How to take a fantastic portrait with a wide angle lens

Walk into any camera store and ask a salesperson to recommend the best portrait lens for a full-frame DSLR, and they will most likely suggest an 85mm lens. (On cameras with a 1.5X or 'crop-sensor,' this translates to roughly a 55mm lens.) The 85mm and its equivalent are indeed extraordinary lenses. With minimal to no distortion, you can effortlessly achieve a beautiful bokeh effect, magnificent background compression, and exquisite details, even when your subject is up close.

But what do you do if the only lens you have at your disposal is a wide-angle lens? What if you're photographing in tight spaces or want to include the environment in your portrait? Here, you need to make the most of your wide-angle lens to create extraordinary portraits. In this article, I'll explain how to do just that.

What Is a Wide-Angle Lens?

Wide-angle lenses have a wider field of view compared to standard lenses like the 85mm. With wide-angle lenses, such as the 20mm or 24mm, you can capture a broader part of the scene in front of you. You've probably used wide-angle lenses for shooting landscapes or real estate, but you can also create extraordinary portraits with a wide-angle lens!

Creating portraits using wide-angle lenses can enhance perspective but may distort proportions. If you capture the same portrait with a 24mm lens and a 50mm lens, the 24mm image will slightly distort the subject, especially around the edges. So, be careful not to position your subject near the edges of the frame unless it's intentional. If you want an even wider perspective, a fisheye lens can creatively capture the sense of place.

1. Tell a Story with a Wide-Angle Lens

Since wide-angle lenses show much of the surrounding environment, they are perfect for storytelling. A wider lens reveals the space around your subject like no other and is excellent for capturing a sharp image even at wide apertures.

Pro Tip: Get Close!

To achieve a pronounced bokeh effect with a wide-angle lens, you'll need to get very close to your subject. Even with a wide aperture like f/1.6, a wide shot won't produce a noticeable bokeh unless the subject is very close to the lens.

2. Create a Natural Vignette

Most wide-angle lenses introduce some vignetting into the image. You can use it to your advantage by positioning your subject against a bright area, then enjoying the more pronounced shadows around it. Enhance this subtle vignette by shooting with the aperture wide open.

Pro Tip: Remove Unwanted Vignetting

To remove vignetting in post-production, you can use photo editing software like Lightroom. Enable lens profile corrections for optimal results.

3. Shoot Vertically with a Wide-Angle Lens

Usually, it's advised to avoid vertical shots with wide-angle lenses, but there are situations where this perspective can be advantageous. For example, when you want to incorporate negative space or capture vertical subjects and environments.

Pro Tip: Watch for Distortion

Wide-angle lenses can distort even the center of the frame, so be careful not to make the subject look unpleasantly distorted when using this perspective.

4. Emphasize Your Subject

A wide-angle lens allows you to incorporate architectural elements into the frame to draw attention to the main subject. Make sure your subject remains the center of attention, avoiding overloading the image with distracting elements.

Pro Tip: Take some photos for social media

Photographs that can easily be cropped into a square are ideal for Instagram and other social media. Since our phones are vertically oriented and most social media engagement happens on a smartphone, square or vertical images offer the best value.

5. Allow Room for Movement

When photographing close-up subjects in motion, a wide-angle lens offers the opportunity to capture action and engage the viewer in the moment. Be bold and get up close for dynamic shots.

Pro Tip: Get in on the Action

Photographing action from too far away with a wide-angle lens will dilute the excitement. The purpose of a wide-angle lens is to tell the most story with minimal space constraints, so don't hold back!

6. Don't Overcrowd the Frame

Avoid overcrowding the frame with distracting objects that can divert attention from the main subject. Choose a key element of the scene to focus on and look for negative space to make your subject stand out.

Pro Tip: Use Negative Space

Negative space is the area around or between the subject with few or no details. There's a strong temptation to include as many details as possible when experimenting with wide-angle photography. However, negative spaces provide breathing room that allows the subject to shine, and that's precisely what you want!

7. Mind the Gap

As you continue experimenting with wide-angle photography, you'll notice how objects at the edges of the frame appear distorted. When photographing people, pay attention to the spaces around the corners and edges of the composition. Placing subjects near the edges of the frame with a wide-angle lens can make them appear larger. Not ideal! If you want to showcase the subject, try to keep them closer to the center of the frame.

Pro Tip: Get Creative with Distortion

Don't be afraid of a little distortion in your images! As a photographer, you can discover many creative ways to use exaggerated lines and angles to direct your viewers' eyes toward the subject. Think of portraits taken on steep staircases or in dramatic architectural settings. Use angles and lines to your advantage!

8. Find Non-Distracting Backgrounds

Have you ever felt like the background competes with the subject for attention? The phone pole sticking out of your bride's dress?! In the case of wide-angle portraits, you can't easily isolate the subject as you would with a different focal length.

Your legs are your "zoom." Sometimes, all you need to do is move until you find the right vantage point to minimize cluttered backgrounds. You can avoid distracting elements by hiding them behind the subjects or eliminating distractions. When possible, look for clean backgrounds that keep the focus on your subject.

Pro Tip: Seek Contrast in Portraits

Avoiding distractions doesn't mean you have to have boring backgrounds! Look for vibrant walls that add a pop of color or play with lighting to create stark contrast between the subject and the background. Playing with contrast can really make your subject stand out and create captivating portraits.

9. Find Your Focus Point

With a wide-angle lens, the center of the frame will always be the sharpest part. Be mindful of placing critical elements in the center of the frame to maintain sharpness throughout the photo.

In summary, using a wide-angle lens for portraits can be highly creative and offer unique perspectives. However, it requires attention to distortion and composition to achieve extraordinary results. Explore, experiment, and find your unique style in wide-angle photography.