The Brenizer Method

What Is the Brenizer Method?

Named after photographer Ryan Brenizer, this method is basically a panoramic stitch for portraits. Instead of using a wide-angle lens, you take multiple images with a telephoto lens and a wide aperture, then stitch them together in post.

The result?

• A wide-angle field of view with the depth-of-field of a telephoto lens.

• A look that’s impossible to get with a single shot from a standard lens.

• A surreal mix of compression + shallow DOF + wide perspective—similar to a high-end medium format camera.

How to Shoot a Brenizer-Style Image

1. Use a Fast Telephoto Prime Lens

• 85mm f/1.4 or 135mm f/2 are ideal, but anything 50mm+ works.

• The longer the focal length and the wider the aperture, the better the effect.

2. Switch to Manual Mode

• Set your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO manually so the exposure stays consistent across shots.

• A good starting point: 1/500s, f/1.8, ISO 100 in daylight.

3. Lock Focus on Your Subject

• Autofocus can shift between frames, ruining the stitch.

• Focus on your subject, then switch to manual focus to keep it locked.

4. Take Multiple Overlapping Shots

• Start with your subject in the center, then take overlapping images around them.

• Think of it like shooting a panorama, but with a portrait lens.

• You’ll need at least 10-20 shots to create a seamless effect.

5. Keep Your Distance

• Stand further back than you normally would for a portrait.

• This ensures the final image has that compressed telephoto depth but a wide composition.

How to Merge the Images

Using Photoshop (Most Common Method)

1. Import all images into Photoshop as layers.

2. Select all layers and go to Edit > Auto-Align Layers (choose "Auto").

3. Use Edit > Auto-Blend Layers and select "Panorama" mode.

4. Crop the final image and adjust exposure/color as needed.

   
   

Using Other Software

• Microsoft ICE (Image Composite Editor)

• Affinity Photo

• Hugin Panorama Stitcher