Portrait

Portrait photography focuses on capturing the personality, mood, identity, or life story of a person or group, primarily through emphasizing the face and expression. While traditionally centered on a person's face looking directly at the camera, contemporary portrait photography encompasses a wide range of styles, from formal posed portraits to candid environmental portraits that include the subject's surroundings to provide context about their life or character. Portrait photographers carefully consider multiple elements including lighting (often using setups like Rembrandt, butterfly, or split lighting), composition (following guidelines like the rule of thirds or centered formal portraits), perspective (choosing flattering focal lengths typically between 85-135mm), and post-processing techniques that enhance the subject while maintaining natural appearance. The intimate nature of portrait photography requires strong communication skills to make subjects comfortable and draw out authentic expressions.