‘In portraiture I think it is really exciting to be able to capture a beauty or glow or sparkle in someone that others or even the person him/herself might not have realized was there -- doing it with only such natural means as lighting, composition, angle, and the psychology to try to evoke a certain expression or look, not using touch up art that actually alters and disguises the person's appearance rather than just bringing out in the best light what is actually there but which is perhaps usually hidden by daily harriedness and unflattering sun or office light. For me it is usually more interesting and exciting to photograph a "plain" (to everyone else) person in a way that captures a beauty about them that then makes them beautiful to themselves and to others after they have seen the photograph of them than it is to photograph someone who is obviously beautiful (or obviously cute or "adorable", such as a child). In the latter case, the only challenge then might be to come up with an even more flattering or unusually interesting and attractive pose, angle, and expression.’

Rick Garlikov

The history of the portrait in art is long and distinguished and  is important for the portrait photographer if she/he is to have an insight into how some of the greatest minds dealt with the problem of the likeness. Click on wiki link to read an excellent overview

THE HISTORY OF PORTRAITURE IN PHOTOGRAPHY

We can do no better than visit Jeff Curto’s wonderful site

Robert Leggat on photographic portraiture

History of Photography - Light & Likeness, 19th & 20th C. Portrait Photography

For a very entertaining overview of the early and difficult years of portraiture try this site

Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, always an interesting site.

Interviews with contemporary portrait photographers HERE

Diane Arbus Portraits

American, 1923-1971

Developing/progressing/manipulating or just plain playing about with a portrait image

Simply going to the filters in Photoshop and running the the gamut of possible effects is rarely pleasing. These effects work well if combined with other tools like the history tool or most importantly brightness and contrast. Always ask yourself if the application of filters actually says something or if it adds associations or resonances to the portrait.Try to work out, and it’s not easy just what  a unit of manipulation means as well as what it does i.e. What does soft focus mean? The images of the old lady below are not all successful. Pick three you find most successful and try to think why.

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In what ways do the setting, the exterior landscape, the clothes and the tiara affect the meaning of Anne Leibowitz’ photograph of this old lady. Now click here

Mr Hockney’s Portrait “joiners”

Visit Mr Hockney’s site here

Playing with a portraits’s meaning by use of captions or even handwriting. Attempts at “anchorage” need never close down a portrait’s resonance.

Is the image mightier than the caption? Check out Matthew Dolls’ site below

This photograph is by Duane Michals and that’s what four images of him look like below. A Quartet of images can say more than a single image which is often why we find photo booth images so likeable and fun. Of course an octet of images may say even more

They are central to the wonderful French film “Amelie”

Some people hire photo booths for their weddings instead of a photographer

which as the Americans used to say is “neat”. It perhaps tells us how free we feel when we slide the curtain across and........

Miles of photo booth material here click the link above and stand clear