How to Focus & Get Sharp Eyes (for Portrait Photography)

How to Focus & Get Sharp Eyes for Portrait Photography

When we talk about focus on the eyes, we all know what that means, right?  We want the eyes to be IN FOCUS and tack sharp!

Anytime you are shooting a portrait, you will want the eyes to be in focus UNLESS you are doing something more artistic or are purposely taking a different approach.

I bet there are times when you take a photo and are so confident that you nailed the focus, only to be let down when you get home and are looking at nothing but eyes magnified on your computer screen.  Sound familiar?

Here are 3 different levels eye sharpness that you may see, so you know what to look for when editing your own images:

Example 1. Eyes that are Out of Focus

When my photo has out of focus eyes that look like this, I will just skip it and move on to the next image.  I never show my client a picture that’s out of focus unless I come up with a creative way to crop it and/or make it look intentional. 

There's no way to edit "out of focus" eyes in post processing to be more in focus.  You can try to sharpen them and/or add clarity, but that will not bring them back into focus. 

Nothing can bring focus to an out of focus image!

Example 2. Eyes that have Soft Focus

The image below shows an example of eyes with soft focus.  To some people, they may seem sharp and in focus, but to the trained eye, the focus is soft. 

Here’s a great way to tell the difference:

• If you can count the eyelashes, your focus is sharp.
• If you can’t count the eyelashes but the eye still looks good, your focus is soft.

These are the eyes you can sharpen a bit when editing and still be able to use.  They are a bit soft, but not a deal breaker.

Example 3. Eyes that are In Focus

The eyes in the image below are the ones we all want: in focus, tack sharp eyes!

So how do you get this kind of tack sharp focus?  Here's the important tip:  FOCUS BETWEEN THE EYES.  DON'T focus on one eye, make sure to focus in-between!

All the eye images in this tutorial belong to the same person (I know that sounds creepy!) and were taken during the same session while she was standing in the same spot.  I was shooting wide open at 2.0.  Had I set my focus on just one eye, it would not have allowed the other eye to be in focus.

So when you want both of your subject's eyes to have tack sharp focus (so you can count the eyelashes), make sure to focus in-between their eyes.

Conclusion

Now its your turn.  Go out and take some photos while focusing between the eyes and then check your results! 

If you don’t have an upcoming photo session or someone to practice on, try using a stuffed animal, a pet that will sit still or call a friend for lunch and photos!

More Tips on Getting Sharper Photos

Day 1. Getting Sharper Photos In Camera (4 Days to Sharper Photos)

Day 2. Understanding Depth of Field & Shutter Speed (4 Days to Sharper Photos)

Day 3. Find Good Light & Use a Good Lens (4 Days to Sharper Photos)

Day 4. Sharpening in Lightroom (4 Days to Sharper Photos)

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