How to Use an 85mm Lens for Stunning Travel Portraits

The Magic of the 85mm: Why It’s a Travel Portrait Powerhouse

While a zoom lens offers versatility, a prime lens like the 85mm brings a unique character and quality to your travel photography. It’s a specialist tool, and its specialty is creating portraits with a professional, cinematic feel. Its magic lies in a combination of flattering perspective, beautiful background separation, and a comfortable working distance that changes how you interact with your subjects.

Understanding Flattering Compression

The most celebrated characteristic of the 85mm focal length is its ability to create flattering “compression.” Think of it like looking through a telescope or a pair of binoculars; distant objects are magnified and pulled into the scene, appearing much closer to your subject than they are in reality. This effect renders facial features in a very natural and pleasing way, avoiding the distortion that can occur with wider lenses.

When you use a wide-angle lens (like a 24mm or 35mm) for a tight portrait, you have to get very close to your subject. This proximity can exaggerate features, making a nose look larger or a forehead more prominent. The 85mm, by allowing you to stand further back, captures proportions with a pleasing and true-to-life perspective that is universally flattering.

The Art of Subject-Background Separation

Travel often means shooting in visually complex or chaotic environments. The 85mm lens excels at turning this chaos into art. Its long focal length, especially when paired with a wide aperture like f/1.8 or f/1.4, creates a very shallow depth of field. The result is a beautifully soft, out-of-focus background known as bokeh.

This effect is invaluable for making your subject the undeniable focal point of the image. A distracting crowd, a messy street, or tangled foliage melts away into a gentle wash of color and light. This separation allows the viewer’s eye to go directly to the person in the portrait, emphasizing their expression and presence within the location without letting the background overwhelm them.

The “Candid-Friendly” Working Distance

To capture a head-and-shoulders portrait with an 85mm lens, you need to stand several feet away from your subject. While this might seem like a limitation, it is one of the lens’s greatest strengths for capturing the essence of destinations. This distance creates a natural buffer zone, which helps people feel less intimidated and self-conscious.

Instead of having a camera “in their face,” your subject has room to breathe, move, and act naturally. This space is perfect for capturing candid moments, genuine smiles, and quiet interactions. It encourages a more observational approach, allowing you to document moments as they unfold rather than staging them, resulting in portraits that feel authentic and alive.

Nailing the Technicals: Core Camera Settings

While the 85mm lens does a lot of the heavy lifting for you, understanding and mastering your camera settings is what separates a good snapshot from a breathtaking portrait. Think of your camera not as a machine, but as an instrument. These settings are the notes you play to create your visual melody.

Aperture: Your Creative Control Dial

Aperture is arguably the most important setting for portraiture. It controls the amount of light entering the lens, but more importantly, it dictates the depth of field—the slice of your image that is in sharp focus. This is where you decide how much of the world you want to melt away.

For Maximum Bokeh: f/1.4 – f/2.8

When you want to isolate your subject completely and create that dreamy, professional look, shooting “wide open” is the key. An aperture in the f/1.4 to f/2.8 range is perfect for situations where the background is cluttered, uninteresting, or simply distracting. It turns a chaotic street scene or messy foliage into a beautiful wash of color and light, forcing the viewer’s attention directly onto the person in your frame.

Be aware, this power comes with a challenge. At these wide apertures, the depth of field is incredibly shallow, sometimes only a few millimeters deep. This means you must be precise with your focus. It is absolutely essential to ensure the subject’s eyes are perfectly sharp; a soft eye in a portrait can render the entire image a near-miss.

For Environmental Context: f/4 – f/8

Sometimes, the background isn’t a distraction; it’s a co-star. When you’re photographing someone in front of a famous landmark, a stunning mountain range, or a unique architectural detail, you want that context to be part of the story. By “stopping down” your aperture to a value like f/4, f/5.6, or f/8, you increase the depth of field.

This technique keeps your subject tack-sharp while rendering the background softly, but with enough detail to be recognizable and add narrative value. It creates a portrait that feels grounded in a specific place and time, telling a much richer story than a simple headshot could. For more on capturing stunning landscapes, check out our guide on tips to take better mountains photography.

Shutter Speed: Eliminating Blur

A sharp portrait is a non-negotiable, and your shutter speed is your primary defense against blur. A common guideline is the “reciprocal rule,” which suggests your shutter speed should be at least 1 divided by your focal length. For an 85mm lens, that would mean a minimum of 1/85s. However, for consistently sharp travel portraits, you should aim higher.

