A portrait is a photograph that focuses on capturing the appearance, personality, and mood of a person or group of people. It usually highlights the subject’s face and expression, but it can also include the body, posture, and environment to communicate more about who they are. Portrait photography often uses specific techniques such as controlled lighting, shallow depth of field, and framing to draw attention to the subject and separate them from the background.

A successful portrait doesn’t just show what a person looks like. It reveals something deeper about their character, emotion, or story. Photographers might use eye contact, gesture, or composition to express intimacy, confidence, or vulnerability. Portraits can be posed, where the subject knows they are being photographed, or candid, where the person is captured naturally. Overall, portrait photography is about using technical and artistic choices to communicate human identity and emotion through an image.

Artist: Richard Avedon

Richard Avedon’s portraits are known for their simplicity and focus. He often used plain white backgrounds and strong contrast to highlight expression and emotion. In his series In the American West, he photographed ordinary people with deep honesty and intensity. His work proves that strong portraits don’t need complex settings, just connection between photographer and subject.