Why is my background not blurry?
Blurred backgrounds come from shallow depth of field. Four things control it: aperture, focal length, how far your subject is from the background, and how close you are to your subject.
Quick answer
Open the aperture (f/1.8–f/2.8), use a longer focal length (50mm+), move your subject well away from the background, and get closer to your subject. Do all four and the background melts.
Causes & fixes
Aperture too small
→ Open up — f/1.8 to f/2.8 blurs far more than f/8.
Subject too close to the background
→ Move them several feet forward; the farther the background, the blurrier it goes.
Focal length too wide
→ Zoom in or use a longer lens (85mm blurs more than 24mm at the same aperture).
Settings to check
Aperture: f/1.8–f/2.8
the biggest lever on background blur
Focal length: 50mm+ (85mm is ideal)
longer focal lengths compress and blur more
Common mistakes
- Shooting portraits at f/8.
- Using a kit lens at 18mm right next to the background.
Got the shot that went wrong? Upload it and we'll read the EXIF and tell you exactly what to change.Fix a shot →
FAQ
What aperture gives a blurry background?
f/2.8 or wider gives obvious background blur; f/1.8 gives a lot. Pairing a wide aperture with an 85mm lens and distance from the background gives the creamiest result.
Learn more
Want settings tuned to your exact camera and lens? Ask the coach →