What are the Best Lenses for Taking Pictures of People

Photographing people can be a challenging task, especially when it comes to choosing the right lens. Different lenses have different focal lengths, apertures, and image stabilization features, all of which can significantly affect the quality of your portrait photos. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the best lenses for taking pictures of people and why they’re so effective.

  • 50mm Prime Lens
  • A 50mm prime lens is a great option for portrait photography. It has a wide aperture of f/1.8 to f/1.4, which allows you to create a shallow depth of field, making your subject stand out from the background. This lens also produces natural-looking images, making it perfect for capturing candid portraits. Additionally, a 50mm prime lens is lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry around.

  • 85mm Prime Lens
  • An 85mm prime lens is another great option for portrait photography. It’s a bit longer than the 50mm, which means you can capture a tighter shot of your subject’s face, producing stunning headshots. This lens also has a wide aperture of f/1.8 to f/1.2, producing a beautiful bokeh effect and making it great for low light photography. An 85mm prime lens is also great for creating a shallow depth of field and isolating your subject from the background.

  • 24-70mm Zoom Lens
  • A 24-70mm zoom lens is a versatile option for portrait photography. It covers a wide range of focal lengths, allowing you to capture full-body shots, mid-range portraits, and close-up headshots. This lens also has a wide aperture of f/2.8, which produces a shallow depth of field and allows you to blur out the background while keeping your subject sharp. The 24-70mm zoom lens is also great for low light photography, making it perfect for indoor portrait shoots.

  • 70-200mm Zoom Lens
  • A 70-200mm zoom lens is another versatile option for portrait photography. This lens has a long focal length, which means you can capture candid shots of your subjects from a distance, without interfering with their activities. The 70-200mm zoom lens also has a wide aperture of f/2.8, which creates a shallow depth of field and produces beautiful bokeh. This lens is perfect for capturing candid portraits at weddings, events, and sports.

  • 35mm Prime Lens
  • A 35mm prime lens is a great option for environmental portraits. This lens has a wide angle of view, making it perfect for capturing your subject in their surroundings. The 35mm prime lens also has a wide aperture of f/1.8 to f/1.4, producing a shallow depth of field and making your subject stand out from the background. This lens is great for capturing street photography and casual portraits.

In conclusion, when it comes to choosing the best lens for taking pictures of people, it all comes down to personal preference and shooting style. However, these five lenses are some of the best options available and are sure to produce stunning portrait photos. Whether you choose a prime lens or a zoom lens, the key is to find a lens that complements your subject and creates the mood you want to convey.

Doug Marshall

Doug Marshall is a freelance photographer, photography instructor, professional blogger and pizza enthusiast. You can follow him (dougmphoto) on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.