Shooting with wide apertures can seem difficult at times, especially with moving children. I regularly shoot with apertures f/1.6 and lower, but I didn’t always shoot that way. I used to shoot around f/ 2.2 – f/4.0. I actually started to shoot with the super wide apertures because I dropped my camera when I was out photographing my son Noah. Yep. I just bought a brand new camera, and when I dropped it, the aperture ring broke, and it was stuck on f/1.6. Being the daredevil (or crazy?) person that I am, I was going to use my new camera at my photo session the next day, and not my old camera. No way. No how. Well, I lucked out, and had a great session, and I realized how much I loved very shallow depth of field.
There were quite a few things I learned through out the years that helped me nail focus when photographing kids and families with wide apertures and hopefully these will help some of you!
“Anchor” yourself if possible.
If I can lean on walls, a tree, a car, or sit on the ground (and shoot up)…I do it. Also, try to keep those elbows close to your side. The more your wiggle those elbows around, the more you risk camera shake. I like to anchor myself against walls a lot because it helps keep me still.
Toggle your focal points.
Single point autofocus (AF) shooting is a great way to ensure sharp images, and I find it is GOLDEN to me when using very wide apertures. By using this method, your able to hone in on the area you want to focus on, which can give you sharper images. Regardless if you use back button focusing, or you use your shutter to lock focus (this is what I use), the single point focus is a method I can’t live without.
Watch your distance from your subject(s)
I really utilize this when I am photographing groups with f/1.6. I try to make sure I am not too close as that will cause the depth of field to be too shallow, and a greater chance of blurry images. Instead, I make sure I am a good distance away (perhaps 10ft?) when photographing groups. A telephoto prime lens works best in this situation. My lens of choice is an 85mm 1.4. Practice a bit with this to find your “sweet spot”. You definitely don’t want to be too far away!
Keep the group on the same plane and have them touching in some way
This works well with siblings and families. I like to have them touching in some way. Either the shoulders, hands, heads, cheeks…something! When I am choosing what to focus on, I pick an area where two people are touching. (the red dot represents the focal point)
With close ups, focus on an eye, but with far away shots, don’t stress yourself
Im a firm believer that stressing over the technical during a photo shoot will cause a photographer to make mistakes. With full body shots of single individuals, I prefer to focus on the eye area (any place on the face).
Hopefully some of these tips will help! Until next time!
~AW
Audrey Woulard is a 100% natural light photographer based out of Chicago. She specializes in children’s portraiture and commercial children’s work and shoots in a 2100 sq foot natural light studio in Downtown Chicago as well as on-location. She also hosts workshops for photographers.
Audrey also appears in CM’s “I am a Photographer” video benefiting RAINN (image to the left).
Oh my gosh, I love her!! Her work is beautiful and you can tell everyone is always having a great time. Love it!
Excellent tips. Thanks. Your photos are all beautiful.
Wow, I love this, so informative and the pictures are fantastic! I love to shoot wide open, especially at home indoors to creatively hide the clutter in the background! I learned something new from you – I usually spot focus on whomever is in the back (of the kids, on the same plane). I will try not to stress too much on that and see what my results are. I love your work! Great interview!
Thanks so much for sharing with us, Audrey, and for participating in the “I am a Photographer” project! I love your tips and your work, and I particularly appreciated the illustration you offered with the red box. Thanks!!
Thanks so much! I love shallow depth of field, but err on the side of caution and usually shoot between f/2.5 -4. You’ve inspired me to break out of my comfort zone!
Thank you so much for this! I LOVE shallow depth of field but struggle a bit with blurry photo´s sometimes. This will definately help me next time. XOXO
THAT was absolutely fabulous information! THANKS so much! It really helped a new photog!
Thank you! I regularly shoot around f/1.6 on my 50mm f/1.4 and I always stress when shooting families. I love the idea of having them touch and choosing that area to focus on.
Thanks again!!
Great tips! I love shooting at a wide aperture, but find sometimes my pics are not in focus. These are great tips to get better photos! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Great Tips. Am struggling with blurry images at wide aperture but will keep practicing using these tips.
Awesome tips and gorgeous images ! Thank you for sharing, Audrey !
Great tips Audrey!!! Your work is always so gorgeous!!!
Thank you
Gorgeous shots! :)
Love your images…there’re nice and sharp, wish mine were like yours!
Thank you so much for this! Your images are so inspiring.
Fantastic ideas. I’m going to especially remember to anchor myself and keep those elbows in!
I could cry I’m so excited about this article. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for me. Amazing photos, awesome advice. Thank-you!!
Thanks for this! I had read to focus on the eyes but always struggle when it comes to shooting more than one person. I’ll definitely try this trick next time!
I love Audrey :)
Great tips. I have done some of the tips and it’s always great to refresh mind with it. I especially like to toggle my focus points although it makes it hard for me to get that shot when you have a moving subject (i.e. toddlers who doesn’t sit still)..but it’s still all good. :)
Thank you so much! What a great article with lots of wonderful advice. I love your pictures!!! You inspired me a lot!!!!! Going to try it today ♥
This article might also prove useful: http://gizmodo.com/5887389/army-officer-teaches-you-how-to-shoot-your-dslr-like-a-rifle
I am wondering that since you’re using a shallow depth of field do you have to use a filter to darken the image or do you just use a very high shutter speed???
nice tips!
I don’t find though that anchoring oneself to avoid camera shake is really such a concern at wide apertures, as the speed is usually high enough to freeze most motion (camera’s or subject’s).
Oana, I suspect that she’s anchoring herself to avoid movement that can cause her to fall of the desired plane of focus at such shallow DOF (vs. anchoring to avoid motion blur :))
Good blog bro! this is great read
just wondering…is the single point AF where it’s “one red dot” that shows you where you are focusing? will two faces or more faces be focused off of one red dot? or is it better to use the multi-focal point option…where a couple red focus dots pop up when you are trying to focus? thanks for your advice!
also…when is it acceptable to cut the top of someones head off in an image? I’m always afraid to know when it’s appropriate and when it’s not…any hints?
Great tips! I am always afraid if shooting wide open with groups, but I’m going to try it more now!
would you mind telling me a little bit more about Single point autofocus?
angelarenee2@gmail.com
wow..is all I can say…so much talent!!
thanks for the inspiration…