What is experimental portrait photography?
Experimental portrait photography means using a camera, light, materials or processing in a non-traditional way to make an image of a person. Instead of aiming for a clean, literal likeness, the photographer is looking for something abstract, stylised or emotional. The result may be less predictable, and that unpredictability is part of the appeal.
It is one of the more artistic branches in our overview of portrait photography types, and it often overlaps with fine art work.
Common experimental techniques
Multiple exposures
Layering two or more images can blend a face with textures, landscapes or objects. Some cameras offer an in-camera multiple exposure mode. You can also layer images afterwards in editing software, or expose the same frame of film more than once.
Prisms, glass and filters
Holding glass, crystals, plastic or a prism in front of the lens can create reflections, flares, refractions and selective blur. It costs very little and gives different results each time. Move the object slowly and watch the effect in the viewfinder or on the screen.
Slow shutter and movement
A longer exposure while the subject or the camera moves produces soft, painterly streaks. Try small movements first, and combine them with a sharp moment if you use flash at the start or end of the exposure. A tripod helps keep the parts you want sharp.
Practical effects
Tools such as coloured gels (see colour lighting in photography), patterned light, water, plastic or fabric in front of the subject can create effects in the camera rather than in editing. Photographers who work this way often prefer the feel of effects that really happened in front of the lens.
Alternative and film processes
Cyanotypes, liquid emulsions and other historic methods give prints a distinctive physical character. Some film photographers also deliberately damage or alter film, for example by soaking it in liquids before shooting. Results are unpredictable, so expect to discard many frames and keep the happy accidents.
Mixing with other styles
Experimental methods work well alongside other approaches. A dark, low-key setup like the one in our guide to moody portrait photography gives you a good base for light-play and colour effects.
What is pinhole portrait photography?
A pinhole camera has no lens. Light passes through a tiny hole and forms an image on film or photographic paper (or a digital sensor, if you adapt a body cap). Because the hole is so small, very little light gets in, and exposures are long.
What pinhole portraits look like
- Soft, slightly dreamy detail. Pinhole images are rarely razor sharp.
- Very deep focus. Near and far objects can be similarly soft, since there is no lens to focus.
- Motion blur. Anything that moves during the exposure blurs or disappears.
- Vignetting and distortion. Wide pinhole cameras can show darker corners and stretched edges.
The practical challenge: keeping still
Because exposures are long, often seconds or longer depending on the light and the film, a portrait subject must stay as still as possible. Some photographers use this deliberately: a sitter who holds still is sharp, while a sitter who moves becomes a ghostly trace. Using bright light, a faster film or a larger aperture reduces the time required. Using a head rest or asking the subject to lean on something comfortable also helps.
Getting started
- Pick a camera. You can buy a ready-made pinhole camera, convert a body cap for an interchangeable-lens camera, or make your own from a box.
- Work out exposure. The effective aperture is the focal distance (hole to film) divided by the hole’s diameter, and for pinhole cameras it is usually far smaller than any lens, well beyond f/100. A light meter, or an exposure calculator made for pinhole use, is a useful guide.
- Allow for film behaviour. Many films respond differently in long exposures (reciprocity failure), so you may need extra time. Check the film’s data sheet.
- Test. Shoot test frames of a still object before you ask someone to sit.
- Use a tripod. Even small camera shake blurs the whole frame.
Planning an experimental portrait session
- Pick one idea per session. Too many effects at once muddy the result.
- Tell your subject what to expect. Explain long exposures, odd props or unpredictable results beforehand.
- Make a safe shooting space. Be careful with glass, mirrors and liquids around people and equipment.
- Keep a log. Note materials, settings and positions so you can repeat what works.
- Be ready to fail. Unusual methods produce many unusable frames, and that is normal.
Finding inspiration
Photography festivals, online features and photographers’ blogs are good places to see how others use these techniques. Look at how photographers combine effects with portrait basics such as expression, composition and light, because the strongest experimental work usually still has a clear subject.
Questions people often ask
What are some examples of experimental photography? Multiple exposures, light painting, cyanotypes, camera-less images, film manipulation and pinhole work are all commonly cited examples.
Is experimental photography commercial? It can be, especially in editorial and advertising, but it is often made for personal or gallery projects. Income varies enormously, so be cautious about any figure quoted for photography earnings.