We recommend setting a minimum shutter speed of 1/200s or faster. The longer focal length of the 85mm lens amplifies even the slightest camera shake. Furthermore, people are never perfectly still. A faster shutter speed not only counteracts your own hand movements but also freezes the subtle, natural motion of your subject, ensuring their expression and features are captured with crisp clarity.

ISO and Focus: The Supporting Acts

With your aperture and shutter speed set, ISO and focus are the final pieces of the technical puzzle. Getting them right ensures a clean, sharp image every time.

ISO Strategy

Your goal with ISO should always be to keep it as low as your camera’s native setting (usually ISO 100 or 200) allows. This produces the cleanest image with the best color and detail. However, do not be afraid to increase it when the light fades. In dimly lit markets, during the golden or blue hour, or on overcast days, maintaining a safe shutter speed (like 1/200s) is more important than keeping a low ISO. A modern camera produces excellent results at ISO 800, 1600, or even higher. A photograph with a little bit of digital grain is infinitely better than a blurry, unusable one. For low-light photography techniques, explore our night city photo guide.

Focus Mode is Non-Negotiable

With the shallow depth of field of an 85mm lens, how you focus is critical. If your camera has it, Eye-AF (Eye Autofocus) is the single most valuable tool at your disposal. This technology automatically finds your subject’s eye and locks focus on it with incredible precision, freeing you to concentrate on composition and connection. It’s a game-changer for portraiture.

If your camera lacks Eye-AF, the next best method is using Single-Point AF. Switch to this mode, manually move the small focus box directly over your subject’s nearest eye, and then take the shot. This deliberate approach ensures that the most important element of your portrait is perfectly in focus, right where it needs to be.

Composition Techniques for Stunning 85mm Portraits

A great lens is only half the equation; how you compose the shot is what elevates a simple snapshot into a compelling portrait. The 85mm lens has unique characteristics that, when understood, unlock powerful compositional opportunities. It encourages you to see the world differently and interact with your environment in a more deliberate way.

Isolate Your Subject

One of the primary reasons to use an 85mm lens is for its incredible ability to create subject separation. This isn’t just about a blurry background; it’s about making your subject the undeniable hero of the image. To achieve this, focus on creating physical distance. The further your subject is from the background, the more pronounced the blur and separation will be. If your subject is leaning against a wall, the wall will remain relatively in focus. If you ask them to take ten steps forward, that same wall will melt away into a soft wash of color and texture.

This technique is a lifesaver in visually chaotic environments. Imagine a vibrant, crowded festival. With a wider lens, you capture the chaos. With an 85mm, you can stand back and “punch in,” isolating a single dancer, a thoughtful vendor, or a child’s laughing face. The surrounding activity becomes a supporting element rather than a distraction, giving the portrait a serene quality amidst the bustle.

Use Compression to Tell a Story

Lens compression is the 85mm’s superpower for environmental portraits. It’s the magic that makes distant backgrounds feel grand and immediately present behind your subject. To leverage this, you need space. Position your subject a considerable distance in front of a landmark—be it a mountain, a famous building, or a dramatic coastline. Then, you walk back even further until your subject is framed correctly, effectively pulling that distant background into the scene.

To achieve a shot like the one above, the subject was positioned on a ridge, with the mountain range miles away. The photographer then moved back another 50 to 100 feet and used the 85mm lens to frame the shot. This act of stepping back and “zooming in” with the lens is what makes the mountains appear so monumental and close. The location is no longer just a backdrop; it’s a character in the portrait, telling a story of place and scale. For more tips on capturing stunning mountain landscapes, check out our guide on tips to take better mountains photography.

The “85mm Dance”: Working with Space

Using a prime lens like the 85mm means there is no zoom ring to turn. Your feet become the zoom. This necessity, often called the “85mm dance,” requires you to physically move forward and backward to perfect your framing. While it might seem like a limitation, it is actually a creative catalyst. It forces you to be more intentional with every shot.

In crowded travel spots, this dance becomes a strategic search for opportunity. Instead of getting stuck in a crowd, you learn to look for clear lines of sight.

• Find shooting lanes: Look for natural pathways, gaps between market stalls, or moments when a crowd parts.
• Shoot across the way: Use the width of a street, a plaza, or a river to give yourself the distance you need to compose a full-body or environmental portrait.
• Use elevation: A few steps up a staircase or onto a balcony can provide a clear view over the heads of others, giving you a clean shot.

