SUMMARY
Brenda of The Bergreens offers practical advice on maximizing an 85mm lens for portrait photography, moving beyond the common 'shoot wide open' technique. The 85mm focal length naturally creates flattering perspective and background compression, effectively separating the subject even with cluttered backgrounds. The guide emphasizes getting physically close to the subject, maintaining distance from the background, shooting between f/1.8 and f/2.8, and using eye autofocus. It also highlights that repositioning the photographer, not just switching lenses, allows for varied shots from tight headshots to environmental portraits, integrating posing and light for stronger storytelling.
TAKEAWAYS
85mm lenses offer flattering perspective and background compression, not just bokeh.
Varying composition with an 85mm lens involves photographer repositioning, not lens changes.
Stopping down aperture can provide better context and sharper results than always shooting wide open.
An 85mm lens is not ideal for tight spaces or fast-moving subjects.