How To Focus On Portraits For Surprisingly Better Photos

You're struggling with how to focus on portraits. Read this article for a complete guide to getting perfect sharp focus in every one of your portraits. No where in photography is focus as important as in portraits.

How To Focus For Portraits

Before we can talk about how to focus for portraits it's important to discuss the things that might be causing us to not end up with perfectly sharp focus every time. Those include but are not limited to the following:

1. Choosing the wrong focus settings
2. Not having sufficient light to focus
3. Choosing the wrong exposure settings
4. The calibration of your lens

Choosing The Right Focus Setting

Since choosing the wrong focus settings can cause us a lot of issues let's start with how to choose the right focus settings. The truth is that there isn't any one right setting. However, the settings we choose are important.

Continuous Vs. Single Focus

First, we need to choose between continuous and single focus. Of course, Canon calls continuous servo. If you're not familiar continuous focus keeps focus at the same pace and direction even as you're taking the photo. However, single focus stops focusing as soon as you start to take the photo.

Therefore, continuous focus is best for subjects that move a lot. Hopefully that isn't the case with your portrait clients. However, if they're kids it might be. Just remember that continuous focus is going to keep going in the same direction it was before you began to take the photo. So, if your subject changes directions at just the right time they can end up blurrier in continuous than they would in single focus.

Focus Area

The other focus setting we have to watch out for is focus area. Our focus area is the part of our frame that we're telling the camera to use in order to focus on our subject. In some lower-end cameras we can either choose a single point or the entire scene. However, in higher end cameras we can group points or use larger areas.

This is important because if you're allowing the camera to choose from the entire scene it can miss. As a result, your subject isn't going to be as sharp as needed.

Manual Focus

The above settings apply for auto-focus. However, we didn't always have that option. In fact, a lot of portraits are still taken in manual. For example, some headshot photographers have the distances perfectly marked in their studios. As a result, they tell the client to lean a bit in or a bit back and they know they've nailed it.

The way they do this is to measure the distance and use a lens with a depth of field scale on it or at the very least a window that tells them the distance. Typically when photographers do this they use a slightly bigger depth of field to make sure the subject falls within that area.

You Need Light To Focus

Both autofocus and manual require enough light to make sure we get our focus perfect. If you're manually focusing then you need enough light to see that your subject is in focus. Additionally, if you're using autofocus your camera needs enough light as well as contrast in order to focus.

So, if you don't have enough light your focus may be off. However, it'll likely be close enough that you might not catch it. Look at the photo on a computer. If you didn't have enough light then your focus can be noticeably off. But, it might not have been off enough for you to see it on the back of the camera.

The Right Exposure Settings For Great Focus in Portraits

Your focus settings obviously matter. Additionally, your exposure settings can mess up the sharpness of your portraits. Here is how. First, if your shutter speed is too low your subject can move.

Additionally, if your ISO is too high the overall sharpness can decrease. Of course, high ISO causes a lot of issues. Too, it's generally not a good look for portraits.

Finally, if your aperture is too small the depth of field will be too narrow. As a result, focusing off just a tiny bit is going to be extra noticeable. In addition, if your aperture is too small you can experience diffraction where light scatters and reduces sharpness.

Lens Calibration and Focus in Portraits

Although it's rare there are times that calibration becomes an issue. In over 20 years of photography I've seen it three times.

All manufactured equipment has to meet specific quality standards. Those standards include tolerances. So, imagine that your lens is calibrated within acceptable tolerances but is off in one direction. Then, imagine pairing with your camera which is still within tolerances but is off in the other direction. The result is going to be photos that don't look in focus.

Achieving Sharpness of Focus in Portrait Photography

Now, we know what can go wrong. So, how can we achieve sharp focus in all of our portrait photography?

First, it helps to make sure you're working with quality equipment that is well calibrated. Second, make sure you've got the light you need to find focus. Third, choose what you're focusing on. In individual portraits, we focus on the eyes. At least most of the time.

Environmental Portraits

That said, if we're creating an environmental portrait then we typically want the entire body in focus. Use a smaller aperture to do so. However, be aware that you don't want to stop down too much.

Portrait Lighting

Remember, if you're lighting a large area you need a certain size of aperture to avoid the need to overpower your lights. In fact, you need lights for such portraits. Don't assume you can do environmental portraits without some off-camera lights. Preferably, use strobe lights. At the very least, use portable flash units that can be activated remotely. Continuous lights, even those used for video are likely not bright enough.

Focus on the Eyes

No matter the type of portraits you're creating from professional headshots to family photos, focus on the eyes. The eyes are the first thing we look at. This is followed by the rest of the face and head. Strangely, we then look at hands next.

If your subject's eyes are not in focus then people will notice. Because, people are the subject of portraits you need to get this part right. In fact, even if nothing else is in focus that's oddly fine.

Some of the world's most famous photography portraits only have the eyes in focus.

Sharp Family or Group Portraits

Just as with environmental portraits family or other group portraits require a bigger depth of field. Therefore, we can't choose one person's eye to focus on. Rather, since depth of field falls 1/3rd in front of and 2/3rds behind where we focus we need to make sure that sharpness is distributed evenly.

Organized vs. Disorganized Group Photos

It's fairly easy when your group is standing evenly in several rows. Of course, family portraits typically don't look good that way. People are more organically placed in family photos. So, here is where manual focus and a lens with a depth of field chart becomes your best friend.

Group photos of organized rows are great for corporate events, team photos, and other non-family situations.

 For more on focus for portraits or any other subject read my article on nailing your focus every time.

In conclusion

When it comes to portraits focus is a challenge. So, make sure your gear is good, your settings are right, and that you've got enough light. If all of those are true then you should have no problem achieving perfectly sharp focus. That said, even pros run into issues with focus at times. So, if you're still struggling know that you're not alone.