How do you know which is the right lens for your fashion photography? In this blog I will help you answer that question by reviewing different lenses for DSLR cameras and their typical uses. After that, I’ll take a more in-depth approach to fashion lens choices when shooting fashion or swimwear or lifestyle models. To keep this blog to a manageable size, I will cover zoom lenses in another blog post. This post will only cover a select number of prime or fixed lenses, and also touch on which lenses you should use when shooting fashion photography.

*Choosing the right lens for a fashion photograph can make or break an image. Shot with a 50mm.*

*A wider landscape shot with a 35mm wide lens. Notice how the lens are straighter and there is less depth.*

50mm Lens:

The 50mm is often called the “nifty fifty” because this is usually what people start out with when they get interested in DSLR photography and want to get the most bang for their buck. On a full frame sensor, this lens sees what your eyes naturally see. That means it’s a great way to capture beauty without distortion. It’s used for portraits, landscapes, weddings, pretty much anything. The downside and upside to this lens is that you might have to move around to get the shot. I would argue this helps you to think more creatively and become a better shooter.

Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art DG HSM Lens for Canon

85mm Lens:

The 85 is the tougher cousin to the 50 for a lot of folks. Its tighter focal length makes it ideal for smooth portraits or images of your pets’ faces. The extra 35 adds a sense of compression to your images that is also ideal for close ups. I know photographers who swear by the 85, and it’s a good lens to work with, especially if you’ve transitioned from a crop to a full frame sensor and miss that closer feeling to your images.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM – DSLR Lens with IS Capability, Black – 2271C002

35mm Lens:

Here’s a fun fact. In the old film days, most photography was shot on a 35, and not much has changed in 2019 as our IPhone’s share a similar perspective. The 35 is a versatile lens. It offers a unique twist for portraits because of its perspective, and it’s used for both landscapes and lifestyle images. This lens has become the bread and butter for many in the industry, and is praised for its classic nostalgia and the various ways it can work under different circumstances.

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM Lens, Lens Only

135mm Lens:

The 135 is a serious portrait contender. This lens usually offers even smoother bokeh (out of focus blur) and crisper resolution than the 85. For a lot of photographers its main drawback or its best attribute is the focal length itself. For those who like the 50, it may take a bit of practice to adjust when you’re so far away from the subject. If you’re invested in wildlife, concerts, or astrophotography, you may fall in love with the 135’s depth, clarity, and function of its design.

Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens for Nikon F

Difference between Crop or Full Frame

All of these lenses have fixed focal lengths, but you’re the perspective, meaning how you see the images in-camera and later in Photoshop, will change depending on whether your camera has a crop or full frame sensor. A crop sensor cuts out the edges of the frame and thus increases how we perceive the focal length. A 50mm lens on a full frame sensor is actually a 75mm on a crop sensor. The same 1.5 ratio applies to all of your basic digital crop sensors.

*An image shot on a crop 50 sensor, making the subject appear much closer than a traditional 50mm portrait.*

*Also shot on a 50mm but a full-frame camera. Even though distance is about the same, the subject is smaller.*

Fashion Photography Lens Choices

At the end of the day, you can use any lens for any situation depending on the type of shot you want to achieve. We all have individual preferences and until you practice you won’t know what you like. I’ve broken down some common issues when shooting fashion photography with different lens choices. You can read below for all the details.

35mm Lens:

Shooting a wide lens with portraits or fashion can be tricky. It often crosses the line between hip and a bit weird. The distortion on say a 35mm or 24mm can make for some interesting close-up shots of faces and objects, but it can also result in terrible perspective problems, long long legs, and dark shadows where dark shadows should not be found. However, a lot of successful fashion photographers have also made it their calling to utilize the 28mm – 35mm to its utmost potential. The results are instantly recognizable as awesome when used appropriately.

50mm Lens:

The 50mm again? Aren’t we tired of this guy yet? Perhaps. I think the 50mm is a great resource for creativity when it comes to fashion photography, and is also a go-to lens for model tests and when you don’t feel like carrying around all that equipment. I always say that a true photographer can use the 50mm and take beautiful images without any added extravagance. Go challenge yourself and shoot your next portrait or model session with just a 50mm but try to make it as unique and interesting.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

70mm - 200mm Lens:

The telephoto is often the dream lens for newcomers and a great contender for fashion images. Depending on the type of images you produce, I would say a good telephoto lens is almost essential for fashion photography, and certainly a must for beauty portraits. A longer lens allows for greater compression which blows out the background and scrunches up the faces of your beautiful models.

These lenses are great for beaches and other wide open locations where lack of space isn’t an issue, but they can also be versatile and instill a new love for studio portraits or indoor window light.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras, White – 3044C002

Conclusion

Choosing the right lens for your next photography project or photoshoot will take some practice, research and maybe a bit of luck Go ahead and try out what you currently have in your equipment bag or borrow a friend’s camera to get a better idea of what you personally like or don’t like when it comes to gear. It’s important to remember that everyone has different preferences when it comes down to lens choice and some photographers literally use the same lens for all of their portrait or landscape or fashion shoots. Whatever lens you choose at the end of the day, remember to have fun.