Why You Should Potentially Move Instead of Zooming for Portrait Photography

We frequently hear professional photographers praising prime lenses for their usability, image quality, and versatility in portrait photography. We also hear them saying how important it is to move around the subject at a certain focal length, to seize every side and angle of it, instead of staying still and adjusting the zoom of the lens we’re using.

But why is that so important? Does it really matter in terms of the resulting picture?

The following video takes these issues and questions into consideration and shows you the importance of choosing the right focal length. Lead by photographer Mike Browne, you’ll learn through a practical example of a portrait how focal length influences your picture:

The increase of focal length will make everything come closer, and so you’ll have to step back (or forward, depending on the situation) to fit and frame your subject. From the results achieved by Mike, the impact of focal length on the finished image is extraordinary and probably something you haven’t yet noticed or thought about.

You can see how it completely changes your picture and how it may transmit an undesirable mood.

zoom comparisons

Focal length comparisons for essentially the same shot

So, all cards on the table, once you learn how to work with specific focal lengths and how they’ll affect your resulting image, you’ll realize that your feet are the best zoom lens you can get.

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