A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person. It can capture a person or group of people that is able to highlight the personality and characteristics of the subject whilst using effective lighting, poses and backdrops. It is regarded as an art of shooting other people, either one person or a group of people. A good portrait artist can use lighting, position and location to show the characteristics and personality of the subject. The different types of portrait photography are: Formal (Posed), Informal (Similar to Candid and Natural), Environmental, Contemporary and Traditional.

A portrait picture might be artistic, or it might be clinical, as part of a medical study. Frequently, portraits are commissioned for special occasions, such as weddings or school events. Portraits can serve many purposes, from usage on a personal Web site to display in the lobby of a business.

The invention of photography can be credited to Louis Daguerre, who first introduced the concept to the French Academy of Sciences in 1839. That same year, Robert Cornelius produced what’s considered the first photographic self-portrait.