When creating portraits in your studio, there are instances when you may opt for a shallow depth of field, which produces portraits with a more artistic flair. In this video, Gavin Hoey describes some techniques for maximizing that look of a shallow depth of field portrait.
Hoey covers some basics on creating shallow depth of field portraits, such as using the widest aperture on your lens, and increasing the distance between the subject and background. His other advice pertains not to camera settings, but rather on how to position the subject so that parts of the subject reach into the foreground and background and leave the focal plane. These tips include focusing on the eyes and having the subject lean forward, and hanging a piece of fabric along the subject in order to highlight the transition from foreground to background. Photographing the subject from a high angle and using the floor as a backdrop is another way of emphasizing selective focus on the eyes and face.
Shallow depth of field portraits may not be something you would want to create for corporate headshots, but for fashion photography and portraits of high school seniors and children, mastering this type of look will give you one more tool to keep in your arsenal.
i like him, well done