This process makes you a more patient and observant photographer. You begin to anticipate moments and see compositions before they even happen, rather than just reacting to what’s directly in front of you.

Framing Within the Frame

This classic compositional technique feels tailor-made for the 85mm lens. Framing within the frame involves using elements in the environment to create a natural border around your subject. Think of shooting through a stone archway, a window, a doorway, or even the gap between two leafy branches.

The 85mm’s tight, telephoto field of view makes this especially effective. It naturally crops out extraneous details to the left and right, allowing you to easily fill your photograph with just the frame and your subject. This adds a wonderful sense of depth, directs the viewer’s eye exactly where you want it to go, and provides context about the location in an artful way. For more creative techniques, explore our guide on creative effects and filters.

In-the-Field Scenarios: Putting It All Together

Theory is one thing, but applying it in the dynamic, unpredictable world of travel is another. Here’s how to adapt your 85mm approach to common travel photography situations, combining technical settings with creative strategy.

The Bustling City Market

Markets are a sensory overload—a vibrant chaos of color, sound, and movement. This is where the 85mm lens truly shines, allowing you to isolate moments of calm and character within the commotion. Instead of getting lost in the crowd, you become a discreet observer.

• Strategy: Find a natural vantage point, such as the opposite side of a stall or across a walkway. This distance allows you to capture a vendor arranging their produce or a shopper intently examining an item without altering their behavior. You’re not just taking a picture; you’re capturing a genuine slice of daily life.
• Settings: A wider aperture like f/2.8 is ideal here. It provides enough background blur to separate your subject from the busy scene but retains enough environmental detail to give context. The lighting in markets is often inconsistent, so be prepared to increase your ISO to maintain a shutter speed of at least 1/250s. This will freeze the subtle movements of your subject and counteract any camera shake.

The Epic Landscape Portrait

When you want to capture a person against a breathtaking vista—be it a mountain range, a coastline, or an ancient ruin—the 85mm’s compression is your most powerful tool. It allows you to make the landscape a co-star in your portrait, not just a distant backdrop.

• Strategy: This is a two-step process. First, position your subject where they look comfortable and well-lit. Then, you walk backward, watching the background through your viewfinder. As you move, the distant landscape will appear to grow larger and closer, allowing you to frame the person perfectly against a dramatic peak or a sweeping bay. For more on mountain photography techniques, check out our guide.
• Settings: To ensure both your subject and the magnificent scenery are part of the story, you need more depth of field. Stop down your aperture to the f/5.6 – f/8 range. This keeps your subject perfectly sharp while rendering the background with clear, recognizable detail. It strikes the perfect balance between portraiture and landscape photography.

The Intimate Portrait of a Local

Photographing people you’ve just met requires trust and respect. The 85mm lens offers a distinct advantage by providing a comfortable working distance that feels far less intrusive than a wider lens held close to the face.

• Strategy: The photograph begins long before you press the shutter. Start with a smile, a greeting, or by purchasing something. Build a small moment of rapport. When you do raise your camera, the physical space the lens requires can help your subject feel more at ease. Use simple, gentle hand signals to suggest a slight turn of the head or a shift in posture.
• Settings: For these portraits, the focus is entirely on the person’s character and expression. Use a very wide aperture, such as f/1.8 or f/2.0. This will create a beautifully soft, blurred background, eliminating all distractions and drawing the viewer’s eye directly to the subject’s face and, most importantly, their eyes. This technical choice supports the creative goal: to create a quiet, dignified, and intimate portrait. Explore more about lighting techniques for portraits to enhance your results.

Overcoming Common 85mm Travel Challenges

While the 85mm is a portrait specialist, its specific design presents a few challenges on the road. Understanding these limitations and knowing how to work around them is the key to mastering this lens in any travel situation.

When You’re “Too Close for Comfort”

You’ll inevitably encounter situations where the 85mm is simply too long. Imagine stepping into a small, artisan workshop or navigating a packed and narrow alleyway in an ancient city. In these tight quarters, you might back up against a wall and find you can only fit an eye or an ear in your frame. This isn’t a failure of the lens; it’s a fundamental characteristic of its focal length.

When you can’t physically back up any further, you have two excellent options:

• Solution 1: Switch Lenses. If you travel with a multi-lens kit, this is the time to embrace it. A 50mm or 35mm lens will be far more suitable for capturing the scene in a tight space. This is why many travel photographers carry an 85mm alongside a wider prime or a standard zoom.
• Solution 2: Re-envision the Shot. If the 85mm is the only lens you have, get creative. Instead of fighting for a full portrait, use the lens’s strengths. Focus on details that tell a story. Capture a chef’s hands expertly folding pasta, a painter’s focused gaze, or the intricate beadwork on a piece of clothing. These detail shots can be just as powerful as a traditional portrait.

