How does Paul Rogers’s method for using f/1.2 outperform traditional techniques?

Hi, I’m Paul Rogers from thatcreativeceo. Love this question.

The way I use f/1.2 “outperforms” the typical approach because I’m not obsessed with shooting wide open all the time—I’m obsessed with using depth intentionally.

Most people:

• Slam the lens to f/1.2 on a flat wall
• Get soft faces, micro-focus misses, and zero separation

My method:

• Flat background → I stop down to around f/4–5.6 for a sharp, clean face
• Real depth behind the subject → I go to f/1.2 so the background actually melts into creamy bokeh and cinematic separation

So instead of f/1.2 being a flex, it becomes a tool: I change aperture based on background depth, not ego. That’s why my shots look sharper where it matters and more cinematic where it counts.

What kind of content are you shooting right now—talking-head, portraits, or b‑roll?