imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Have simple low-key mostly out of focus backrounds - unless specifically doing high key or lifestyle backround. This is generally easier to do with longer focal lengths than 50.

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drklrd Loc: Cincinnati Ohio

As a pro I say go take a class in portrait shooting before taking on assignments. There are things I can do with a lens that no one today even thinks about plus knowing adobe a portrait is open and limited only to the imagination. If you are asking here for advice I say to you go back to school and learn all there is to learn about photography then think about photography as a business. I say this because you will need to develop the skills you learn and in most college courses that will give you a degree you will also practice those skills. The biggest skill set is in lighting and posing your subject. PP of A has a great school (Professional Photographers of America).

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

I found this thread interesting because I have a senior portrait shoot coming up of my granddaughter. So, I got out all my lenses, set up two speed lights off-camera and a wooden owl as my subject. I didn’t put the speed lights in an umbrella or soft box like I will for the formal shots because I was just trying to find the best lens.

I had been told that an 85/1.8 or a 70-200/2.8 (or 4) are the preferred lenses of choice. I no longer have a 70-200/2.8; so, these are the lenses I tested on my crop sensor Nikon D500 (I know, it’s a sports/action camera).

Nikon lenses: 24-70/2.8 & 85/1.8
Sigma lenses: 50-100/1.8 & 135/1.8

I loved the results of the 135. Second place was the 50-100. I was thinking about selling the 85, since that is covered in the 50-100 (although the 85 is considerable smaller and lighter for hand held shots. I think I was trying to talk myself into buying a 70-200/4; but, now, I don’t think I need it. My next tests will be outside. I think my money will be better spent on strobe lights. That’s for another thread. I will be asking for more specific advice after I run a few more tests. Doesn’t the hog have a portrait section?

Unclehoss

In the formal photographic training/instruction I have received, it was suggested that a short telephoto lens was a better choice for portraiture work for many of the reasons already stated but added the aspect of personal space. MANY people have different limits of personal space, some when talking with another person are comfortable having that person only 15-18 inches from their face but put a camera in front of them and that personal space becomes 3 to 4 feet or more. I know from personal experience. I can be comfortably huddle up to my subject behind the camera; put me in front and the photographer better step back because I seize up. The result of needing to be close enough to frame a portrait well with the 'nifty-fifty' can result in your models/subjects having a bit of a pensive uncomfortable expression, no matter how well trying to cover it with a smile in the images. If shooting with a Canon APS-C format body, I believe the conversion factor is 1.6 to a Full Frame(FF) equivalent giving you the effect of a 80mm FF lens. The low end of the focal length suggested for portraiture in my training. If your enlargements for printing are not going to be that big, you can plan for a little post processing cropping and still not have any distortion due to enlargement. If your portraiture will be of groups (3 or more people) I don't think you will have any of the crowding issues with the 50. I have a 24-105 zoom that is normally in the 85-100 range when doing 'formal' portraiture and posed shots. If I am aiming for candids and spontaneous images, the zoom is all over the range.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Goofy, I am SOOO relieved, my next inquiry was going to be to where to send the flowers?!?! 💐 🌺 🌹 LoL
SS

drklrd Loc: Cincinnati Ohio

On the Nikon D7200 the 50mm lens full frame is considered a short telephoto lens due to the crop factor I think. On the D7200 the normal lens is the DX 35mm lens. I have the 80mm full frame and the 50mm full frame. I have experimented with both and find the 50mm full frame seems a good choice for portraits. For more space between the subject the 8mm full frame works well too. Back in film using my Bronica I used an 80mm for portraits. I used the Monte Zucker vignette filters on the 80mm all the time for bride and groom close ups (head and shoulder shots). If more than 4 people I used the normal lens. At receptions I reverted to the wide lens or the normal dependent upon how big an area I has available or how close I had to get.
I find the Monte Zucker kit works well on a 50mm full frame on my D7200. I Use f8 always with it as I did for weddings with the Bronica.
The vignette when I shoot a portrait beats having to do it in Photoshop in post. I shoot one with and one without the filter.

Alafoto Loc: Montgomery, AL

Isn't an 80mm lens standard for both 6x4.5 and 6x6 formats with Bronica and all other medium format cameras? Not sure what the normal lens for 6x7 is. I think it was 127mm on my Mamiya RB-67.

drklrd Loc: Cincinnati Ohio

Sorry about that. I have not looked at those lenses for a bit. I just looked. I Apologize for the error. The 50mm is wide angle, the 80mm is normal and the 150 is short telephoto. I should have looked at the lenses for my Bronica before I inserted foot. I did use the Monte Zucker on the normal lens back then. All wedding photographers use some sort of vignette box in front of the normal lens. Last studio I shot for used a matt box always so they gave me one plus the matts they used for multiple exposures. The matt box and the Monte Zucker kit both did the same job just some studios owners just thought their own personal preferences made them better than the rest. For me I thought it was the fact that at first sight the customer just saw the camera first and if it looked great and a bit worn you were a great photographer. For wedding work you always need a tux too for just that reason. Just do not out dress the bride or the girls in the wedding party or the groom. Thanks for reminding me to get it right the first time even if I have to get up and look and read the fine print on the lens. Still the 50mm full frame lens seems to lend itself at f8 for good portraits on a D7200.