Here at CNY Biz Pix, our main job is to capture photographic portraits of, or for, our clients. But what exactly is a portrait?
According to experts, a portrait can be a photograph, a painting, sculpture, or other representation of a person in which the face is always predominant. That is, it’s the face of the person or people in the representation that is meant to be the focus of the representation. The representation is meant to convey the personality, mood, or simply the identity of the subject.
Focus
I said that the face of the subject(s) is meant to be the focus. That was a deliberate choice of words. In photography, the area of sharpest definition – that is, focus – in a picture is meant to be the most important subject in the picture. Often, we put the subject of a photograph in the center of the image. In a photograph, this is another way to convey that the subject is the most important aspect of the image. They are literally “front and center” in the image, the “center of attention.”
Is It Art?
Many photographers attempt to create an artistic representation of the subject. Before we try to define “art,” let’s take a look at what is not art.
A photograph of a person, taken for identification purposes, is generally not considered a work of art. Driver’s license photos, passport photos, ID badges – these generally are lit in such a way as to minimize shadows and downplay clothing or jewelry. While technically an identification photo is a portrait, we often don’t want to share these images with others. They don’t generally show much about an individual except the layout of their facial features. Additionally, an image taken primarily to convey an idea or an activity, to commemorate an occasion – where the focus is the activity and not the subjects – is often not considered artistic.
So, what is art? In our case, an image created or crafted to be appreciated for their beauty and emotional power. Art is meant to convey emotion or feeling to the viewer. The opposite of producing an artistic image is to show a scene that conveys simple information to the viewer. CNY Biz Pix can and does take both artistic and informational images. A portrait of a person wearing a hat, or with a strand of hair across their face, might be meant as an artistic image, whereas an image of two people shaking hands over a giant check is meant to convey information rather than emotion or mood. Group photos of sports teams, associations, or organizations are primarily meant to record participation; to commemorate an activity or situation, and are equally as valid as an artistic portrait.
Composed
A portrait is also an image in which the subject or subjects seem to know their image is being captured. Subjects in these images are often posed – that is, they are showing off their face or body in a way so as to be captured pleasingly by the photographer. Subjects in an informational photograph are often also posed, but again the emphasis of the photo is to tell a simple story. “This happened, and these people were there.”
Having several friends laughing in a park, their arms around one another’s shoulders, can be argued over. Is it an artistic portrait, meant to convey the feelings of the subjects? Or is it simply a an informational pic meant to record a time when these people were together? The “meaning” of the image is only truly understood by the individual viewing the photograph.
What We Do
At CNY Biz Pix, we can take the kind of photos your business requires or desires. Whether it’s a promotional picture, a journalistic image for PR purposes, ID or promotional employee headshots – you can count on us to capture the spirit, and the image, of your vision.
While we often work with companies, we also produce portraits for individuals and families, as well as pet parents. If it involves producing a quality image of one or more people on location, we can handle it. Please visit our contact page to get in touch!