ORIGINAL: rcphotog
I prefer using a slightly wide angle lens (around 28 to 40mm) for most static shots. This allows the 'viewer' to expierence a 'feeling' of actually being there by putting you closer to the model.
This falls into the "neutral wide" range (in terms of 35mm equivalents) that I mentioned above. Wider and it becomes noticeable. Longer and it becomes noticeable. But these neutral wides give the feeling of "being there." In other words, the viewer doesn't see the photograph, the viewer sees the subject.
Most static shots of models (I think) should be taken with the greatest depth-of-field possible.
I agree. Our subjective experience of the world we live in is that everything is in focus. Of course, it's not, but our brains manage to fool us into thinking it is. Using small apertures for greater depth-of-field replicates this subjective experience.