Kit Lenses Are The Worst (Photography Tips For Beginners)

*Warning this is about as techical as I get*

How to Actually Get That Beautiful Blurry Background in Your Portraits

So you just picked up your camera, dreaming of those swoon-worthy portraits where the background melts away and your subject looks like a glowing angel descended from the heavens. You take your first shot with the trusty ol' kit lens and… why does everything look like a high school yearbook photo from 2004?

Spoiler: it’s not you. It’s the lens.

THE OLD KIT LENS NIGHTMARE. Ignore the 1: - it's the "3.5-5.6" that's the sad part.

Why Your Kit Lens is Trash (For Portraits, at Least)

Kit lenses (think: 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6) are the sad salad of the lens world. They technically do the job, but nobody's getting excited about it. They’re not bad, they’re just… meh. You want bokeh—those beautiful blurry backgrounds? That lens is not gonna get you there unless the stars align and your background is 3 miles away.

The Real MVP: A Fast Prime Lens

If you want your portraits to pop, you need a fast prime lens. Translation:

• "Prime" = doesn’t zoom. You walk. You’ll survive.

• "Fast" = wide aperture like f/1.8 or f/1.4. Lower f-number = blurrier background = yes please.

These lenses are bright, sharp, and make your subject stand out like Beyoncé in a crowd of karaoke singers.

The One Lens to Rule Them All

Honestly, if you're just starting out and want that juicy background blur, grab one of these:

• 50mm f/1.8 — Known lovingly as the "nifty fifty".

• Works on most cameras.

• Affordable (usually around $100–$200).

• Turns your camera into a portrait powerhouse.

That’s it. That’s the tip. You don’t need a new camera. Just yeet that kit lens into a drawer (or, you know, keep it for wide shots), and slap on a 50mm f/1.8. Boom—instant glow-up.

HOT TIP: If you’re using a crop-sensor camera (which you probably are & you are going to have to goole your camera to find out), a 35mm f/1.8 is also an amazing choice. It’ll give you a wider field of view that feels more natural indoors. Don't worry it will all make sense. Stay with me. I can see you backing away from the computer.

Quick Tips to Maximize the Bokeh Magic

• Shoot wide open (set your aperture to f/1.8 or the lowest it’ll go).

• Keep your subject away from the background—the further the background, the blurrier it gets.

• Get closer to your subject. Not creepy close, just don’t shoot from across the room.

  
  

In Conclusion: It’s Not You, It’s Your Lens

The best tips I could give a beginner photography student is..... You don't need to spend 5K on a camera to achieve beautiful results. You just need the right lens. A fast prime lens like a 50mm f/1.8 is the easiest, cheapest way to level up your portraits and start capturing the kind of shots that make people gasp and say, “Wait… you took this?!”

Now go forth and blur things like your future depends on it.

Britt is a photography teacher, she specialises in headshots, personal branding and family photography in brisbane. you can see more of britts family photography over at britt spring photography