Portrait Photography in BaltimoreWe are proud to be Baltimore's best portrait photography agency for over 10 years. Our passion for photography grows each year.
Portrait photography, often referred to as portraiture, is an artistic form of photography that focuses on capturing the personality and character of the subject. This is usually done by utilizing specific lighting, posing, and background techniques. Portraits are perfect for weddings, family photos, school memories, headshots, product photos, commercial purposes, and other special occasions. 
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Different Types of Portrait Photography
Traditional Portraits
Traditional portrait photography is exactly what it sounds like. It is likely the first image that pops into most people’s heads when they think of the word “portrait”. Traditional portraiture is generally an image of the subject’s head or body, without or without background for context. This can mean a single person, or multiple subjects like a family photo.
The photos can be taken either in a studio, or in a beautiful setting like the mountains, or a beach. Portraits can be lit in many different ways, offering a different feeling or mood to the piece. These pictures are meant to encapsulate the essence of the subject, opening the doors to creativity and possibility.
For instance: the Mona Lisa is likely the most famous portrait ever created. The creativity of the artist has sparked discussions and debates about its meaning for centuries that will likely continue for centuries more.
The photos can be taken either in a studio, or in a beautiful setting like the mountains, or a beach. Portraits can be lit in many different ways, offering a different feeling or mood to the piece. These pictures are meant to encapsulate the essence of the subject, opening the doors to creativity and possibility.
For instance: the Mona Lisa is likely the most famous portrait ever created. The creativity of the artist has sparked discussions and debates about its meaning for centuries that will likely continue for centuries more.
​Lifestyle Portraits
The point of a beautiful lifestyle portrait is to display a moment in time. A glimpse at the realities of someone’s life. Often, the setting is as important to conveying this message as the subject is. An empty bottle of wine, and a candle wick burned to nothing could send the message of a late night, or a romantic evening.
A lifestyle photography session usually captures a single, or a series of images telling a story about the person (or people). Maybe it’s a family portrait, and the children are playing in the backyard while mom and dad enjoy a book on the patio. Perhaps it’s a young couple dining at a cozy restaurant, enjoying each other’s conversation.
Lifestyle portraits can be an amazing way to tell the story of your life, without ever having to say a word. Share a moment with friends and family, capture and cherish a happy time for the rest of your life.
A lifestyle photography session usually captures a single, or a series of images telling a story about the person (or people). Maybe it’s a family portrait, and the children are playing in the backyard while mom and dad enjoy a book on the patio. Perhaps it’s a young couple dining at a cozy restaurant, enjoying each other’s conversation.
Lifestyle portraits can be an amazing way to tell the story of your life, without ever having to say a word. Share a moment with friends and family, capture and cherish a happy time for the rest of your life.
Environmental Portraits
Environmental portraits, similar to lifestyle portraits, show the subject in their natural environment. For many people, this is either at home or at their place of work. Somewhere you might find them in their day-to-day lives. Environmental portraits can be a powerful statement. These photos have sometimes created social changes, or other times can bring beauty to the mundane.
A doctor at the end of a double shift, a surfer at the beach. These pictures speak far louder than words, allowing us a glimpse into the lives of the subjects. These are often the photos you’ll see in a gripping newspaper article, or in a promotional brochure for a service company.
Go to the place your subject spends most of their time and watch. That’s the best way to capture a natural environmental portrait.
A doctor at the end of a double shift, a surfer at the beach. These pictures speak far louder than words, allowing us a glimpse into the lives of the subjects. These are often the photos you’ll see in a gripping newspaper article, or in a promotional brochure for a service company.
Go to the place your subject spends most of their time and watch. That’s the best way to capture a natural environmental portrait.
Candid and Street Portraits
Street portraits, sometimes called candid portraits, are photos taken of chance encounters. They don’t necessarily have to take place in a street, but they are usually taken in a public space—oftentimes of strangers to the photographer.
These pictures by design should have no prompting or direction. Candid reactions are priceless, as they simply can’t be recreated. There’s something very human about a genuine smile, or any other facial expression for that matter. It’s that human quality that gives these photos their appeal. Street photography should be subtle, with the photographer themselves almost hidden, or at least blending in with the environment, as to minimize their impact.
Framing and timing are key here. An experienced photographer can make candid photos really pop by framing and timing their portraits perfectly. The one thread that connects all street photography is—people doing what people do, in a place where people typically do it.
These pictures by design should have no prompting or direction. Candid reactions are priceless, as they simply can’t be recreated. There’s something very human about a genuine smile, or any other facial expression for that matter. It’s that human quality that gives these photos their appeal. Street photography should be subtle, with the photographer themselves almost hidden, or at least blending in with the environment, as to minimize their impact.
Framing and timing are key here. An experienced photographer can make candid photos really pop by framing and timing their portraits perfectly. The one thread that connects all street photography is—people doing what people do, in a place where people typically do it.
