Which lens should I use on a Canon 600D for an outdoor maternity shoot?
Asked 9/17/2013
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I’m planning my first outdoor maternity shoot in a field at sunset, with the sun peeking above the trees. I use a Canon 600D and currently have the standard kit lens and a 70-300mm telephoto. I’m considering buying a prime, possibly the Canon EF 35mm f/2, because it fits my budget. For this kind of session, would 35mm be a good choice on a 600D, or would 50mm or 85mm work better? I’d like to include some of the environment, but I also want flattering photos of the baby bump.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
1
A good prime is definitely a great choice. 35mm might be a bit wide on full frame, however, so you might want to consider a 50mm.
Originally by user3205. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user3205
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For an outdoor maternity shoot on a Canon 600D, a 35mm prime is a strong choice if you want environmental portraits that include the field and sunset. On your APS-C camera, 50mm may feel a bit tighter, while 85mm will isolate the subject more and show less background.
The main tradeoff is perspective: if you use a wider lens like 35mm and get very close, the belly can appear more pronounced, similar to how wide lenses exaggerate features in close portraits. That can be a creative effect, but if you want a more natural look, step back a bit or use a longer focal length.
Given what you already own, you can also test this now: use your kit lens around 35mm for wider environmental shots, and your 70-300mm for more compressed portraits from farther away.
If the sun is behind your subject, don’t be afraid to use fill flash and flash exposure compensation to balance the light.
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