Photographic Portrait
Photographic Portrait is the art of capturing a subject in which the face. Facial features as well as facial expressions are made predominant.
What portrait photographers aim is to focus on the person’s face. They aim to give emphasis on the face of the person because this will also be the focus or the emphasis of the photograph. This does not mean, however, that the person’s body or even the background will no longer be included. Under portrait photography, these can still be included in the photo by the portrait photographer. The focus or the emphasis should be on the person’s face, facial expression, and even distinct facial features.
One of the common misconceptions about portrait photography is that it is but a photograph of a person. This is not true. In portrait photography, a composed or “rehearsed” image of a person in a still position is captured. This basically means that the portrait photographer would prep the subject and the subject would have a specific position and angle. The “rehearsal” and all the details surrounding it should be discussed between the subject and portrait photographer beforehand.
Usually, a Photographic Portrait involves the subject looking directly into the portrait photographer’s camera. In the early days, all of the subjects in portraits looked into the lens of the portrait photographer’s camera. These days, however, many portrait photographers as well as subjects of these portraits “experiment.” Many now have portraits wherein they do not directly look at the camera. Some also have distinct angles that they want to capture that’s why they sit in a specific position in front of the camera as well. These “new” and recent styles in portrait photography are based on the portrait photographer’s tips and recommendations and more importantly, based on the preference of the subject.
“A photographic portrait is a picture of someone who knows he is being photographed.”
Richard Avedon [1923 – 2004]
