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How can I achieve a bokeh effect in portrait photography?
Asked on Dec 23, 2025
Answer
To achieve a bokeh effect in portrait photography, you need to use a lens with a wide aperture to create a shallow depth of field, which blurs the background and isolates the subject. This effect is enhanced by using lenses with a large maximum aperture, such as f/1.8 or f/1.4, and positioning your subject at a distance from the background.
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Lens: Use a prime lens with a wide aperture (e.g., 50mm f/1.8).
Aperture: Set to a low f-stop (e.g., f/1.8 or f/2.8).
Distance: Position the subject far from the background.
Focus: Focus on the subject's eyes to ensure sharpness.
Background: Choose a background with lights or patterns for more pronounced bokeh.
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- Consider using a telephoto lens to further compress the background and enhance the bokeh effect.
- Experiment with different backgrounds to see how they affect the quality and shape of the bokeh.
- Ensure good lighting on the subject to maintain focus and detail while the background remains blurred.
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