1. Wide Angle Lenses (e.g., 16mm-35mm):
* Exaggerated Perspective: These lenses emphasize depth and distance. Anything closer to the camera appears larger, while elements further away seem smaller. This can lead to significant distortion of facial features.
* Larger Nose, Smaller Ears: The nose, being the closest feature, becomes disproportionately large, while the ears recede and appear smaller.
* Rounded Faces: The overall face tends to look rounder and more full.
* Distorted Proportions: Features can appear stretched or warped, especially at the edges of the frame.
* Background Inclusion: Wide angles capture a much larger field of view, so more of the background is included, potentially distracting from the subject.
* Less Flattering Generally: Wide angles are generally considered less flattering for portraits because of the pronounced distortion.
* Uses: Can be used creatively for environmental portraits where you want to show the subject in context, or for stylized portraits that intentionally use distortion for effect.
2. Normal Lenses (e.g., 50mm):
* Realistic Perspective: 50mm lenses roughly approximate how the human eye perceives perspective. They provide a more natural and balanced representation of facial features.
* Balanced Proportions: Features appear in their proper relative size. The nose isn't excessively large, and the ears maintain their natural size.
* Good All-Around Choice: A good starting point for portraiture, offering a natural and generally flattering rendering.
* Less Background: Less of the background is included compared to wide-angle lenses, helping to isolate the subject.
3. Short Telephoto Lenses (e.g., 85mm):
* Slight Compression: These lenses begin to compress the perspective slightly, making distances appear shorter.
* More Flattering: Generally considered very flattering for portraits. The compression subtly narrows the face and can soften features.
* Slightly Reduced Nose Size: The nose appears slightly smaller relative to other features.
* Pleasant Background Blur (Bokeh): Due to their longer focal length and often wider apertures, they create a pleasing out-of-focus background, further isolating the subject.
* Popular Choice: The 85mm lens is a favorite among portrait photographers due to its pleasing perspective and flattering qualities.
4. Telephoto Lenses (e.g., 100mm-200mm+):
* Strong Compression: Telephoto lenses significantly compress the perspective. This means that the distance between the subject's nose, eyes, and ears appears much shorter than it actually is.
* Flattened Features: The face appears flattened, with features seeming closer together.
* Very Small Nose: The nose appears significantly smaller, often considered desirable by some subjects.
* Background Proximity Illusion: The background appears to be much closer to the subject than it actually is.
* Extreme Isolation: Telephoto lenses provide excellent background blur and isolate the subject very effectively.
* Requires More Distance: You need to stand further away from your subject to achieve a full-face portrait with a telephoto lens. This can sometimes create a less intimate shooting experience.
* Can Look Unnatural: Too much compression can sometimes lead to an unnatural or "pancake" appearance, making the face look flat and lacking depth.
Key Considerations & How to Choose a Focal Length:
* Distance to Subject: Focal length *must* be considered in relation to your distance from the subject. If you use a wide angle and stand close to the subject, distortion is amplified. If you use a telephoto lens and stand far away, compression is amplified.
* Intended Look: Are you going for a natural look, a dramatic/stylized look, or something in between?
* Subject's Face Shape: Certain focal lengths might be more flattering for certain face shapes. For example, a person with a very prominent nose might appreciate the nose-reducing effect of a telephoto lens.
* Background Importance: Do you want to show a lot of the environment, or do you want to isolate the subject?
* Communication with Subject: Standing close with a wider lens can create a more intimate feel. Standing far away with a telephoto can be less personal.
In summary:
* Wider angles: Exaggerate, distort, and include more of the background. Less flattering for typical portraits, but can be used creatively.
* Normal (50mm): Balanced, natural perspective, good all-around choice.
* Short telephoto (85mm): Slightly compresses, very flattering, isolates the subject with background blur. A very popular choice for portraiture.
* Telephoto (100mm+): Compresses significantly, flattens features, further isolates the subject, but can look unnatural if overused.
Experiment with different focal lengths to understand their effects and discover what works best for your style and your subjects. The "best" focal length is subjective and depends entirely on the look you're trying to achieve.