Definition of Portrait

A portrait photograph is a way to show a person’s identity, personality, or story by using elements like lighting, composition, posing, and facial expression. A modern type of portrait is the selfie, where the focus is also on lighting, framing, angles, and how the person presents themselves. Both selfies and traditional portraits give people the ability to control how they are seen, allowing for many styles, emotions, and artistic choices. For instance, a portrait can show feelings like sadness, confusion, peacefulness, or even a mix of different emotions, such as calmness and stress.

One of the most important parts of a portrait is the facial expression. It helps tell a story or set a mood and can be the main symbol in the image. A strong portrait should also avoid having distracting backgrounds, because they can take attention away from the subject’s face and emotions. If the background stands out too much, viewers might miss the deeper meaning or message behind the photo.

There is no exact rule for what makes a “perfect” portrait. Instead, it depends on what the photographer wants to show—their ideas, feelings, and creative vision. A powerful portrait often comes from breaking traditional rules and exploring new styles. Trying out different techniques and focusing on what matters to the photographer is what makes a portrait unique and meaningful.

A good method in portrait photography is to take close-up shots of parts of the face—like the eyes, mouth, or nose—to show small but powerful details. Still, it’s also okay to experiment with different angles or styles beyond just facial expressions. As artist John Baldessari once said, “I will not make any more boring art,” which encourages creativity and change in photography.

So, it’s okay to play around with things like blurring the image, changing colors, or even making the photo look torn or faded. If all portraits followed the same old style of showing a perfectly clear face, photography would lose its creative edge. Using abstract styles in portraits can make them more interesting and can even start new trends in visual art.