Glamour & Boudoir Photography
Glamour and boudoir photography are intended to showcase the beauty of the subject. Though similar, there are a few major differences between the two.
Glamour photography is intended as a snapshot of the subject when they are at their most dolled-up and gorgeous. These pictures are intended to be shared. The subject is always keenly aware that they are being photographed, as eye contact with the camera is one of the main focuses. The lighting for glamour photos is generally soft and is intended to enhance your appeal.
Boudoir photos on the other hand are generally not intended to be shared with a big audience. They are sexy, sensual, and sometimes nude. A look at the subject in a provocative state. Imploring the viewer to keep looking. A boudoir photoshoot offers an opportunity to be a little rawer than one might normally be.
Glamour photography is intended as a snapshot of the subject when they are at their most dolled-up and gorgeous. These pictures are intended to be shared. The subject is always keenly aware that they are being photographed, as eye contact with the camera is one of the main focuses. The lighting for glamour photos is generally soft and is intended to enhance your appeal.
Boudoir photos on the other hand are generally not intended to be shared with a big audience. They are sexy, sensual, and sometimes nude. A look at the subject in a provocative state. Imploring the viewer to keep looking. A boudoir photoshoot offers an opportunity to be a little rawer than one might normally be.
Fine Art Portraits
Fine art portraits are an artistic portrayal of the subject. It’s an emotional, creative work of the photographer’s vision. These photos will often contain props, costumes, and lighting effects that create a world that is not the one we live in in our day-to-day lives.
Posing is a huge factor in the delivery of the artist’s vision. Fine art portraits often have unique posing that one would not normally do. This lends to the effect and the notion that what you are seeing is a figment of the imagination.
These photos are often centerpieces as well as conversation pieces. They are a decoration, and a tribute to the subject. Often, these portraits are passed down through generations. Fine art portraits are a reminder of who we are through the eyes of an artist. This style is great for wedding portraits!
Posing is a huge factor in the delivery of the artist’s vision. Fine art portraits often have unique posing that one would not normally do. This lends to the effect and the notion that what you are seeing is a figment of the imagination.
These photos are often centerpieces as well as conversation pieces. They are a decoration, and a tribute to the subject. Often, these portraits are passed down through generations. Fine art portraits are a reminder of who we are through the eyes of an artist. This style is great for wedding portraits!
Conceptual Portraits
Conceptual photography illustrates a concept, an idea. This concept should be fairly clear and understandable to the viewer. It is not necessarily an abstract concept. These photos often use props, costumes, and different lighting techniques to lend to the “idea” that the photo is attempting to present.
Often conceptual portraits will be used in advertising or marketing, to represent the brand’s ideas in some way. But conceptual portraits are so much more than that. Like a metaphor, they can easily encapsulate an idea within a snapshot. These ideas can be complex, or simple.
Conceptual portraits are more a work of art than a photograph. Conceptual photographers may not even consider themselves photographers first, no matter how professional they are.
Often conceptual portraits will be used in advertising or marketing, to represent the brand’s ideas in some way. But conceptual portraits are so much more than that. Like a metaphor, they can easily encapsulate an idea within a snapshot. These ideas can be complex, or simple.
Conceptual portraits are more a work of art than a photograph. Conceptual photographers may not even consider themselves photographers first, no matter how professional they are.
Surreal Portraits
Have you ever wondered what you would look like if you had the face of a baby and the body of a lion? Surrealist artists have, and they make their surreal creations come to life in the most intriguing ways. Surrealist portraits are a depiction of the subject in an alternate reality, where everything you know about the world has been distorted. Even in this psychedelic dimension though, surreal portraits still project a vague idea and a concept. This idea may not be immediately clear to the audience, and can often be a wink shared between artist and subject.
Surreal portraits are often altered digitally, or by other means with special effects. Clever and unique lighting and makeup techniques are used to distort perception and reality. The lines between what’s real and what isn’t are blurred, and the viewer is taken on a trip into the mind of the artist.
Surreal portraits are often altered digitally, or by other means with special effects. Clever and unique lighting and makeup techniques are used to distort perception and reality. The lines between what’s real and what isn’t are blurred, and the viewer is taken on a trip into the mind of the artist.
Self Portraits
We’re all familiar with the term selfie. Well, let’s just forget selfies exist for a moment. A self-portrait is a photograph that the artist takes of themselves. These are generally artistic and stylistic, and are portraying a certain idea or emotion.
They are often a raw, personal look at the lives of the artists. A self-portrait is one in which the artist has the opportunity to bare their soul for the camera. Self portrait photography began with the invention of the portable camera. It’s human nature to want to capture a glimpse of oneself through the eyes of the world.
Artists can be somewhat reclusive, especially photographers. Self-portraits give them the chance to show their audience who they are. For fans of the artists’ works, this can be the only peek they get at who that artist truly is when not creating.
