Portrait Mode IRL

Portrait Mode IRL in use
Captured photo
Optical path bending

Inspiration

We hate smartphone portrait mode.

Not because it isn't pretty, but because it tries to fake a real optical effect (depth of field) with mAcHIne LeArnIng, which is never a good sign...

To take real "portrait mode" photos, what we really need is a DSLR camera with a long zoom lens. We take that, stand 15-20 ft away, and now you've got a sharp, flattened portrait with that iconic background blur.

But this is super inconvenient! We can't do stand far away in tight or narrow spaces, or say, in a photo booth.

Which is where our project comes in...

What it does

Portrait Mode IRL uses a set of mirrors to bend the camers's optical path in a compact space, such that you can take beautiful, zoomed-in portraits while standing only 3-5 ft away from the camera, not 15!

Shaped like a photobooth, you can easily place this in a tight studio or narrow hallway, and still use your high zoom lenses to get backgound blur and flatter, more aesthetic pictures.

Check out some examples below!