What lens and settings does the recommender suggest for portraits?

50-85mm full-frame equivalent and f/1.8-f/2.8 for a blurred background. Shutter speed runs from 1/90s for a still, handheld subject to 1/250s for one who moves, and ISO from 100-400 at golden hour to 800-3200 indoors in dim light.

Why is one eye sharp and the other soft in my portrait?

At f/1.8 and close range, depth of field is only a few centimetres — about 3.5cm at 85mm from 1.5 m. Focus on the nearer eye, or stop down to f/2.8-f/4.

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Lens & Settings Recommender for Portrait Photography

For a portrait the recommender starts from a 50-85mm full-frame-equivalent lens and a wide aperture, then sets shutter speed and ISO from the light and from how much the person moves. Those last two inputs are where portrait sessions really differ: a posed adult by a window, a toddler who won't sit still, a full-length shot outdoors at golden hour.

Open the Lens & Settings Recommender

Recommended settings

Posed headshot, golden hour, handheld, 'Blurred background': the tool returns 50-85mm, f/1.8-f/2.8, 1/90s or faster and ISO 100-400.
Children, or anyone who won't hold still: set subject motion to 'Slow (walking, gentle gesture)' and the shutter floor rises to 1/250s. Indoors in dim light, expect ISO 800-3200 to go with it.
Environmental portrait where the room or street matters: choose 'Everything sharp front to back' and the aperture moves to f/8-f/11 — in dim light that means a tripod and a still subject, or a much higher ISO.
On APS-C, a 50mm lens frames like 75-80mm on full frame, inside the recommended range — a 50mm f/1.8 is the cheapest way to cover it.

Tips for this niche

Treat f/1.8 as the open end of the range, not a default. At 85mm and f/1.8 from 1.5 m, total depth of field is about 3.5cm, so with the head turned the far eye goes soft. Focus on the nearer eye, or stop down to f/2.8 for about 5cm.
Two people at slightly different distances need more depth: stop down to f/4-f/5.6, or move them onto the same plane before opening up again.
Working distance at 85mm on full frame: head and shoulders (about 50cm of height in a vertical frame) puts you roughly 1.2 m away; a full-length portrait of a 1.8 m person, with a little space around them, needs about 4.5-5 m.
The suggested shutter speed assumes a 70mm lens. At 85mm without stabilisation, use 1/100s or faster even when the tool says 1/90s.

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Example scenario

A session with a three-year-old, starting by a large window and finishing outside at golden hour. Indoors, Portrait / 'Indoor, well lit' / 'Slow' / 'Blurred background' / handheld returns 50-85mm, f/1.8-f/2.8, 1/250s or faster and ISO 400-800 — so an 85mm at f/2.8 (more depth for a child who won't stay on one plane), 1/250s, ISO 800. Outside, switching lighting to 'Golden hour' drops the ISO range to 100-400 at the same 1/250s. With the sun behind the child, expose for the face and let the background go bright.

Common mistakes

Choosing 'Blurred background' for every portrait. environmental and documentary-style portraits need the setting readable. 'Everything sharp front to back' gives f/8-f/11 for those.
Leaving subject motion on 'Still' for children. the resulting 1/90s blurs hands and faces the moment a child moves. 'Slow' raises the floor to 1/250s.
Filling the frame with a face using a wide lens. at 35mm you have to stand well under a metre away for a tight headshot, which enlarges the nose relative to the ears. The 50-85mm range keeps a more natural distance.

FAQ

What lens and settings does the recommender suggest for portraits?: 50-85mm full-frame equivalent and f/1.8-f/2.8 for a blurred background. Shutter speed runs from 1/90s for a still, handheld subject to 1/250s for one who moves, and ISO from 100-400 at golden hour to 800-3200 indoors in dim light.
Why is one eye sharp and the other soft in my portrait?: At f/1.8 and close range, depth of field is only a few centimetres — about 3.5cm at 85mm from 1.5 m. Focus on the nearer eye, or stop down to f/2.8-f/4.

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Before the shoot

Portrait Photography shot list