They are often a raw, personal look at the lives of the artists. A self-portrait is one in which the artist has the opportunity to bare their soul for the camera. Self portrait photography began with the invention of the portable camera. It’s human nature to want to capture a glimpse of oneself through the eyes of the world.
Artists can be somewhat reclusive, especially photographers. Self-portraits give them the chance to show their audience who they are. For fans of the artists’ works, this can be the only peek they get at who that artist truly is when not creating.
Couple, Family and Group Portraits
Gather everyone you love in one place, set up a camera, and shoot beautiful photos to hang on the wall, or keep in a memory box. Capture a moment in time, with those you care about.
For couples, this can be a great way to get a glimpse of how things used to be when you’re older. That’s the great thing about portrait photography, it can sincerely be enjoyed forever. Each passing year, the memories grow fonder and deeper.
Often, these portraits will capture a happy event, like a wedding, baptism, or anniversary. Engagement photos are a super popular form of couple portraits today. This is a beautiful way of capturing that young, budding romance.
Group portraits can be a wonderful way to capture familiar faces, all in one place.
For couples, this can be a great way to get a glimpse of how things used to be when you’re older. That’s the great thing about portrait photography, it can sincerely be enjoyed forever. Each passing year, the memories grow fonder and deeper.
Often, these portraits will capture a happy event, like a wedding, baptism, or anniversary. Engagement photos are a super popular form of couple portraits today. This is a beautiful way of capturing that young, budding romance.
Group portraits can be a wonderful way to capture familiar faces, all in one place.
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We use the highest quality camera gear and understand the technology behind it. We practice and set the industry standard with every shot.
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Lighting Types for Portrait Photography
Three Point Lighting
Three-point lighting is a standard method of lighting a subject. The name is the giveaway. It is illuminating a subject from three different angles. There are three types of light in three-point lighting: key light, fill light, and back light. The key light and fill light play off each other, the key light creating shadows and the fill light filling them in from the opposite angle. The backlight lights the subject from behind, creating a distinction between the subject and the background.
Key Light
This is the primary light in three-point lighting. It is the light that creates the mood of the scene, and each light thereafter is intended to enhance, modify, or diminish its effect. The key light is usually positioned in front of and slightly to the side of the subject. The fill light is then used to fill in the shadows cast by the subject from the key light.
Fill Light
This light mirrors the key light. When a key light is used without a fill light, it creates shadows on the subject due to only being lit for one direction. The fill light, quite literally, fills in the shadows that appear on the subject. The fill light is typically less bright than the key light, and allows the artist to create a mood depending on the contrast.
Back Light
The backlight is the third and final light in three-point lighting. This light is the piece de resistance, finishing off the aesthetic of the piece. The backlight is used to create a rim of light around the subject that distinguishes them from the background. This can be subtle or overt depending on the mood the artist is aiming to create with their shot.
High-key Lighting
High-key lighting is used in scenes and subjects that have a lot of white tones and light tones. This means little to no blacks or darker tones. This makes the whites in a photograph whiter. This is used to create a happy, joyful, inspirational piece of photography. It often gives the subject a youthful and glowing appearance.
Low-key Lighting
Low key lighting is quite literally the opposite of high key lighting. It brings out the blacks and the greys, leaving out many of the brighter tones. It can make dark shadows even darker. This lends itself well to spooky, introspective, or sensual photos—depending on the subject of the portrait of course.
Butterfly Lighting
Butterfly lighting is key lighting that is placed above the subject, and at the center. Also known as paramount lighting, this technique actually casts a shadow under the subject’s nose that looks exactly like a butterfly. This type of lighting gives the subject a very glamorous vibe, and is a super flattering way to light a shot.
Lighting Equipment for Portrait Photography
Just like the photographers themselves, lighting equipment for portrait photography comes in many shapes and sizes. As with the cameras, lighting setups can be as complex or as simple as you want them to be. There is flash lighting, which is well-known by all selfie takers. A popular setup is three-point lighting, which uses three lights at different points to create unique visual effects. You can also use what’s called butterfly lighting which is taking the key light from three-point lighting, and placing it directly above the subject.
Aside from the lights themselves, there are fabrics that can be used to dampen harsh light, and mirror like objects that can be used to reflect light to produce unusual shadows. With so many different types of portrait photography, the sky is the limit as far as equipment goes. Each style having their traditional methods, and each style producing unique images.
Aside from the lights themselves, there are fabrics that can be used to dampen harsh light, and mirror like objects that can be used to reflect light to produce unusual shadows. With so many different types of portrait photography, the sky is the limit as far as equipment goes. Each style having their traditional methods, and each style producing unique images.
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Baltimore Photography was amazing to work with. Their bubbly and creative approach to our portrait photos made them that much more memorable. Not only are they professional but also so easy to work with.
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RAY & MONICA BORAZ
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