Can wide-angle lenses work well for portraits of children and babies?
Asked 10/28/2015
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Wide-angle lenses can make nearby facial features look larger, which is why longer focal lengths are often preferred for portraits. For children and babies, does that guideline still apply, or can the extra roundness and exaggerated perspective sometimes be flattering or appropriate? Are wide or ultra-wide lenses ever used as a main choice for child portraits, or are standard-to-telephoto focal lengths usually better?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
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As always in photography (and most other arts), rules are generally accepted, but they are ment to be broken if it fits your cause.
To answer specifically to the question about children photography: what you describe is not completely wrong and can be applied in the sense you would want to. You can find some examples in the following link. From the second picture onwards, you can especially find some comparisons with wide- and less wide lenses used on a kid:
http://www.studioonashoestring.com/410/wide-angle-lenses-are-for-portraits-too-tutorial/
Originally by user45637. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user45637
10y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes, wide-angle lenses can be used for children’s portraits, but they’re usually a creative choice rather than the main portrait lens.
The key issue is perspective distortion: when you get close with a wide lens, facial features can look exaggerated. That can create a playful, energetic look that may suit kids better than adults in some situations, especially for environmental portraits or scenes like kids playing.
For more traditional portraits, especially head-and-shoulders shots, longer focal lengths are generally more flattering for anyone, including children. The distortion from a wide lens is more noticeable the closer you are, so tighter portraits usually benefit from something longer.
A practical guideline:
- Wide/ultra-wide: best for environmental or playful portraits where surroundings matter.
- Standard to short telephoto: better for classic portraits and close-ups.
A 35mm lens on full frame can work well for environmental child portraits, while closer portraits are often better with at least 60mm, and commonly 85mm or 105mm.
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