Discover why professional photographers swear by 105mm, 135mm, and longer focal lengths for portraits. This episode breaks down the science behind focal length compression—how longer lenses create natural facial proportions while wide-angle lenses distort features unfavorably. You'll learn how the increased working distance improves subject comfort, why background separation matters more than you think, and how to choose the right focal length for your camera system. Whether you're shooting with full-frame or crop sensors, understanding these optical fundamentals will immediately improve your portrait work and help you create images that consistently flatter your subjects.