A compelling portrait does not always need a direct view of the subject, as a details of hands, designs, or blurred figures that can be powerful. Some artists create narrative patterns to explore different elements of a subject’s personality, emotions, or transformation in time. Selfies have caused discussion about whether they are considered as portraits, but they often do not have the artistic intent and detail of traditional painting portraits. Portraits are visual explorations of identity, emotion, and storytelling that are purposefully composed using elements like lighting, framing, background, and expression to convey a deeper meaning.

 

Mind Map for Portraiture
When making a portrait, we must focus on the conceptual structure rather than just the technical details. You can imagine the overall story and idea that you would like to convey by using a mind map to help you go through different creative steps. Here’s an example:

Images & Inspiration: candid pictures of daily life, vintage lighting methods, and film noir
Themes: cultural identity, strength, loneliness, and identity
Locations: Natural locations for a more reflective mood, urban settings for a rougher feel
Techniques for photography: shallow depth of field, close-ups, and high contrast lighting
Photoshop techniques include adjusting color to create mood and adding textures to give photos an aged appearance.