my favorite lenses
Choosing the right lenses is an important decisions for a photographer. The right glass can make a big difference in sharpness, background blur, and overall image quality. If you're just starting out or looking to expand your kit, here are some of my favorite lenses listed as guide for great options for portrait photography, starting from beginner must-haves to advanced investments.
Beginner: The Must-Have Starter Lens
Canon 50mm f/1.8, upgrade options are f/1.4 or f/1.2 (The "Nifty Fifty")
Why it's great: Affordable, lightweight, and delivers beautiful background blur (bokeh). It’s a fantastic lens for learning composition and shooting in natural light. In the beginning of my career, I used only the 50mm to do entire sessions.
Best for: Headshots, full-body portraits, and everyday photography.
Intermediate: Expanding Your Creative Options
Canon 85mm f/1.8, upgrade option f/1.2L (The Perfect Portrait Lens)
Why it's great: Known for its flattering compression, this lens creates a creamy bokeh that makes subjects stand out beautifully. I feel like this one gives me incredible focus on details in portraits.
Best for: Close-up portraits, fashion photography, and outdoor headshots.
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 (The Versatile Workhorse)
Why it's great: A zoom lens with professional-grade sharpness, ideal for flexibility in different shooting scenarios.
Best for: Event photography, environmental portraits, and capturing a variety of angles without changing lenses.
Advanced: Elevating Your Portrait Game
Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro (Sharp Details & Dual Purpose)
Why it's great: Originally designed for macro photography, this lens is also excellent for portraits due to its incredible sharpness and ability to capture fine details.
Best for: Beauty and fashion photography, extreme close-ups, and creative portraits.
Bonus: Doubles as a macro lens for stunning detail shots like eyes, jewelry, and flowers.
Final Thoughts
Let your kit evolve based on you shooting style and needs. You don't necessarily need to buy everything at once. If you’re just starting out, the 50mm is an excellent investment. As you progress, add to your lens bag to provide greater creative control. Advanced lenses like the 100mm macro can add unique capabilities to your toolkit, however, I mainly use mine for Macro. If I had to choose to bring just one prime lens for a photo session, it would be the Nifty Fifty. When things are moving fast and I want flexibility, I'll reach for the 24 -70mm as it has the ability to capture more of the background and still deliver stunning portrait work.
Which lenses do you use for portraits? Let me know in the comments!
Best,
Eva
