Blur the Background With Portrait Mode — Using It Naturally

Portrait mode softly blurs the background to make your subject stand out. Used well, it gives even a phone a sense of depth like a DSLR — but it has strengths and weaknesses.

What it does

By keeping the subject in focus and blurring the background, it draws the eye to the subject. Even in a busy spot, it softens the everyday clutter and lifts the subject. It suits social icons, profile shots and introducing small objects (→ Photographing social media icons).

How to use it

Switch the camera app to “Portrait” mode and point it at your subject. Follow the on-screen prompts and adjust your distance a little, and the blur kicks in. A little distance between subject and background makes the blur look natural.

Where it struggles, and cautions

A hairline, glasses, and fine gaps like branches or a fence can leave the edge of the blur looking unnatural. With these subjects, rather than forcing the blur, it sometimes comes out cleaner to choose a spot with plenty of background space (→ Negative space). Dark places are also tough for the blur, so bright spots suit better.

Three distances that make the cutout look natural

Whether the edge of the blur reads as natural comes down largely to how you place the distances.

1. Separate subject and background. Even two or three paces between them makes the edge far easier for the phone to work out. Having someone step forward from the wall they’re standing against is enough.
2. Back off and shoot around 2. Too close and whatever is nearest the lens — usually the nose and forehead — is enlarged, and the outline gets complicated. Step back and use the telephoto end: the rendering looks more natural, and the background genuinely softens.
3. Avoid strong light straight from behind. When the background is far brighter, the hairline dissolves into it and the cutout falls apart. Move half a step round so the light comes in at an angle and the edge holds (→ Shooting into the light).

Newer phones are adding depth sensors to sharpen these cutouts. But separating subject and background is the basic move, and it works on any phone today.

Start with just this

Leave a little distance between subject and background, in a bright place, and switch to Portrait mode to shoot. For subjects with lots of hair or fine gaps, don’t force it — also lean on negative space to lift the subject. That lets you use background blur naturally.