General Definition:

Portrait photography or portraiture in photography is a photograph of a person or group of people that captures the personality of the subject by using effective lighting, backdrops, and poses. A portrait picture might be artistic, or it might be clinical, as part of a medical study.

Aim: To explore the different kinds and ways of acquiring portrait photos and what methods photographers use for different styles.

Types – 

TRADITIONAL PORTRAIT

“Face is the focus”

In this type of portrait photography, the object is supposed to look directly at the camera and the focus is on the face.

CANDID PORTRAIT

“Take as it is”

Candid portraits are generally the real and spontaneous images. Here the photographer has not much control on the surroundings and cannot alter the emotions.

POSED PORTRAIT

“Intentions have been conveyed”

Posed portrait means that the photographer has conveyed the intentions to the subject, by words or by action, and there needs to be a change of body position or expression.

ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAIT

“At objects own environment”

Environmental portrait means that you are photographing the object in its own environment, where it is comfortable most. Like an Engineer at his construction site,  farmer in the field etc.

FORMAL PORTRAIT

“Object with a formal pose”

This is a posed portrait, but with a formal touch, prepared for business and other formal occasions.

COUPLE PORTRAIT

“Highlighting the relation”

In this type of portrait the emphasis of the photographer is to show the intensity of the relation between the people in the photograph. For ex: The relation of child with his parents.

GLAMOUR PORTRAIT

“Highlight the appeal”

Taking portrait of the model is the best example of this, where you want to enhance the appeal of the object.

CLOSE UP PORTRAIT

“Get it close”

These are the images that are taken from very close, using zoom or macro lens.

Examples of some good portrait photographs/Mood Board –