Shallow Depth of Field in Family Portraits – Tips for Hong Kong Photographers
Canon 85L @ f1.2, 1/1600, ISO 160
Understanding Depth of Field (DOF)
In 2021 I wrote the ultimate guide to family photography aimed at parents: Never Say Cheese: How to Take Great Photos of Your Kids (And Why You Should). In this blog I will be running excerpts from that book. I tried to keep it simple, as too many photography books overcomplicate things in my view. I use it as ‘my look’ in my role as a Hong Kong family photographer.
he most critical skill in getting sharp portraits with out-of-focus backgrounds is to control the Depth of Field (DOF), usually by utilizing Aperture Priority mode. To get this look, you need to have a low aperture number (e.g., f2.8) and a high shutter speed (e.g., 1/500th). This results in that classic separation between the subject and the background.
(The overused term is ‘bokeh.’)
135mm, f2, Vientiane, Laos
Why Shallow Depth of Field Works
Some people call it an overdone cliche, but you see it everywhere for a reason. It draws attention to the subject as the focus is only on the eyes. I know "the eyes are the window to the soul" and all that, but it's true.
All you need to have in focus are the eyes. Or at the very least, the closest eye. Get this down and your family portraits will improve markedly.
Canon 85L @ f1.2
Lens Terminology You Need to Know
To make the most of DOF, keep these terms in mind:
The smaller the f-number, the “faster” the lens.
The larger the f-number, the “slower” the lens.
Example: a 35mm f/1.4 prime lens is fast, while a 17-40mm f/4 zoom is slow.
In family photography, using a fast lens is key to achieving that ‘3D effect’ that makes your subjects pop from the background.
