BEST Camera for Photography

When determining the right portrait photography lens, it helps to first define what portrait photography means for you. Will you do headshots? Full-body portraits? Group shots? Candid portrait photos? Make sure to pick the lens that fits with your interests, rather than the interests of the average portrait photographer.

A note about this list for people who are not familiar with portrait photography: Many of these are prime lenses, which means they only have a single focal length. This is different from kit lenses, which often have the capability to zoom in and out. So why go with a prime lens over a zoom? Primes offer a couple of key advantages: larger apertures to let in more light, and greater sharpness, too. For portrait photographers, the tradeoff is generally worth it, and while these lenses can be used for general-purpose photography, they really are well-suited for portrait sessions.

Best lens for portrait photography child in the forestNikon D750 | Nikon 85mm f/1.8G | f/2.8 | 1/250s | ISO 4501. Nikon 50mm f/1.8GBest lens for portrait photography Nikon 50mm f/1.8GThe Nikon 50mm f/1.8G is far and away my top pick for beginners who want to get into portrait photography without spending a lot of money. The lens is tack sharp and focuses quickly, and the 50mm focal length is great for headshots, medium shots, and even wider shots with groups. The large f/1.8 aperture turns busy backgrounds into buttery smooth bokeh, and it works great in low-light situations, too. I have been shooting with this lens for nearly a decade and still bring it with me to portrait sessions because it just works so well.

You can also find similar inexpensive lenses from Sony, Canon, and other manufacturers, so if you don’t shoot with Nikon cameras, you can still pick up a 50mm f/1.8 lens for your camera at a great price. That said, I have used versions from other brands and tend to prefer the Nikon, but perhaps that’s just my own personal bias; all of them do a great job with portraits and other photography situations, too.

These 50mm lenses often don’t include advanced features like weather sealing or metal construction, but if you keep your expectations in check and are just looking for an outstanding lens to shoot portraits without breaking the bank, this is the one to get.