What portrait photography means
Portrait photography, or portraiture, is photography that aims to capture the personality, mood or identity of a person or a group. The face is usually the focus, but a portrait does not have to show a face at all. Hands, posture, clothing and surroundings can say a lot about someone.
The usual way to separate a portrait from a snapshot is intent. In a portrait, the photographer and the subject are both aware of the picture being made, and choices about light, background, framing and expression are made on purpose. That is a working definition rather than a strict rule, and photographers disagree about the edges. Candid pictures of strangers, for example, are sometimes called portraits and sometimes street photography.
The main types of portrait photography
There is no single official list, but these categories come up again and again. They also answer the common question about the “four types of portraits”: different sources group them differently, and the four below are a practical way to think about it.
- Formal or traditional portraits. The subject is posed and usually looks at the camera. Studio-style lighting and a plain backdrop are typical. School photos, family portraits and corporate headshots often fall here.
- Environmental portraits. The subject is shown in a place that says something about them, such as a workshop, kitchen or studio. The setting is part of the story.
- Candid or documentary portraits. The subject is not directed. The photographer watches and waits for a moment that feels honest.
- Lifestyle portraits. A middle ground: the photographer gives light direction, but the subject is doing something natural, like walking, laughing or playing with a pet.
Other commonly mentioned forms include headshots (a tight crop for profiles and acting), editorial or fashion portraits (styled around a theme), and black and white portraits, which remove colour so that tone, texture and expression carry the image. For a look at how practitioners have approached these styles, see our guide to famous portrait photographers to learn from.
Examples of portrait photography to study
Reading about portraits only goes so far. A few useful ways to study examples:
- Pick one photograph you like and ask what the light is doing. Where is it coming from, and is it hard or soft?
- Look at where the eyes sit in the frame and where they are looking.
- Notice the background. Is it blurred, plain, or full of detail that tells a story?
- Notice the pose: the angle of the shoulders, the hands, the tilt of the head.
- Ask what feeling the picture gives you and which choices created it.
Books are another good source of examples, and our list of photography books worth reading includes some that are portrait-heavy.
Basic rules of portrait photography
“Rules” in photography are better understood as starting points. These are widely taught, and beginners tend to get good results quickly by using them.
Pay attention to light first
Soft, directional light is flattering for most faces. A common beginner approach is to place the subject near a window or in open shade (our guide to natural light for portraits goes further), with the light coming from the side or slightly in front of them. Hard midday sun overhead tends to produce strong shadows under the eyes and nose. If you are outdoors, open shade or the softer light early or late in the day usually helps.
Focus on the eyes
In most portraits the eye closest to the camera should be sharp. Many cameras have eye-detection autofocus, which makes this easier, but it is worth checking sharpness on the back of the camera. We cover this in more detail in eyes and emotion in portrait photography.
Choose a flattering lens and distance
Moderate telephoto focal lengths, roughly 50mm to 135mm on a full-frame camera, are the usual choice because they give natural-looking facial proportions. Very wide lenses used close up can exaggerate the nose and features. Our article on the best lens for portrait photography compares the common options.
Use aperture to control the background
A wide aperture such as f/1.8 to f/2.8 blurs the background and separates the subject from it. A narrower aperture such as f/4 to f/8 keeps more of the scene sharp, which suits environmental portraits and groups. For a single person, a wide aperture also makes focusing errors more noticeable, so be careful with focus.
Keep shutter speed safe
For a posed subject and a handheld camera, a shutter speed in the region of 1/125 to 1/250 of a second is a common starting range. See choosing the right shutter speed for portrait photography for the details.
Compose with the rule of thirds in mind
The “rule of 3” or rule of thirds suggests placing key elements, such as the eyes, near the lines that divide the frame into thirds instead of dead centre. It is a guide, not a law. Centred, symmetrical portraits can work very well too, especially with direct eye contact.
Think about angle and pose
Small changes in camera height, head tilt and body angle change how a person looks. Turning the body slightly away from the camera while the face looks back is a common starting point. We go through this in portrait poses and the best camera angles.
How to get better at portrait photography
Technical skill matters, but most advice from experienced portrait photographers comes back to the same few habits.
- Photograph people often. Friends and family are good practice. Ask for a short session and treat it seriously.
- Talk while you shoot. A nervous subject looks nervous. Conversation, music and clear, kind direction help people relax.
- Keep shooting between poses. Often the most natural expression arrives right after a posed one.
- Review and cull honestly. Choose the images with the best expression and light, not just the sharpest ones.
- Study other photographers. Looking at the work of others helps you build a visual vocabulary.
- Develop a consistent editing approach. Colour, contrast and skin tones shape the feel of a set. See portrait photography editing styles and when to use them.
A note on the “20-60-20 rule”
You may see a “20-60-20 rule” mentioned in photography. It is not a single standardised rule, and different writers use the phrase in different ways, so it is best to check the specific source you are reading before relying on it. The fundamentals above do not depend on it.
Gear: what you actually need
A camera that allows manual control, a lens in the 50mm to 85mm range (or an equivalent on a crop-sensor body), and good light will take you a long way. Reflectors, flashes and backdrops (see lighting for portrait photography) are useful additions later, but light and connection with the subject matter more than the price of the equipment.
Where to go next
If you are new to the genre, a sensible order is: learn to see and control light, choose one lens and get comfortable with it, practise posing and directing, then develop an editing style. Each of the articles linked above goes deeper on one of those steps.