How to Create Bokeh in Photography: A Guide for Beginners
Welcome to the captivating world of bokeh—those dreamy, blurred backgrounds that add mood, magic, and depth to your photos. Whether you're using a DSLR, mirrorless camera, or a specialty lens, learning how to create bokeh in photography opens up new creative possibilities.
In this guide, we’ll break down what bokeh really is, how to achieve it, and how to make it a signature part of your style.
Golden Hour Vibes: Bokeh in action. Omni filter turns sunlight into magic, adding that extra touch to the car in focus.
What is Bokeh?
Bokeh (pronounced boh-keh) comes from the Japanese word boke, meaning blur or haze. In photography, it refers to the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in an image—especially the way light appears in the background when it's intentionally blurred.
Beautiful bokeh isn't just blur; it's about how that blur feels—creamy, soft, circular, or even whimsical—adding an emotional tone to your photograph.How to Achieve Beautiful Bokeh:
How to Create Bokeh in Photography
Here are the foundational tools and techniques to create standout bokeh in your work:
Use a Wide Aperture
The wider your aperture (the lower the f-stop number), the more blurred your background will be.
Try settings like f/1.4, f/1.8, or f/2.8 for best results
The shallower depth of field makes your subject pop against a buttery-soft backgroundAperture Wide Open:
The key to achieving captivating bokeh lies in opening up your aperture as wide as possible. The wider the aperture (lower f-stop number), the shallower the depth of field, creating a pronounced background blur. Experiment with settings like f/1.4 or f/2.8 for optimal results.
2. Choose a Longer Lens
Longer focal lengths isolate your subject more effectively and naturally compress the background.
Use 85mm, 105mm, or even 135mm for a more intense bokeh effect
Avoid wide-angle lenses, which keep more of the scene in focus
Wide-Angle Wonder: Shot with the Lensbaby Velvet 28 at f/2.8, this image showcases the unique charm of small-sized bokeh. Perfect for capturing intricate details, this wide-angle perspective creates a beautifully balanced composition. A reminder that bokeh isn't one-size-fits-all; it's an art tailored to each lens and scene.
3. Pay Attention to Light and Distance
Bokeh is shaped by light and how your subject is positioned:
Create distance between your subject and the background
Position your subject against bright, dappled, or reflective light sources (e.g. fairy lights, sun through trees)
Shoot in open shade or during golden hour for a gentle, glowing effect
4. Know Your Lens’ Bokeh Character
Every lens creates its own unique bokeh pattern. The number and shape of aperture blades influence how round or angular your background highlights will appear.
More aperture blades = rounder, smoother bokeh
Specialty lenses like Lensbaby offer creative bokeh that swirls, bends, or blooms in artistic ways
Poolside Sunset: Lensbaby Composer Pro and Sweet 50 at f/2.8 paint the sun-soaked scene with oval bokeh, adding a touch of artistic allure to the moment.
5. Shoot During the Right Time of Day
Backlighting is your friend. Shooting into the sun—especially in late afternoon—produces beautiful bokeh if managed well.
Avoid harsh mid-day light
Look for sun flare opportunities, especially when filtered through trees or windows
This shot against the sun captures the essence of late afternoon warmth. The borderline blown-out highlights add a touch of magic, enhancing the nostalgic feel of the setting sun.
Bonus Tip: Get Creative with Lensbaby OMNI Filters
Want to take your bokeh to the next level? Try Lensbaby OMNI Filters. These hand-held accessories allow you to manipulate reflections, shapes, and lighting effects in front of your lens, creating customized bokeh patterns and flaresthat you can direct with precision.
From playful highlights to soft rainbows and flares, OMNI filters let you add a dreamy or cinematic look to your photos—no Photoshop needed.
Double Vision Bokeh: With the Omni filter's creative touch, this double exposure captures two bokeh shapes in one frame. Round circles encircle people on the pier, while long lines ascend above the lanterns, painting a captivating fusion of shapes and light.
Final Thoughts
Understanding how to create bokeh in photography gives you more than just pretty blur—it adds emotion, depth, and story to your images. Whether you're photographing portraits, still life, or nature, bokeh helps guide the viewer’s eye and evoke a mood.
So grab your camera, find the light, and start experimenting. With a bit of practice, bokeh might just become your favorite creative tool.