Nowadays, many new photographers believe that taking soft, blurred background images requires a high aperture lens. Buying an expensive lens with a large aperture is often seen as essential to achieve that blur effect.
Photos with blurry backgrounds are ideal for making the subject stand out uniquely. Portrait photos with blurred backgrounds grab viewers’ attention and add a professional touch.
You can create a blurred background in different ways, depending on the tools and settings your camera has.
We highlight 3 methods to capture portraits with a blurred background using your standard lens.
Use The Macro Settings
To create a blurry background with your camera’s macro settings, adjust to a wide aperture mode and increase the shutter speed. This automatically blurs the background and is the simplest way to take a blurred shot. Ensure your camera is positioned with enough light, avoiding any shadows falling on the subject.
- Turn off the flash mode.
- Select the macro mode, which is represented by a tulip flower icon.
- Get close to your subject and zoom in to move even closer.
- Focus clearly on the subject and hold the camera steady to avoid any shaking.
- Then, capture the photo.
If you experience camera shake or difficulty focusing, use a tripod to take a stabilised image.
Use The Aperture Mode
Aperture mode is a semi-automatic mode commonly found on most cameras by default. When you select aperture priority mode, the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed to match the chosen aperture.
Choosing a wide aperture will blur the background, helping you create the desired blurry effect behind your subject.
- Set your camera to aperture priority mode.
- Pick the lowest aperture value available.
- Keep your subject closer to you than the background.
- Zoom in closely on your subject.
- Take the shot.
This way, you can capture an image with a beautifully blurred background.
Traditional Background Blur
Most DSLR cameras and smartphones now include a default blurring feature called image stabilisation. This works by moving the lens and sensor together while taking photos, focusing only on the subject and producing a blurred background.
If your camera lacks this default blur option, you can still achieve a blurred background by following these steps:
- First, turn off the flash.
- Select portrait mode in your camera settings.
- Keep your subject a good distance from the background.
- Zoom in and move closer to your subject.
- Then take the shot to capture the blurred background effect.
Common Edits to Create a Background Blur
You can create a blurred background with the help of various photo editing apps available for image adjustments. These tools allow you to apply different types of background blur effects.
- Upload the photo you have taken into the editing software or app.
- Enhance the subject by adjusting the colour settings.
- Select the background blur option to soften the background.