Quick Tip: Take Better Portraits Using Single Point Focus

I receive many questions related to - how to lock focus for better portrait photos. I decided to create a quick video describing and showing how I leverage single point focus to take portraits. I used this method for many years, and I find it simple and straight forward.
NOTE: if you have a Sony camera with eye detection, you might leverage the native feature - I shot with Sony's in the past and the eye detection is solid. :)
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=== LINKS ===
LENSES IN THIS VIDEO:
Nikon 50mm f/1.8: amzn.to/2kD7EkF
LENSES TO CONSIDER:
Video review of the 18-140: • Nikon 18-140 Lens - Re...
Video review of the 18-300: • Nikon 18-300 Lens - Fi...
Video review of the fixed 50: • Great Lens (50mm) - Fi...
Video review of the fixed 35: • Great Lens (35mm) - Fi...
Video review of the fixed 40: • Great Lens (40mm) - Fi...
Macro video which includes the fixed 40: • Intro to Macro Photogr...
Nikon 35mm f/1.8: amzn.to/2J3qHmU
Nikon 40mm f/2.8 lens: amzn.to/30ocJBM
Canon 50mm f/1.8: amzn.to/2LQT1q6
LOOKING FOR A GOOD/AFFORDABLE TRIPOD?:
Video review on budget tripods: • Entry Level Tripods - ...
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[@thebillygreen]

Let’s go! Another one!!!

[@davidjohnston1374]

Great tips Mark, there's just so much emphasis these days on expensive top notch camera equipment that many forget that the older camera they have like the D3400 and my D5600 is all you really need for many photographic instances except perhaps specialised photography such as fast sports and wildlife. I just wished Camera companies stopped dropping their current and recent tech just to chase the new tech and making slightly older tech obsolete all the time. It's very frustrating. Also in many photographic circles, you're left to feel inadequate using crop censor cameras rather than full frame.

[@RealWorld]

Thanks David and great point(s)!:) Unfortunately, major manufacturers are focused on revenue which I understand, however this adversely impacts entry level passion photographers. Many people looking to take better photos turned to entry level DSLRs without the strong desire to leverage all the features, etc. ... they simply wanted better photos. As cell phones improved their cameras, people who initially bought entry level DSLRs upgraded their cell phones. The buying pool for entry level gear is much smaller now leaving manufacturers to focus on higher end gear.

[@lilypad112233]

I LOVE that shot of the beautiful strawberry blonde woman laying on the street. She is gorgeous and the composition is so unique! And your edit makes it even better. Great tips, love the video!!

[@paparaysphotography]

Spot on! Pun intended of course. I started searching for a camera in 2019 and I ran across your videos and watched every single one of them and continue to to this very day every time a new one is released. Your opinions have swayed my decisions in more ways than one on purchases and ways I perform some of my actions when I am out shooting around with my camera and single point is one of them. I have made the same statements with others in conversation when they make fun of the few focal points my D3500 has compared to their Pro camera (insert various models here). Well, but I shoot trees, buildings, bridges and etc. I'm not really shooting cars, people biking, running or motor sports (would love to). I always respected their opinion until they made fun of me and my methods and my opinions. Your simple, minimalistic and right to the point video just made my point for me. So I know I can't be wrong in those debates I have had in the past. I am glad to hear others see it like I do as well. Thanks for the share and hope all is well over in Hoosier land! Oh and loved the sidewalk picture. That shot was pretty cool. I think they hair set back towards the camera nicely made the image that much better as well detail wise. I have seen others try that and they forget that one detail, the young lady's hair!! Every young lady loves the hair to look good. lol Awesome video as always!

[@RealWorld]

Appreciate your post/feedback!:) I feel many get lost in the latest and greatest and lose focus on the basics. I have shot with many different cameras over the years (crop and full) and one thing holds true - the gear has VERY little to do with a great shot. Some people believe if they buy the latest gear, they will take great shots. If you give an experienced photographer a 10 year old camera and a first time photographer a brand new top of the line camera, the experienced photographer will capture far better/stunning images every time. Awesome shots are a result of the photographer's ability to compose the shot and leverage any given gear to it's full potential. You are on the right path and have the right mindset - enjoy the ride and stay safe! :)

[@Goldscy]

Mark i enjoy watching your videos because you speak so calm and clean that we can understand whatever you say.I learn many things from you about photography and i am very pleased that you are on youtube.Thanks

[@RealWorld]

Thank you and glad to be here:).

