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Portrait Styles


Portraits can be done in many different styles, to create a variety of feelings ot to tell a story.

Sometimes portraits are simply created as a record, to show how a child, or family, has grown or how friends relate. Other times portraits can convey a message, show hobbies or interests to reveal our dreams. Planning a portrait session ahead of time will help you create portraits that can capture a moment in time, or create memories to last a lifetime.

Ideas can help get your planning started!

Portrait ideas include . . .

Illustrative story-telling portraits: These portraits illustrate a theme or create a scene around their subject(s). Portraits of this type usually include more area, often showing the subject full-length. The emphasis is on creating a mood or a vision.
 
Suggestions include: Clothing, setting or props to show past achievements or memories, current hobbies or pastimes, future goals or career aspirations. Formal or special occasion clothing, setting or props that illustrate activities or interests, fantasy clothing, setting or props that reveal personalities.
Traditional Portraits: This type of portraiture emphasizes expressions and the emotional appeal conveyed by the subject. Portraits of this type usually center on the face or faces in the image. these portraits can vary from close-ups to full-length subjects.
Examples include: Big smiles and happy faces, thoughtfulness or introspection, surprise laughter, shock, wonder, day dreaming, confidence and attitude.

Contemporary Portraiture: The Emphasis here is on the personal or unusual portrait. Anything goes! Being creative by breaking your everyday "rules" can often make great portrait memories. Contemporary portraits might be concidered to be anyhting from inwardly personal, unplanned, casual moment to a seemingly strange, "off-guard" or out-of-character illustration that hints at your inner self. This portrait style just might reveal the real you and be among your most precious memories of all.

Contemporary Portrait studies show the "you" that most people
rarely see or the personalities you'd most like to project.

Group or Couple Portraits (with more than one subject):The emphasis here is on the relationships of the subjects, or images that are created to highlight subject interaction.

These might include: Families, Child with Parent(s), Group of Friends or Co-workers, Individuals with their Pet(s), grandparents with Grandchildren, Brothers and Sisters, Husbands and Wives, Students and Teachers, and Teammates. These images usually relate a common bond or mutual feeling.


People's personalities are like intricate, many faceted gems, appearing differently when viewed from a variety of perspectives.
Portraits help us capture and reveal our complex personalities so we can explore and express ourselves.