they convey the most expression and emotion. To set your focus point, you can use the autofocus mode of your camera and select the single-point or spot focus option. This will allow you to choose which part of your subject you want to focus on by moving the focus point on your viewfinder or LCD screen.

4 Control your exposure

Using a large aperture also affects your exposure, or the amount of light that reaches your sensor. A large aperture lets in more light, which can result in overexposed or washed-out images if you don't adjust your other settings accordingly. To control your exposure, you can use the manual mode of your camera and change your shutter speed and ISO. Shutter speed is the length of time that your shutter is open, and ISO is the sensitivity of your sensor to light. A faster shutter speed and a lower ISO will reduce the amount of light and prevent overexposure. Alternatively, you can use the aperture priority mode of your camera and let it automatically adjust the shutter speed and ISO for you based on your aperture setting.

5 Experiment with different effects

One of the advantages of using a large aperture is that you can create different effects with your background blur, or bokeh. Bokeh is the quality and shape of the out-of-focus areas in your image, and it can vary depending on your lens, your aperture, and your background. For example, you can create circular or polygonal bokeh shapes by using a lens with a high number of aperture blades or by placing lights or reflective objects in your background. You can also create creamy or swirly bokeh by using a lens with a low number of aperture blades or by choosing a background with a lot of contrast or movement. Experimenting with different effects can add more interest and creativity to your portraits.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?