[@ultraniusmaximus1536]

The more in-depth into any single aspect the better. Maybe something to include back button focus or another macro?

[@RealWorld]

lol - i thought about the back button focus as well. when i lock focus, i use the back button which is great:).

[@mikey_w1834]

Great pictures Mark! 👍

[@dhavidcg]

My Nikon film SLR, F801 only have 1 focus point, and it's just works wonderfully. I never had any issue with focus locking and re-compose the photo. Having hundreds of AF points are cool and useful, but having only 1 AF point is more than enough :) Thank you for the great video..

[@oldfilmguy9413]

Great info and very concise - I much prefer this type of video compared to others where they try to pack too much info into one video. Cheers!

[@creatorsjourney6286]

Great tip Mark. That D3400 still rocks

[@RealWorld]

Thanks Dennis and agreed - the D3400 is still solid:).

[@tonyhill6023]

Thank you! Love my D3400!! I also use a Canon 7D. Glad to see you back!!

[@RealWorld]

Thanks for the post Tony and glad to be back! :)

[@ellenheemskerk1744]

i subscribed to your channel because I just bought a SOny A6000. Thank you for your videos. They are great to understand (I am from Holland and sometimes I can not understand videos of other people because they speak too fast). I like the way you explain the things!!

[@cyberhuskey]

It's good to see you climb mountains (again!). 👍 I enjoy all your photography videos. At the top of my wish list to watch would be one on your editing process of BW images in LR. Also, I'm pretty sure you've done a video about your hiking gear in the past, but I can't find it at the moment. Just saying because I liked the look of your gear, even so "heavy", in your last hiking video, you seemed to be equipped well. Good luck and lots of fun on your journey.

[@RealWorld]

Thanks for the post/suggestions!:) I am giving thought to doing a deeper dive into post processing as I feel it is an important part of the overall creative photography process. In addition, I may shift some videos into more adventure/camping with a few photo highlights and will cover all gear and preparations:).

[@davecrissinger8967]

I like the way you got back to basics when it comes to Single Point focus. Nowadays, we rely to much of Eye Af and I feel that it takes away from the Creator.

[@RealWorld]

thanks dave - so natural and straight forward for me to use the single point focus method. keep it simple:).

[@greenchillify]

Even with Eye AF on a camera, every now and then you are forced to use another mode because Eye AF isn't flawless. Just today I was doing a shoot of a group of people and there was one person who the Eye AF simply wouldn't identify their face (let alone their eyes), no matter how much time and zooming in/out I did. Single focus point to the rescue. You always need to be able to rely upon a fallback.

[@apock88]

Amazing content as usual!

[@RealWorld]

Thank you! :)

[@mariobravo8253]

Such Neat Pix - video please on color editing- to get the color isolation

[@rupeshshivdas2593]

Liked it..

[@chrisnewby2460]

Another informative video - were you using the 'selective colour' option in some of these shots?

[@RealWorld]

Thanks Chris!:) While I have used in-camera selective color before, I leveraged Lightroom to isolate colors in these shots.

[@quantezo6398]

I just found your page. Which camera do you suggest when trying to capture moments at sport games? And lenses as well

[@RealWorld]

Welcome to the channel and thanks for your post/question!:) Unless you have extra money, I am a fan of just about any crop sensor camera with a good zoom lens (i.e. the 70-300). Crop sensors provide extra reach which is great for various sports. If you can get closer to the action, consider a fixed 50mm which will allow you to open the f-stop and obtain a faster shutter speed. Regardless of the lens, be prepared to control the ISO and raise it to gain a faster shutter speed as well:).

[@JohnCollins-iy1pw]

Why not give Affinity Photo a try,much cheaper than Adobe products and does a really good job of editing photos.The only Adobe product I would recommend is Bridge,it's free !!!