Remember that zoom lenses aren't just for bringing your subject closer when you're stood in a fixed position.
Take two pictures with the same framing, taken from different distances using different focal lengths. The perspective is different due to your distance. Near subjects appear much bigger than distant subjects (when you are nearer to the foreground object and using a wider lens to frame). When your distance is further away and you zoom in to get the same framing - the objects will appear much similar in size. This is not due to the lens however - it's due to your distance, and you're using the lens to "crop" to the desired framing.
This is why headshots look more flattering using a longer lens - the nose is not that much further away than the ears because you have to stand further back. With a wide lens you have to get much closer to the subject to get the same framing, then the nose looks massive (it's much closer to you now than their ears) and the subjects ears disappear behind the sides of their head.
This is why I used to teach my students to start out with primes. Smaller, lighter, sharper, wider apertures lets more light in and creates narrow depth of field if you want it. Use your legs to zoom, so you see how distance affects perspective. Only change lenses to achieve the desired crop.
This is what I like to do: Use your legs to move into position so you get your desired perspective (relative size of foreground and background objects). Then, and only then, choose your focal length to achieve the framing you want.
Try it!
John
