How close is your camera to subject when doing tight portrait shots?

I'm just wondering how close most people like to position their camera from the subject.

I am going to be using my 50mm f/1.8 to learn and get a feel for it but what I 've noticed so far is that when I do want a tight shot that is head and shoulders or just a tight head shot the 50mm forces me to get way too close (about 3 or 4 feet) and not only do I not like that but I have a feeling that the people being photographed will not like it either. I've also tried my 17-70mm and I find that 70mm is almost what seems to be right, and at 70mm I can get those tight headshots from about 6 to 8 feet away, depending on how tight.
I am thinking that this must be why so many recommend using an 85mm or 100mm for portraits so they can get some distance from the subject and also get nice bokeh.
So how far do you distance yourself from the subject to get those tight headshots?

TMR Design wrote in post #2243314
I'm just wondering how close most people like to position their camera from the subject.

I am going to be using my 50mm f/1.8 to learn and get a feel for it but what I 've noticed so far is that when I do want a tight shot that is head and shoulders or just a tight head shot the 50mm forces me to get way too close (about 3 or 4 feet) and not only do I not like that but I have a feeling that the people being photographed will not like it either. I've also tried my 17-70mm and I find that 70mm is almost what seems to be right, and at 70mm I can get those tight headshots from about 6 to 8 feet away, depending on how tight.
I am thinking that this must be why so many recommend using an 85mm or 100mm for portraits so they can get some distance from the subject and also get nice bokeh.
So how far do you distance yourself from the subject to get those tight headshots?

I am typically (by estimate, I've never measured) at least 7-10 feet away and crop accordingly.

TMR Design wrote in post #2243314
I'm just wondering how close most people like to position their camera from the subject.

I am going to be using my 50mm f/1.8 to learn and get a feel for it but what I 've noticed so far is that when I do want a tight shot that is head and shoulders or just a tight head shot the 50mm forces me to get way too close (about 3 or 4 feet) and not only do I not like that but I have a feeling that the people being photographed will not like it either. I've also tried my 17-70mm and I find that 70mm is almost what seems to be right, and at 70mm I can get those tight headshots from about 6 to 8 feet away, depending on how tight.
I am thinking that this must be why so many recommend using an 85mm or 100mm for portraits so they can get some distance from the subject and also get nice bokeh.
So how far do you distance yourself from the subject to get those tight headshots?

i prefer a minimum of 70mm lens on a 20d and i therefore use the 24-70 as a walkaround.

50mm doesn't work for me. in fact as a prime 50mm is the most useless length i have used on a 1.6 crop camera....28mm or 85mm are better, the latter especially for head shots.

ed rader

ed rader

ed rader wrote in post #2243487
i prefer a minimum of 70mm lens on a 20d and i therefore use the 24-70 as a walkaround.

...28mm or 85mm are better, the latter especially for head shots.

ed rader

ed rader

Good point about the longer lens. Back in my 35mm SLR days, I used a 105mm quite a bit. This one is with the Tamron 28-75 at 75mm

Anything in between 85mm and 135mm, on a FF or traditional 35mm camera, is considered to be ideal for portraits.

It will be something in between 50mm and 85mm on your 30D.

Of course, you have to choose the focal lenght that works better for you.

Ideal conditions (you have all the lenses ever made in your bag and a cooperative subject First pick the distance, then pick the lens for cropping (how much of the person you want in the pix.)

I guess what might be a more specific question would be ...
When you are shooting a tight head shot, do you fill the frame... or do you not 'crop' so heaviliy when shooting and then do your crops in PS or other software?
I ask because the 85mm f/1.8 lens is looking very good but I question whether the 85mm will really fill the frame for a tight headshot? Should I not be worrying about this and just fill the frame at a comfortable distance, and crop?
If I was to use a 50mm, which so many recommend for portraits, it puts me right on top of the subject if I wanted a tight shot, and even head and shoulder shots already have me 5 or 6 feet at the most. With my 70mm those numbers get a little better but not what I would like to see.
If I was to stand 7-9 feet (the most room I have, that is) neither of these focal lengths would be all that useful.

TMR Design wrote in post #2244149
I guess what might be a more specific question would be ...
When you are shooting a tight head shot, do you fill the frame... or do you not 'crop' so heaviliy when shooting and then do your crops in PS or other software?
I ask because the 85mm f/1.8 lens is looking very good but I question whether the 85mm will really fill the frame for a tight headshot? Should I not be worrying about this and just fill the frame at a comfortable distance, and crop?
If I was to use a 50mm, which so many recommend for portraits, it puts me right on top of the subject if I wanted a tight shot, and even head and shoulder shots already have me 5 or 6 feet at the most. With my 70mm those numbers get a little better but not what I would like to see.
If I was to stand 7-9 feet (the most room I have, that is) neither of these focal lengths would be all that useful.

strange question. i tend to use whatever is on the camera unless i have time to think about it which is usually not the case.

and then i do whatever i have to do in PPing.

but given my druthers, i prefer 70mm or longer.

btw, 50mm is widely considered as optimum on a 1.6 crop for head and shoulder portraits which kinda jibes with what i am saying.

ed rader

ed rader wrote in post #2244169
btw, 50mm is widely considered as optimum on a 1.6 crop for head and shoulder portraits which kinda jibes with what i am saying.

Then that would indicate that most people are filling the frame as much as they can from the desired distance and then cropping to whatever they want.

My actual distance varies. I usually start close, 3-4' and step back and take more shots.

Examples:

Thanks Halliday. Very nice pictures. Do you primarily use the 85mm f/1.8 for portrait work?

ed rader wrote in post #2243487
50mm doesn't work for me. in fact as a prime 50mm is the most useless length i have used on a 1.6 crop camera....28mm or 85mm are better, the latter especially for head shots.ed rader

You can make do with the 50. I took this shot of my wife in a restaurant using only exisiting light. I was less than 3 feet away.

Taken in Av Mode ISO 800 1/13 sec f/1.8 handheld with the 50mm 1.4

TMR Design wrote in post #2246164
Thanks Halliday. Very nice pictures. Do you primarily use the 85mm f/1.8 for portrait work?

Thanks. Yes, shooting portraits, which is 99% of my shooting, my 85mm lives on my 20D. My 28-105 goes on the 10D. I'm working on getting a 24-70 2.8 and that will go on my 20D and the 85mm move to my 10D.

I have a 50mm 1.8 but I like the build and quality of the photos better with the 85mm.

i know what you mean about being too close to your subject with the 50mm f/1.8 for tight head shots...
i had the same problem afew weeks back.. i was shooting a makeup portfolio and i felt like i was getting way too close to the girls in order to get all their heads in...
i think the 85mm f/1.8 might be a better option and that way you wont have to be so close...
attached are 3 images i took with the 50mm f/1.8 that i had 2 get super close to the girls to get in.. if getting close is an issue maybe just do the cropping in photoshop

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Screw this prime stuff. Get a nice 70-200 2.8..... freedom to frame

(and no, you will never get me to use a prime, the same way as some people insist on theirs..)