Spring is a truly enchanting season for photographers—especially for those who specialize in outdoor portraits. From the cherry blossoms of Victoria to the vibrant tulips of Abbotsford, the iconic Floral Showhouse in Niagara Falls, and the blooming wildflowers along the Cape Breton Trail, Canada’s diverse and colourful landscapes provide exceptional backdrops for unforgettable images.
In this article, I’ll share my top gear recommendations and tips to help you make the most of this stunning season.
Lens Selection: Capturing the Mood and the Moment
My go-to lens for portraits is the Tamron 85mm f/1.8 VC. It offers stunning subject separation and flattering compression, ideal for traditional portraits. When I want to incorporate more of the environment—like spring blossoms or scenic trails—I turn to wider options such as the Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 VC G2.
For a more dramatic, storytelling style, I experiment with ultra-wide lenses like the Laowa 12mm f/2.8 or 15mm f/4, and even a 10-18mm zoom. These lenses offer creative flexibility, though caution is needed to avoid subject distortion—keep some distance!
For unique close-up portraits, the 105mm f/2 STF with its Smooth Trans Focus design delivers beautifully controlled bokeh. And if dreamy background blur is your goal, the Argus f/0.95 lenses render scenes with a magical softness that stands out.
Filters: Enhance In-Camera Effects
Every lens in my kit wears a protective filter like the Pro-1D. For outdoor work, I always pack a Circular Polarizer to reduce glare and enhance colours. A Neutral Density (ND) filter is perfect when I want to manage light levels or blur backgrounds even in bright conditions.
For artistic flair, Black Mist and Softon filters create gentle, ethereal effects that reduce the need for post-processing while adding a creative touch to your portraits.
Light Control: From Subtle Fill to Full Sun Domination
Lighting can transform an average portrait into something extraordinary.
If you’re traveling light, a reflector like the Sunbounce Sun-Mover or Micro Mini 3D Classic is a simple way to bounce natural light onto your subject. For flash photography, compact speedlights paired with modifiers such as the LumiQuest Softbox III or QuikBounce help soften and spread light for more flattering results.
For those needing maximum control and power, battery-operated strobes like the Elinchrom THREE and FIVE or the broncolor Siros L and Move 1200L can overpower even the brightest sunlight. Pair them with modifiers like a 75cm Octabox or Para 88 for beautifully diffused lighting.
Using high-speed sync (HSS or HS) via triggers like the Elinchrom Pro or broncolor RFS 2/3 allows you to shoot at faster shutter speeds—up to 1/1000s or more—perfect for balancing ambient light and flash for dramatic, sky-rich portraits.
Camera Settings: Set Up for Success
To ensure top image quality, always shoot in RAW. This gives you greater flexibility to recover shadows, manage highlights, and maintain colour accuracy during post-processing.
Use Manual or Aperture Priority mode. Aperture Priority is ideal for beginners—set your desired depth of field, and let the camera determine shutter speed and ISO. When using Manual, aim to keep ISO between 50 and 200 for cleaner images with greater dynamic range.
Wide apertures like f/1.8 or f/2.8 help blur backgrounds beautifully, while narrower settings like f/8 are better when you want floral details to remain in focus.
Shutter speed matters: 1/160 to 1/200s is fine for still subjects, but for windy days or active children, go faster—1/500s or more—to freeze motion and avoid blur.
Avoid relying on Auto Area Focus. Instead, use Eye or Face Detect Auto Focus if available. These features ensure your subject’s eyes are sharp and in focus. If you’re working with older gear, use single-point focus and manually place it on the eyes. This small step makes a big difference in image sharpness.
Final Thoughts
Great portraits come from the right combination of tools, technique, and creative vision. Whether you’re capturing headshots, family moments, or full-body scenes in breathtaking spring settings, the gear and advice shared here will help you create images your clients will treasure.
Above all—enjoy the process. Have fun, stay inspired, and make every frame count.
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Author: Will Prentice
A portrait, fine art and commercial photographer for 30 plus years, Will Prentice is not just a contributor to PHOTONews magazine, but also host of PHOTONewsTV, owner of Captura Photography+Imaging and Technical Support/Brand Manager for Amplis Foto, Canada’s largest distributor of photographic equipment.
Will teaches photographers of all skill levels how to improve their craft – from creative photo projects to picking the right gear for their needs to flattering lighting to getting the best expressions to creating final images for screen and print. His unique style of highly detailed images with perfect tonality, wide dynamic range and stunning colour is instantly recognizable. Commercial clients rely on Will’s creative eye and mastery of lighting.
When he’s not behind the camera or in front of a class, you’ll find Will outdoors in any weather – usually on one of his bikes or enjoying time with his grandchildren.
