Portraits are pictures taken of people or things that show identity. They can show change, emotions, lifestyles, culture, or can be humorous, just like those white background celebrity photoshoots. Selfies are not often considered portraits; however, they are one of the most popular types of portraiture among young people. They can convey all the necessary stories a “normal” portrait typically shows. A portrait should not include any vulnerable people, such as those going through challenging moments, where the subject may not want to be photographed. Additionally, private belongings and aspects of the subject’s life should not be photographed without their consent.

This is “The Hotel” by Sophie Calle, which directly contradicts my thoughts on privacy; she took photos of people’s personal belongings; however, it does reveal different traits about the owner.

A portrait can be taken in many ways; it can be of objects, people, a face, or anything that can express the person, which is the most fascinating part. One type of portraiture that I like is the blurred, distorted, photos of people; it reminds me of dreamcore styles, liminal spaces and movies, Vivarium and Toys. I like how a single photo can convey so many feelings and styles which makes the viewer feel something.