Creative portrait photography starts with having the right tools—and knowing how to use them. For this session, we used the Canon EOS R5 paired with an 85mm f/1.2 lens. Why such a wide aperture?
Most fashion or portrait photographers shoot at f/5.6 or higher for detail, but we prefer to shoot wide open at f/1.2. The shallow depth of field directs attention to the subject’s eyes and softly blurs everything else, creating a dreamy, artistic look that feels natural and emotive.
If you don’t have a 1.2 lens, no worries—anything in the f/1.8 to f/2.8 range will still give you that creamy background and keep the focus on your subject’s face.
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