Portrait photography is an image of a person or group of people, capturing the personality of the subject. Lighting, backdrops and poses can influence the mood of the portrait, and further portray certain emotions and feelings.

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There are many forms of portrait imagery taken in different ways such as head shots, half body, three quarter length, at different angles and heights, but they could fall into a few categories including:

Candid: Taking photos of people without having them pose or even realize their photo is being taken. This enables you to catch someone in the moment, creating a naturalistic photograph, that reflects the true emotions of the subject

Environmental: This type of portrait is taken in the subject’s usual environment, such as in their home or workplace, and typically illuminates the subject’s life and surroundings.

Formal: Formal portraits refer to photos usually taken for a specific occasion such as wedding or school photographs, where the subject is arranged to pose under chosen lighting conditions often in a studio.

Informal: The opposite of formal portraits, with a casual and relaxed mood to the image that shows the personality of the subject. These types of portraits aren’t usually taken in studio lighting, but are still positioned with effective lighting, with the rule of thirds and depth of field in mind.

Other examples of portrait photography:

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