Newcomer!! :)

[SheaAlise]

Good morning everyone! I am new to the forum and looking forward to it! I have always loved photography but finally took the initiative to get something moving here with potential career wise. I am majoring in elementary Ed but minoring in photo. Recently I have had friends ask me to take their portraits. What my question is, is I have the canon xsi until I develop further, but what do all of you recommend for a portrait lens? I also own the 50mm 1.8. Thank you!!!

 

[KmH]

Any lens can be used for doing portraiture, and most accomplished portrait photographeers have a slelction of of both zoom and prime lenses to choose from. The variables are how many people are in the portrait, and how far from your subject you can be.

The best out-of-focus backgrounds are obtained using long focal lengths, so many pro portrait shooters use fast 200 mm prime lenses, or fast 70-200 mm zoom lenses.

High quality, professional grade, fast lenses are considerably more expensive than consumer grade lenses, like your 50 mm f/1.8.

How much are you planning to budget for lenses?

Here is the $6000 Canon 200 mm f/2 prime lens: Canon U.S.A. : Consumer & Home Office : EF 200mm f/2L IS USM

And here is the $2000 70-200 mm zoom; Canon U.S.A. : Consumer & Home Office : EF 200mm f/2L IS USM

For group portraits many use the $1400 24-70 mm zoom lens: Canon U.S.A. : Consumer & Home Office : EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

No doubt, there are less expensive lenses available, but they are less expensive because of compromises to their optics and their build quality.

 

[Redbaron]

OP - I wouldn't panic if those prices seem a bit out of reach... there's nothing wrong with taking some snap shots of your mates using your nifty fifty. Here's a few good ones, some nice portraits amongst them as well

: 80 Awe-Inspiring Photographs Taken With a “Nifty Fifty”

of course there are always more expensive options if that's what floats your boat...

 

[Peano]

what do all of you recommend for a portrait lens? I also own the 50mm 1.8. Thank you!!!

I'm a retoucher, not a photographer -- let alone a portrait photographer. But conventional wisdom says that a normal or longer lens is better than a shorter lens for portraits. Why? Because with the shorter lens, you need to get closer, and a short lens tends to elongate noses. (Think of a fish-eye close-up with that huge proboscis protruding out of the frame.) Some first-rate portrait photographers use a 70-200 lens and shoot from a distance of 20 feet or so.

EDIT: Just a snapshot, but it gives you an idea what a longer lens can do close-in (this was shot with a Canon 70-200L).