One of the most defining characteristics of a professional photograph is a soft, out-of-focus background. This effect makes the subject stand out sharply, turning a busy scene into a clean, compelling portrait. In the photography world, we call the aesthetic quality of this blur “bokeh.”

Achieving this soft background, also known as a “shallow depth of field,” is a powerful creative tool. It instantly adds a layer of polish to your images, helps eliminate distracting elements, and directs the viewer’s eye exactly where you want it to go. While it may seem like a complex technique, the principles behind it are surprisingly simple.

This is a fundamental skill that can transform your photography, a key creative technique we touch on in our photography guide for beginners. This guide will provide a simple recipe with three key ingredients that you can follow to create that coveted look with any camera you own.

The Three Key Ingredients for Maximum Blur

Think of creating a blurred background like following a recipe. The more of these three ingredients you can use, the more dramatic your results will be.

1. A wide-open lens (aperture).
2. A short distance between your camera and your subject.
3. A long distance between your subject and the background.

Let’s break down exactly what each of these means and how you can apply them.

Ingredient #1: Use a Wide Aperture

The most critical factor for creating background blur is your lens’s aperture. The aperture is the opening inside your lens that lets light pass through to the camera’s sensor. The wider you can open it, the more blur you can create.

We measure aperture in f-stops, such as f/1.8, f/4, or f/8. Here is the main thing to remember: a smaller f-number equals a wider opening, which results in a shallower depth of field and more background blur.

Aperture is one of the three core pillars of exposure. If you’re not yet familiar with it, our complete guide to understanding ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed is the perfect place to start.

Ingredient #2: Decrease the Distance to Your Subject

The second ingredient is proximity. The closer your camera is to the person or object you are photographing, the more out-of-focus the background will become.

This is a simple law of physics. Even if you can’t change your aperture, you can dramatically increase the background blur just by moving closer. Instead of standing back and zooming in, try to physically “zoom with your feet” and reduce the distance between you and your subject.

Ingredient #3: Increase the Distance Between Your Subject and the Background

The final ingredient is separation. The further your background is from your subject, the more blurred it will appear in the final photo.

This is a simple and highly effective technique that many beginners overlook. If you are taking a portrait of a friend, don’t have them stand right against a brick wall. Instead, ask them to take ten big steps away from the wall. By creating this physical separation, you give the background space to fall out of focus, transforming a distracting wall into a soft, pleasing pattern of color.

Tips for Your Specific Camera

You can apply these principles no matter what gear you’re using.

For DSLR and Mirrorless Users

You have the most control. The best approach is to combine all three ingredients. Switch your camera’s mode dial to Aperture Priority (A or Av). This lets you choose the aperture while the camera handles the shutter speed. Dial in the lowest f-number your lens allows (e.g., f/1.8, f/3.5), then get as close as you can to your subject and make sure their background is far away.

For iPhone and Smartphone Users

Your phone’s “Portrait Mode” is designed to simulate this effect using software. It works by identifying a subject and then artificially blurring what it determines is the background. You can make Portrait Mode much more effective by applying our principles. It will produce a more realistic and convincing blur if you get close to your subject and ensure there is plenty of physical distance between them and the background.

For a deep dive into your phone’s capabilities, check out our specific tutorial on how to blur the background on an iPhone.

For Point-and-Shoot Camera Users

Even without full manual control, you can still achieve background blur. First, check your “Scene” modes for a “Portrait” setting. This mode will automatically program your camera to use the widest possible aperture. Secondly, use your camera’s optical zoom. Zooming in on a subject can compress the background and enhance the blur effect. Combine this with getting your subject far away from their background.

Your Action Plan for Blurry Backgrounds

It’s time to put this knowledge into practice. You don’t need a fancy camera or an expensive lens to start creating beautiful portraits with soft, dreamy backgrounds.

Just remember the three key ingredients:

1. Use the widest aperture you can.
2. Get close to your subject.
3. Put a lot of distance between your subject and their background.

Grab your camera, find a subject (a person, a pet, or even a coffee mug), and start experimenting with these three steps. The type of lens you own often dictates your minimum aperture. You can learn more about which lenses are best for this effect in our guide to different types of camera lenses. Combining these techniques will give you more creative control and dramatically improve your photos.