Go wide

Try using a wide-angle lens for close-ups

Lenses with a fixed focal length of around 80-100mm (such as Nikon’s classic 85mm f/1.4D) are often referred to as ‘portrait lenses’. The reason for this has to do with the way different lenses will alter perspective. Longer focal lengths have a compressing effect that makes elements that are far apart seem closer together.

Shorter focal lengths, meanwhile, exaggerate the differences in distance instead (if you’ve ever looked through a wide-angle lens at your own feet, you’ll know what we mean). 85mm is a classic lens for portraits because it’s a flattering length that results in a perfectly proportioned face. By contrast, wide-angles distort facial features, making the nose and forehead loom larger than many subjects would like. However, the distortion can be put to great use to add a sense of humour to your portraits, or to give them more of an in-your-face feel.