Shooting portraits what aperture to use?

[sinitry23]

When shooting 1/2 body and full body shots at a normal indoor place using a flash what do you guys normally set you aperture to? Do you set it some where around F8 so you can have a good clear shot or should I set it to F2.8 because I am shooting indoors?

[Mcary]

Depends on the look you're going for.

1. Shot at F 2.2
http://www.mcaryphoto.net/POTN/Yulia_jun07_058-F2-2.jpg

2. Shot at F 2.8
http://www.mcaryphoto.net/POTN/AmberG_Jun07_178-Edit-2-8.jpg

3. Shot at F 3.2
http://www.mcaryphoto.net/POTN/Mira_27May07_013-Edit-3-2.jpg

4. Shot at F 4.0
http://www.mcaryphoto.net/POTN/Mira_27May07_029-Edit-4-0.jpg

5. Shot at F 5.6
http://www.mcaryphoto.net/POTN/Christina16Dec06_139-5-6.jpg

6. Shot at F 8
http://www.mcaryphoto.net/POTN/Christina16Dec06_092-F8.jpg

Mike

[Jarrad]

Depends on the lens used, distance from the subject, distance of the subject from the background and the look you're going for.
I usually shoot those on the f8-18 range.

:)

[cskn0125]

F/ 2.8-22 stuff like this is never a set value for every type of work...each situations will require something different.

[sinitry23]

Depends on the lens used, distance from the subject, distance of the subject from the background and the look you're going for.
I usually shoot those on the f8-18 range.

:)


What is the rule of thumb when the subject is close to a wall? Do you use a large or small aperture? Same goes for if the subject is very far from a wall.

[sinitry23]

2. Shot at F 2.8
http://www.mcaryphoto.net/POTN/AmberG_Jun07_178-Edit-2-8.jpg



Thanks for the samples. I would think that shooting at F2.8 will make some parts of the subject out of focus, but from your picture it looks as if the whole subject is in focus. Also doesn't F2.8 give you a 'bokeh' affect on the background?

For the image above you focused on the eyes right?

[Mcary]

2. Shot at F 2.8
http://www.mcaryphoto.net/POTN/AmberG_Jun07_178-Edit-2-8.jpg



Thanks for the samples. I would think that shooting at F2.8 will make some parts of the subject out of focus, but from your picture it looks as if the whole subject is in focus. Also doesn't F2.8 give you a 'bokeh' affect on the background?

For the image above you focused on the eyes right?

You also have to factor in the focal length of the lens, 50mm in this case, plus the distances between the camera and the subject and the subject and background.

So for example even though the following image was shot at F-4 , 85mm the background is softer then the image above taken at F 2.8 due to the lens and the shorter distance between the camera and the subject and the increased distance between the subject and background.

http://www.mcaryphoto.net/2007/MiraMay07/content/bin/images/large/Mira_27May07_079_Edit.jpg

You're correct about the eyes being the point of focus

[samsen]

With all these beautiful images are you asking a question or giving an statement?:)

[Mcary]

With all these beautiful images are you asking a question or giving an statement?:)

Neither :)

Just trying to give the OP some examples that help show that a number of different factors go into what is the best F-stop for a given situation :)


Mike

[sinitry23]

I see, so if you zoom in to like 80mm and use F4 you will get a better 'blur' background then a picture at 24mm and F4 right?

[Jarrad]

What is the rule of thumb when the subject is close to a wall? Do you use a large or small aperture? Same goes for if the subject is very far from a wall.

You use smaller apertures for greater depth of field. If your subject is close to it's bg less DoF is required to get both into acceptable sharpness. Is this situation you can get away with using a larger aperture than if your subject was further away from the bg. This is assuming you want the bg in focus, of course.