I have been trying to get some decent shots of my daughter for her graduation portraits next month and honestly im just about done with this kit lens. I have a D5600 and the 18-55mm lens it came with is just... depressing. Every time I think I have a good shot the background is way too busy and distracting and if I try to zoom in to get some blur it just gets all grainy because the aperture is so tiny. I spent like three hours at the park last weekend and came home with maybe two photos that didnt look like they were taken on an old phone. It is so frustrating when you can see the shot in your head but the gear just wont let you do it because it keeps forcing the ISO up or making everything look flat.

I keep reading about people using primes but then I get lost in the whole crop factor math and it makes my head spin. Like is a 35mm actually a 50mm on my camera? Or should I get an 85mm but then I am worried I will have to stand in the next county just to get her head and shoulders in the frame. I really want that creamy background look—you know, the bokeh everyone talks about—but I also dont want to spend a fortune since I only have about $350 saved up right now. I need something that works in slightly lower light too because we might do some indoor shots at the house and my living room is kind of dark even during the day.

Im just looking for something that is sharp but also gives me that nice separation from the background without being a total nightmare to use for a hobbyist like me. I just want my photos to actually look professional for once instead of these flat snapshots that I could have taken with my iPhone. Since I am stuck on a DX sensor for the foreseeable future, which prime lens is actually the best recommendation for someone doing portraits on a budget...