High school senior photos are an import part of the graduation process. The subject will be looking back on these photos for years to come. So it’s important that the right lens is used to ensure the photos that result are of high quality. Here we go over the best lenses for senior photography and give you all the details you need to make an informed purchasing decision. We’ll be alternating between Nikon brand lenses and Canon lenses. So make sure to check the the lens you select is compatible with your specific DSLR. We hope you enjoy this list and find the best lens for senior photography.
We stayed with prime lenses on this list for their ability to produce the most consistent images for portrait photography. The lack of adjustable focal range may turn off some, but if they are the cream of the crop for image quality. If you’re looking for Zoom lenses we recommend seeing our article 5 Best Beginner DSLR Lenses: Canon if you use a Canon DSLR.
Best Lens for Senior Photography
Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras
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Our first lens is a 50mm focal length Nikkor FX model with an aperture range of 1.8 – 16. A little short for a prime lens, but it should be more than sufficient for most applications. What’s nice is that this aperture opens nice a wide so you can get those nice focused photographs of your subject with a blurred background. This lens doesn’t come with the highest quality glass available, which is why I would consider it to be a beginner level lens. For most, the difference won’t be noticeable. For some, you will be able to tell this lens was on the cheaper side by the flaring and edge sharpness on the photos taken using it. This shouldn’t discourage you from picking it, but it is good to be aware of.
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens 0570C002 – Essential Bundle – International Version
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This is the competitor to our previous lens just for Canon model DSLRs. It has many of the same features as the Nikkor. However, you get a bit more range with your aperture. This model goes from 1.8 to 22 for maximum aperture instead of 16 on the Nikkor. So if you own a Canon this is a good choice. Not to mention the picture quality is superb as you should expect from a prime lens. The build is extremely high quality and all of this comes at an extremely low price.
Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G Fixed Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras
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Here we have another great lens that works for senior portrait photography. You’ll get a more narrow view when compared to the 50mm lens but it’s still a similar feel to how the human eye sees. This lens falls between a standard and telephoto lens which makes it perfect for outdoor portrait photography where you want to capture a bit of the surrounding with your subject. The quality of the glass on this specific lens is mid-tier. It will get you consistently high-quality images, but once in a while you may run into an issue with sharpness and flaring if you’re very picky about your photos.
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras – Fixed
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This Canon lens is comparable to the previously mentioned Nikkor 85mm and comes in at a very similar quality. These lenses are made to take shots of specific subjects like portrait or product photography. That makes it great for Senior Photography use. The glass is great quality (something you should expect from a company like Canon producing it). You could probably get away with some landscape photography as well using this lens.
Nikon 85mm f/1.4G AF-S NIKKOR Lens Digital SLR (2195) + 64GB Ultimate Filter & Flash Photography Bundle
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If you’re looking for a more premium lens than this is the option for you. The price is quite a lot higher, but in return you get all of the features you’d expect and build quality that’s unmatched. The glass quality is excellent and you should expect pictures using this lens to come out at profession levels of quality. This is assuming of course that you are fairly adept with your camera. It’s not magic after all, a lens can’t frame a picture properly. At least that can’t happen yet.
Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras – Fixed
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Conclusion: Best Lens for Senior Photography
Regardless of which lens catches your attention, all of the lenses featured here today are high quality and will perform as excellent portrait lenses for your senior photos. The lenses featured near the top are better suited for beginners and the skill level increase as you advance through the list. The last lenses I would only really recommend for photographers who take senior photos professionally.
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