Guide for Choosing the Best Prime Lens for Different Kind of Portraits

If you like photographing people with prime lenses, you must choose the best possible focal length for your situation. After all, with prime lenses, you can’t zoom in or out. This is a simple guide that can help you to use the most suitable prime lens for photographing one or more people, and groups of people.

If you prefer to use a prime lens, what focal length should you pick? If you choose the wrong one, you will be limited in the possibilities, although you can rely on your creativity, of course. In the worst-case scenario, you may miss the preferred compositions. If you want to play it safe, just choose a zoom lens. But if you love using primes, a bit of preparation will help a lot.

You might be wondering why I would choose a prime lens if I could grab a zoom lens that has the same focal length in its range. The answer to that question is simple. I just love using primes, that’s all.

The Benefit of Prime Lenses

I love using prime lenses for a couple of reasons. First of all, these lenses are often smaller and less conspicuous, although with modern lenses this is not always the case.

Another reason is the shallow depth of field that is often available. Although I don’t use this on every occasion, having the possibility is something I like a lot. There is another benefit that comes with the wide aperture. It allows me to focus more easily in dark environments. If a camera can focus up to -4EV with an f/1.2 lens, there is a big chance the zoom lens will fail in doing so.

Lastly, a fixed angle of view forces me to look differently at a composition. I can’t fall for the convenient zoom-in or zoom-out shortcut. Personally, I think this triggers my creativity.

The Benefit of Zoom Lenses

The first thing that comes to mind when talking about the benefit of zoom lenses is the ability to change focal length, and thus the angle of view. Instead of one fixed field of view, you have a wide range at your disposal. It also reduces the need for changing lenses.

Zooming allows you to get a closer shot without the need of getting closer, or a wider shot without the need of stepping back. Especially in tight spaces, this can be a great thing to have. There is one downside though, zooming changes the perspective, something that won’t happen if you move around with a fixed angle of view.

Using a zoom lens means you can reduce the number of lenses to take with you. Although a zoom lens can be larger or heavier compared to a prime lens, in the end you carry less equipment.

Which Prime Lens in Which Situation?

I have a couple of primes lenses at my disposal, which allows me to get the desired composition in almost every situation. The lenses I have are a 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 135mm. This doesn’t mean I take every lens with me on assignments. I decide which I want to use because every lens has its own field of application.

This is why my advice is not based on the focal length of the prime lens, but on the situation and the number of people I’m going to photograph. Keep in mind, the advice is not set in stone, it’s a guideline and the choice may differ in special situations.

Photographing One Person

When photographing a model, you can basically use every focal length. The ones you need to pick depend on the location and the sort of photo you want to capture.

If you’re in a tight location, a wide angle is probably the best choice, especially when you want full-body portraits. For closer portraits, a longer focal length is a good choice.

I often take a 35mm and an 85mm lens with me. Depending on the situation this may change into a 50mm or a 135mm lens. When I have a lot of lighting equipment with me as well, one extra lens won’t be a problem.

In other situations, I might just take just one lens with me. In that case, I have a clear idea of the kind of photos I want to have.

Photographing Two or Three Persons

For weddings and engagement shoots, the 35mm and 85mm lens is my main choice. It allows me to take wider shots, and more intimate close-ups. Sometimes I use a 135mm to get a tighter angle of view, but it forces me to keep a lot of distance. In that case, I lose the connection with the couple.

If I’m photographing three persons, I often use a 35mm lens or a 50mm lens, depending on the amount of room to move. These focal lengths are wide enough with a nice perspective.  Although a 24mm lens is often tempting, I find it to have too much wide-angle distortion for portraits.

Photographing Four up to Six Persons

When photographing families up to six persons, I think a 24mm or a 35mm lens is a good choice. If there are four persons in the frame, a 50mm lens can also do the job, but you have to keep more distance.

Longer focal lengths offer the ability to get a nice separation from the background, but the problem of the limited depth of field can come into play. That's something to keep in mind.

Photographing a Large Group of People

For larger groups a wide-angle lens is often preferred, although a 35mm lens can also provide a lot of possibilities. Keep the available amount of room to move in mind. If there isn’t any, you are forced to grab an ultra-wide-angle lens. Again, keep de wide-angle distortion in mind.

I would prefer the 24mm prime lens for these occasions. Because I don’t have one in my possession, I use the 24-105mm or 15-35mm lens for that. 

Don’t Get Obsessed With Primes

Even though I love photographing with prime lenses, I believe it’s not an obsession for me. If the situation forces me to use the flexibility for a zoom lens, I have no problem with that. After all, it’s about getting the desired shot. It’s not about the lens you are using. But if I have the freedom to choose a lens, I will choose the prime lens every time.

What type of lens do you use for photographing people? Do you use exclusively prime lenses for that, or would you rather use zoom lenses. What is it that makes you choose the one over the other? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. I’m looking forward to your response.