You may be familiar with portrait photography, whether it’s family portraits or capturing special moments like an engagement or a pregnancy. But have you ever experienced fine art portrait photography?

This type of portrait photography is often taken in a studio, where more artistically stylized images are created to make stunning wall art. These images are created not just with wardrobe, makeup and hair styling, but with careful editing and color adjustments in post-production, and even a background change and digital painting. 

How is fine art portrait photography different from regular photography?

Most professional photographers specialize in capturing a specific moment or milestone in a person’s life, such as a wedding, the birth of a new child or a high school senior’s graduation. While these photos are not always documentary-style, they generally are not very posed or stylized, especially in the last 10 years or so, instead focusing on the genuine expressions and feelings of the subjects.

Fine art portrait photography, on the other hand, is designed to be a piece of art. From the clothing chosen for the subject to the background to the way everything is staged, these images are carefully created by the photographer as works of art, designed to be displayed. Think back to the photographs you would pull from your Great Grandparent's old trunk. You will most likely find one or two of these "staged" photographs residing there. 

How are fine art portrait photographers different from natural light photographers?

Natural light photography requires an understanding of how to use the natural light outside (or inside) to frame and capture the best images. Fine art photographers, however, use a variety of lighting techniques in a studio or indoor space to create stunning photos. These photographers also make use of backdrops, props, accessories and other objects and techniques to create fine art from their images.

Where photojournalistic photographers work to capture a moment or a subject as naturally as possible, fine art photographers strive to capture their own vision. That’s why staging and posing are so important in this type of photography, as they give the photographer more control over their images.

Is fine art portrait photography always in black and white?

Absolutely not! While many portraits may be in black and white, fine art portrait photographers work in color as well, often to great effect. Like most photographers, they capture images with a variety of colors, as well as black and white images.

Why should I consider fine art portraits?

Fine art portrait photography offers something unique—art featuring you or your family members. Instead of normal family photos that you may share on social media or put in an album, these images look stunning on large canvases or as framed prints and can even be conversation pieces in your home.

Long ago, people used to have their portraits painted. Fine art portraits are similar in style without the long hours of sitting and holding a pose. These are images you and your family will cherish for years to come—a moment captured in time as a work of art. 

When thinking about a fine art portrait for your home, style and color is usually a big factor, and we would go over different choices during our consult if you should consider commissioning me for such a piece for your home. 

As a side note: Did you ever wonder how or why I named my studio "Painted Light Photography"?  When my youngest son was born, and for months afterwards, I bought Photoshop (I'm sure you ALL know what that is) and would stay up until sometimes 3 or 4 am playing with and learning different tools inside the program. And then I moved on to Painter. I was hooked from there, the painted photograph has always been something I've been enamored with, stroke by stroke, a new image comes to life. No, it's not just a filter applied with the touch of a button. That look has never impressed me like the true strokes of a paint brush (digital or real) will. 

After I learned to paint my images digitally, is when I started to think of names for my eventual studio, as that was the direction I could see myself going towards. And that is how it came to be. 

 Please contact me if you are considering a fine art portrait for YOUR home or office!