Short answer:
To get a blurry background and a sharp subject, you need the right mix of aperture, distance, and focus — not just a “fast” lens.

Most people lose sharpness because they push one thing too far.

Let’s fix that.

The Big Mistake Most People Make

They think:

“If I use f/1.8, my photo will look professional.”

What actually happens:

  • One eye is sharp

  • The other eye is blurry

  • The photo looks soft, not cinematic

Blur is nice.
Missed focus is not.

1. Use a Sensible Aperture (Not the Widest One)

Yes, wide apertures blur the background — but they also make focusing harder.

Try this instead:

  • Start at f/4

  • Go to f/2.8 if needed

  • Use f/1.8 only when you’re confident

Most lenses are:

  • Sharper

  • More forgiving
    when slightly stopped down.

👉 What Camera Settings Actually Matter?

2. Increase the Distance from the Background

This is the most underrated trick.

You don’t need a wider aperture — you need space.

Do this:

  • Move your subject away from the background

  • Even 1–2 extra meters helps a lot

Result:

  • Background gets blurrier

  • Subject stays sharp

  • No extra risk

This works on any camera.

3. Get Closer to Your Subject

Background blur increases when:

  • You are closer to the subject

  • The background is farther away

So instead of changing settings: ➡️ Take one step closer

Simple. Powerful.

4. Use the Right Focal Length

Longer lenses blur backgrounds more naturally.

Examples:

  • 35mm → some blur

  • 50mm → nice blur

  • 85mm → strong blur

You don’t need a new lens — but understanding this helps you choose better.

👉 Lens choice also affects sharpness, which I covered in How Do I Make My Photos Look Sharper?

5. Focus on the Eye (Always)

When depth of field is shallow, focus becomes critical.

Rule:

The closest eye to the camera must be sharp.

Use:

  • Single-point autofocus

  • Place it on the eye

  • Recompose carefully (or don’t recompose)

Most “soft” portraits are actually focus mistakes.

6. Use Enough Shutter Speed

Blurred backgrounds don’t excuse:

  • Camera shake

  • Subject movement

Even portraits need:

  • 1/125 or faster

👉 This is explained clearly in How Do I Make My Photos Look Sharper?

A Simple Recipe That Works

Try this for portraits:

  • Shutter speed: 1/125

  • Aperture: f/4

  • ISO: Auto

  • Subject: away from background

  • Focus: on the eye

You’ll get:
✔ blur
✔ sharpness
✔ consistency

What You Don’t Need

You don’t need:

  • Full-frame cameras

  • f/1.2 lenses

  • Expensive gear

You need control, not extremes.

👉 Sensor size myths are covered in Do I Need a Full-Frame Camera to Take Great Photos? (coming up)

The Big Truth

Background blur is easy.
Sharp blur is skill.

Once you understand this, your photos will look better immediately.

FAQs

Why is my background blurry but my subject not sharp?

Because the depth of field is too shallow or focus is slightly off. Try a smaller aperture like f/4.

No, but it’s harder to use. f/2.8 or f/4 is more reliable for sharp faces.

It helps, but distance, lens choice, and technique matter more.

Yes. Phones use software blur, which looks different but follows the same idea: subject separation.