3 Lenses for Portrait Photography with Vibrant Colors

To create portraits that are as vivid as paintings, you need a lens that makes them look that way.

Color in portrait photography is so important. We use neons to add separation to our subjects. We also specifically choose wardrobes that add contrast to an image. So with portrait photography, there’s a big need for more vibrant colors. Luckily we dove into our Reviews Index to find just the things for you. In our 11 years of reviewing over 700 lenses, we believe that sometimes the newest ones aren’t always what you need. But these three lenses for portrait photography are fast, weather-resistant, and have unique colors.

Editor’s Note: This is a sponsored post from Tamron! We’ve reviewed and handled all of these lenses. We’d only recommend them to you because we actually believe in them.

Table of Contents

Tamron SP 35mm f1.4 Di VC

The Magic Recipe: The 35mm f1.4 is the latest lens Tamron has made for DSLR cameras. We tested it adapted to the Canon EOS R. It renders a look unlike what we’ve seen from competing lenses. It’s got bright, vivid colors, yet it somehow renders skin tones beautifully.

In our review we state:

“Photographers who use the Tamron SP 35mm f1.4 Di USD will be ecstatic not only with the colors but also the quality of the bokeh. The bokeh is super creamy and well complemented by the colors this lens produces. In addition to that, it’s also very sharp.”

Buy Now: $899

Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III RXD

e mount lenses

The Magic Recipe: The 28-75mm f2.8 Di III RXD is incredibly special. First off, it’s the lightest standard zoom with a constant aperture for Sony FE. It’s also incredibly weather-sealed. Most of all, we really enjoyed the color render. If you’re a fan of the classic Sony look vs. the modern one, this lens should be in your camera bag.

In our review, we state:

Here’s where I really like the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III RXD: the colors are vivid and punchy. When combined with the Clear or Deep color profile on the Sony a7r III, the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III RXD can deliver super punchy colors that make editing in Capture One Pro after locking your white balance even less of a chore.

Buy Now: $879

Pro Tip: To get more sharpness from these lenses, use an off-camera flash. It will bring out the specular highlights that your camera just can’t do. Combine them with a shoot involving glitter or water for even more colors that will pop.

Tamron 70-180mm f2.8 Di III VXD

The Magic Recipe: Tamron’s 70-180mm f2.8 Di III VXD is a fun lens for sure. We found that missing the extra zoom range is a bit negligible. And that’s especially true if you’re using a higher megapixel camera. What you get is lightweight, weather-sealing, and affordability. And who can forget about those colors!

In our review, we state:

Colors rendered by the Tamron 70-180mm f2.8 are vibrant and saturated but lean towards the warmer side straight-out-of-camera. This is preferred by some photographers, lending a more organic tone to images. Those seeking more color-accurate images will want to shoot using custom white balances.

Buy Now: $1,199

Editor’s Note: This is a sponsored post from Tamron! We’ve reviewed and handled all of these lenses for portrait photography. We’d only recommend them to you because we actually believe in them.