Portrait Photography

create dramatic portraits with natural light live view for camera settings — Couples Portrait Photography example

What is Portrait Photography?

If you’re a social person and you love to capture the essence of people in real-life shoots, then portrait photography might be the discipline for you.

Unlike candid shoots, portrait photography sees your subject posed in front of a specific backdrop.

how to use natural light for high key portraits — Bridal Portrait Photography Example

History of Portrait Photography

Portrait photography is one of the oldest photographic disciplines in the world, first arising thanks to the affordability of daguerreotypy in the 1840s. These early cameras had long exposure times, and as such, early subjects often look expressionless and are posed very simply. As photography advanced and cameras started to have shorter exposure times, it gave photographers more ability to experiment with poses, lighting, and costume.

Approaches to Portrait Photography

There are four key archetypes of portrait photography that are in use today:

Creative

Creative portrait photographs are staged shots where the photograph is manipulated to change the final output. This is what we commonly think of when we talk about portrait photography, as modern creative portrait photographers use programs like Photoshop to change the subject’s appearance or setting.

Candid

Candid portraits are taken of people in their natural environment and without their knowledge. While this can produce stunning images that showcase the subject’s personality, this use of photography has been widely condemned as the paparazzi have made it more exploitative and invasive for the subject.

Environmental

Environmental photography is a less invasive form of candid photography, where subjects are captured doing something that relates to them. These shots have been popular throughout history and as such photographs from this discipline are considered a vital source of historical information.

Constructionist

In a constructionist portrait, subjects are photographed working in a situation that pertains to a certain idea that the photographer wants to capture. These kinds of portraits are popular in technical environments, for marketing purposes, and in business.

See the latest portrait photography news, tips and tutorials in the articles below.

Sitting Pose Tips, Ideas and Common Mistakes

January 18, 2026

You can have the best, most perfectly prepared subject with phenomenal hair, makeup and styling and have gorgeous light at your disposal, but bad or mediocre posing will make it all moot. Even an experienced model who knows how to work the camera can use a little coaching to look best from the camera’s perspective ... Read more

How to Shoot a Basic Model Test | Gear, Shot List, Agency Requirements & More

January 17, 2026

With the shifting requirements for model tests, there is a misconception that all test shoots must be grandiose productions and equipped with a full team. In fact, when first approaching a modeling agency to test you will almost always be asked if you have your own team. In this article, I’ll walk you through how ... Read more

Dynamic 3-Light Sports Portrait Setup

January 16, 2026

When it comes to taking sports photography portraits, capturing dynamic energy is the name of the game. Sports portraits often convey a sense of action and energy with dramatic poses and lighting, the latter of which often relies on using off-camera flash. While some photographers try their best to avoid using flash, it’s really not ... Read more

3 Ways To Photograph Family Group Photos With Flash

January 14, 2026

Setting up one directional off-camera flash with a shoot-through umbrella may be your go-to lighting setup for family formals, but what other ways can you light a group of people to create more drama or visual interest? Light alters the mood of a scene through modifiers, quantity, and color. Even with family photos, you should ... Read more

Easiest One Light Portrait Setup for Professional Headshots

January 13, 2026

How many lights does it take to create a great, pro quality image? In my early career, my answer was “as many as I can get.” But over time, I learned that some of the most beautiful portraits are captured using simple setups. No need for multiple lights, sets, and gear to get gorgeous results. ... Read more

5 Creative Accessories to Conceal Distracting Backgrounds

January 12, 2026

We’ve all been there: you have great clients but a less-than-superb background. How do you deliver the high-quality, creative imagery that your clients have come to expect? Creative accessories are perfect when you need a spark of creativity or need to block distracting elements in your scene. These simple tools can transform an ordinary shot ... Read more

DIY Reflector | 3 Ways to Make Your Own Reflector

January 11, 2026

It's a long holiday weekend which means the beach, BBQ, and DIY projects! If you're going out to Home Depot to pick up a few tools to fix something around the house, make sure you add bead foam to your shopping list.

How to Design a Photo Album | A Step by Step Guide

January 10, 2026

Whether you’re a professional or a hobbyist, printing is an important aspect of photography. Instead of images lost in clouds, hard drives, or social media, printing your photography into wall art or albums makes your photography tangible. Selecting your favorite images for print and laying them out in a story gives them more value and ... Read more

An Introduction to Posing Female Models

January 9, 2026

Working with agency models is a highly coveted and sought after goal for many aspiring fashion and beauty photographers. While there are many models who know their angles, the reality is that many of the agency models you are likely to test with in the beginning are new faces in the fashion industry. These new ... Read more

SLR Lounge - Best Photography Insurance Options

Photographer Insurance Guide

January 8, 2026

Let’s face it, photography is not a cheap venture to get into. Regardless of whether you’re a professional or a hobbyist, buying and keeping your gear up-to-date can be very expensive. Because of this, it’s incredibly important to keep your equipment safe from theft and damage. Having your gear stolen or broken somehow can be ... Read more

Photography Tips Engagement Photography Portrait Photography

Tips for Portraits With A Wide Angle Lens

June 26, 2025

Pye

Wide-angle lenses are often considered landscape and architectural photography lenses, but they also offer unique creative possibilities for portrait photography. ...

Photography Tips Portrait Photography

5 Ways to Create Impactful Art for Clients

June 16, 2025

Brooke Shaden

Bridging the gap between what we want to shoot versus what a client wants us to shoot can be simple. Brooke Shaden shares how to do that with these 5 tips for creating more impactful art for your clients.

Photography Tips Lightroom Portrait Photography

Portrait Composition Tips for Better Photography

June 14, 2025

Pye

Many photographers often settle for basic compositions and then find themselves wondering how professionals capture captivating portraits. The secret often ...