A genre focused on capturing the personality, mood, and likeness of a person or group of people.
Portrait photography is about capturing the essence of a subject through careful composition, lighting, and timing. It requires understanding of facial features, expressions, and body language. Good portrait photographers must also master techniques like lighting setups, posing, and creating rapport with subjects. The genre encompasses various styles from formal studio portraits to environmental portraits that include meaningful surroundings. Key considerations include lens choice (typically 85mm-200mm), aperture selection for depth of field control, and lighting to flatter the subject.