Managing Weight and Size on the Go

Not all 85mm lenses are created equal, especially when it comes to what you have to carry. The choice you make here directly impacts your travel style. Generally, you’ll find lenses in two main categories:

• The 85mm f/1.8 is typically the traveler’s choice. These lenses are significantly smaller, lighter, and more affordable. They deliver fantastic sharpness and beautiful bokeh, making them a perfect balance of performance and portability.
• The 85mm f/1.4 or f/1.2 versions are the top-tier professional tools. They offer a slight edge in low-light gathering and can produce a marginally creamier background blur. However, this performance comes at a cost: they are substantially larger, heavier, and more expensive.

Consider your priorities. If you are trekking, exploring cities on foot all day, or packing light, the f/1.8 is the practical and brilliant choice. If you are on a dedicated photography trip where image quality is the absolute priority and you don’t mind the extra weight, the f/1.4 might be worth the burden.

Shooting in Harsh Midday Sun

Here’s a common technical problem: you want that dreamy, blurred-background look at f/1.8, but it’s a bright, sunny day. To get a correct exposure, your camera needs a very fast shutter speed, which might be faster than its maximum capability (often 1/4000s or 1/8000s). The result is an overexposed, blown-out image.

The solution is an essential piece of kit for any portrait photographer: a Neutral Density (ND) filter. Think of an ND filter as sunglasses for your lens. It’s a piece of dark, high-quality glass that screws onto the front of your lens to reduce the amount of light entering the camera, but without affecting the colors.

By cutting the light, the ND filter allows you to keep your aperture wide open (like f/1.8) while using a slower, more manageable shutter speed, even in the brightest conditions. This gives you complete creative control over your depth of field, no matter the time of day.

Essential 85mm Travel Portrait Shot List

When you’re exploring a new place, it helps to have a mental checklist of shots to look for. This isn’t about being rigid; it’s about building creative muscle and ensuring you return home with a diverse and compelling collection of images. Here is a creative guide to the types of portraits the 85mm lens was born to capture.

Your Creative Checklist

• The Classic Head-and-Shoulders Portrait (f/1.8)
  This is the quintessential 85mm shot. Position your subject and use a wide-open aperture like f/1.8. The lens’s flattering compression will render their features naturally, while the shallow depth of field melts the background into a beautiful, non-distracting wash of color and light. This shot is all about capturing pure expression and connection. For more on perfecting portraits, check out our Face Shadow Play Guide.

• The Full-Body Environmental Shot (f/4)
  Take several steps back to include your subject from head to toe. By stopping the aperture down to around f/4, you retain enough context in the background to tell a story about where you are—a charming cobblestone street, a scenic coastline—while still ensuring your subject remains the clear focal point with pleasing separation. Learn more about capturing the essence of destinations in our guide.

• The Compressed Landmark Portrait
  Put the powerful compression of the 85mm to work. Place your subject a significant distance in front of a large landmark, like a distant mountain, a cathedral, or a bridge. Then, walk back until you can frame both. The lens will visually pull the background forward, making the landmark appear impressively large and creating a dynamic relationship between person and place. For mountain photography tips, see our Tips to take better mountains photography guide.

• The Candid “Across the Street” Moment
  Leverage the respectful working distance of the 85mm. From across a quiet street or the other side of a market square, you can capture people in their natural element without intrusion. Look for moments like a vendor arranging their goods, a person enjoying a coffee at a cafe, or a couple gazing at a view. It’s photojournalism with a portraitist’s touch.

• The Detail Shot
  A portrait doesn’t always have to include a face. Use the 85mm’s ability to isolate small elements to tell a bigger story. Focus on the weathered hands of an artisan at work, the intricate embroidery on a traditional garment, or the way your travel partner holds a map. The shallow depth of field will turn these simple details into compelling, artistic statements. Explore more creative effects and filters to enhance your shots.

• The “Framed by Architecture” Shot
  Actively look for natural frames within your environment. The tight perspective of the 85mm is perfect for composing a shot through a stone archway, a colorful doorway, or between the leaves of an overhanging tree. This technique adds layers and depth to your image, guiding the viewer’s eye directly to your subject and creating a more considered, thoughtful composition.