How to Get Sharp Focus Portraits with a Low F-Stop | Portrait Photography Tips

Do you ever feel the need to choose between gorgeous bokeh and getting SHARP focus? If so, this video is for you! You'll learn 7 Pro Tips on how to get sharp focus portraits even when photographing with low apertures (F/1.4, F/1.8, F/2.8, etc) and shallow depth of field!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Get more details on my photography course, Shoot to Edit:

ALSO WATCH:

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

CAMERAS

LENSES

YOUTUBE KIT:
Edited in Adobe Premiere Pro

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

ABOUT THIS VIDEO:
If you ever struggle with nailing focus on fast paced shoots and getting consistently SHARP focus photos, you're definitely not alone. How to take sharp portraits is of the most common questions I get from my students, even ones who are established and have been photographing professionally for years.

Many people are surprised to find out that, for most of my photos, I shoot wide open with a low f-stop (f/2.8, f/1.4, etc.) because I love the shallow depth of field and depth it gives my portraits. And what I've discovered is many photographer believe a common misconception that they have to increase their aperture in order to get sharp images. But the truth is, you can have BOTH! There's no need to sacrifice that creamy bokeh we love. To get sharp focus with a low aperture you just need the right techniques. And in this video, which is part 1 on a series I'm doing on getting sharper photos, I'm going to be sharing 5 in-camera portrait photography tips that I use when shooting (+ two bonus tips at the end!) that will have you on your way to sharper images and feeling more confident on your shoots!

xoxo
Chelsea Nicole

[jessecolon]

well buy a mirrorless with eye auto focus problem solved lol

[AnaMariaNLS]

So I have autism and I am a photographer and you help me so much I really appreciate it! You explain so well

[jesse_cole]

Every dog moves the head 0.5 seconds before you hit the shutter button.

[JOEHUSTLE]

I love that this video is by a nikon shooter that explains stuff in a clear way

[nurmirza]

Would love a calibration video! I have a canon rebel t6 and haven’t found an easy way to calibrate my lenses with it yet :/

[theEphraimLevine]

Thanks for this! Really important point when moving focus points especially on Canon 5D4 is that not all the focus points give tac sharp images wide open. Unless using the middle column of focus points you need to stop down to f4 or 5.6. This is in the manual and I discovered this when shooting too. The other focus points simply don't give tac sharp images. Happy to hear other views. Thanks Chelsea for these vids!

[coled]

Hi! I have a Canon R6 Mark ii. I am 4:26 minutes into your video where you change the number of focus points to 51. I can't seem to find that feature in my camera but I could be overlooking it. Any advice?

[lescobrandon]

Since the days of the D200, I just lock focus with 3D focus tracking and the focus point follows the target. And I get razor sharp pics every time.

[PrairieValleyProjects]

New subscriber 😀🇨🇦 awesome video 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[xelerr]

Focal plane like a sheet of paper is brilliant. I knew that, but you illustrate it really well here. I think that’s why mine are always off! Ty ty!

[manuelafortes]

Hi lovely chelsea! Do you sharp focus with every click/picture??

[jasoncollins]

In portrait photography I cannot think of one good reason to shoot so shallow that recomposing or breathing will move you out of focus. This obsession with Bokeh is a fashion trend among photographers and NOT a marketable asset among consumers. Our clients cannot tell the difference between a shot at f2 and one at f4. Anyone having issues with softness should back up and stop down.

[ericbell]

I have consistent problem when shooting even small groups of people or even when I do I wide portrait where the person only takes up a third of the frame. The people are never sharp. If I take the same picture with my phone and the phone will have the people look better than my Fuji XT3.

[RagingBubuli]

How do you shoot wide open without over exposing bright areas like the Sky?

[baljindersinghsidhu]

Yes please provide calibration of lenses with nikon... thank u

[Dustyphoto]

Lord that is a giant camera and a giant lens.

[tysonator]

The latest crop of mirrorless cameras like the Canon R5, R6, Sony A7iiii, A9ii to name few. The AF eye detection is amazing and the hit rate is 8 of 10 at least !
I know they are not cheap however the nikon D4 in this video is not cheap either.

[sourabhchanpuria]

very informative video, but if you could tell your viewers that how it is possible to have sharp images at low aperture by using less focus points like 9 and 11.

[RGVFORSALE]

Important thing to remember that lens calibration only applies to DSLR's - NOT if you're using mirrorless bodies.

[raphaeltembo]

Thank you so much. I’ve been focusing and recomposing so much 😅you’ve got a new subscriber 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