Portrait Photography for Sale

In the 1830s, Nièpce discovered the process for setting images onto pewter plates. In 1833, upon Nièpce's death, Louis Daguerre and François Arago continued his experiments and invented the daguerreotype, a process which created a printed image on a silver plate that had been exposed to light. Photography was born.

Similarly to how portrait painting had dominated artistic output in previous centuries, portrait photography was to become the pillar of the Second French Empire's photographic industry. Lenses with a shorter focal length, which enabled reduced exposure times, gradually appear on the market. The required equipment was expensive and difficult to handle. Some photographers, called daguerreotypists, decided to open their own photography studios to make a profit from their endeavours. The daguerreotype process was temperamental, and photographers had to take their pictures with great precision and attention to detail. They welcomed many people into their studios and customers choose how they wished to be photographed from catalogue of poses. Originally only accessible to the bourgeoisie, lower prices resulting from the growing number of studios eventually attracted a wider customer base. This phenomenon infuriated the poet Charles Baudelaire who was frustrated by the sense of narcissism sparked by the daguerreotypists.

Despite his protests, the egotistical trend only grew with the emergence of 'carte de visite' portraits (small photographs, the size of today's business cards). These were the brainchild of Adolphe Eugène Disdéri came up with the idea of producing portraits akin to visiting cards in 1859. He printed eight portraits in a variety of poses onto a single plate and once developed they could be cut up into eight distinct “visiting cards". Very popular with the bourgeoisie, they highlighted the sitters' social status. 'Carte de visite' portraits featuring celebrities were also sold to customers, who could subsequently add them to their albums.

The photographer Nadar was one of the first to demonstrate a conscious artistic approach to producing these portraits. He emphasised facial expressions and ensured the sitter was comfortable and at ease before taking the photograph. He photographed the era's greatest thinkers and artists, including Honoré de Balzac, George Sand, and Victor Hugo. He even managed to reconcile Baudelaire with portraiture.

At the end of the 19th century, the art of photography started to enter the mainstream, with the arrival of the Kodak company. The use of the camera, and the taking of portraits, became everyday occurrences. A century later, it was the invention of the digital camera which challenged the status quo. Whereas before alterations could only be made to photographs when they were being taken or developed, with the digital camera editing became easier, quicker and more convenient. Digital photography has given photographers much more freedom when it comes to editing and new methods and techniques are constantly being explored.

Some of the photographers who have left their mark on the last century include: Cindy Sherman, who excelled in self-portraits, Annie Leibovitz, who captured celebrities, the wacky duo, Pierre and Gilles, as well as Diane Arbus, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton and Bettina Rheims.

So, do portraits help us to learn more about each other, to remember, to invent, to act, or to reconnect with ourselves? Find out on Artsper, by exploring the works of Formento & Formento, Naomi Vona, Ahmed Bennani, Chou Ching Hui, Samuel CuetoBrno del ZouRen Hang, Markus + Indrani, Jerome Liebling as well as Annina Roescheisen.

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Photography, Pola Molitor, Gil Rigoulet

Pola Molitor

Gil Rigoulet

Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.02 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$2,480

Photography, Elan, Yevgeniy Repiashenko

Elan

Yevgeniy Repiashenko

Photography - 120 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0 inch

$2,954

Photography, Perle Noire, Regis Duvignau

Perle Noire

Regis Duvignau

Photography - 76 x 115 x 1 cm Photography - 29.9 x 45.3 x 0.4 inch

$812

Photography, Reflections, Clara Diebler

Reflections

Clara Diebler

Photography - 90 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0 inch

$1,353

Photography, The Harpy, Deborah Zuanazzi

The Harpy

Deborah Zuanazzi

Photography - 60 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0 inch

$1,353

Photography, Portrait #6, D-A Woisard

Portrait #6

D-A Woisard

Photography - 50 x 40 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 inch

$902

Photography, Kashi, John Kenny

Kashi

John Kenny

Photography - 67 x 45 x 2 cm Photography - 26.4 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,548

Photography, Untitled, Ebuka Michael

Untitled

Ebuka Michael

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$908

Photography, Le guide, Gérard Rancinan

Le guide

Gérard Rancinan

Photography - 125 x 125 x 1.5 cm Photography - 49.2 x 49.2 x 0.6 inch

$22,549

Photography, Black Oil 3, Andrea Zvadova

Black Oil 3

Andrea Zvadova

Photography - 64 x 49 x 0.1 cm Photography - 25.2 x 19.3 x 0 inch

$789

Photography, True legends, James Chiew

True legends

James Chiew

Photography - 100 x 200 x 2 cm Photography - 39.4 x 78.7 x 0.8 inch

$2,819

Photography, Warrior Bride, AJ Barnes

Warrior Bride

AJ Barnes

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 cm Photography - 20 x 16 inch

$987

Photography, Rosas, Charlotte Skurzak

Rosas

Charlotte Skurzak

Photography - 72 x 60 x 0.01 cm Photography - 28.3 x 23.6 x 0 inch

$846

Photography, Les Moais, Aurélie Trabaud

Les Moais

Aurélie Trabaud

Photography - 29.3 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.5 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$124

Photography, Luna, YouNs

Luna

YouNs

Photography - 254 x 254 x 12.7 cm Photography - 100 x 100 x 5 inch

$8,456

Photography, Les Amies, Dasha & Mari

Les Amies

Dasha & Mari

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 cm Photography - 20 x 16 inch

$902 $676

Photography, Neorupestres, Martí Sala

Neorupestres

Martí Sala

Photography - 30 x 40 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

$902

Photography, Kutubu Klan, Wylda Bayrón

Kutubu Klan

Wylda Bayrón

Photography - 60 x 90 x 4 cm Photography - 23.6 x 35.4 x 1.6 inch

$3,946

Photography, Dolce Vita, Yves Hayat

Dolce Vita

Yves Hayat

Photography - 24 x 36 cm Photography - 9.4 x 14.2 inch

$2,480

Photography, I Love I 2, John Yuyi

I Love I 2

John Yuyi

Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.35 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$1,353

Photography, Sail, Oriane Brune

Sail

Oriane Brune

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.2 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

$902

Photography, Strike a Pose, Harley

Strike a Pose

Harley

Photography - 180 x 120 x 2 cm Photography - 70.9 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

$2,819

Photography, DeliRiUs, Louis Blanc

DeliRiUs

Louis Blanc

Photography - 70 x 70 x 0.1 cm Photography - 27.6 x 27.6 x 0 inch

$1,973

Photography, Blue Blondie, Mick Rock

Blue Blondie

Mick Rock

Photography - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$2,227

Photography, Björk, Renaud Monfourny

Björk

Renaud Monfourny

Photography - 40 x 30 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 inch

$1,691

Photography, New York, Lisa Tomasetti

New York

Lisa Tomasetti

Photography - 58 x 70 x 1 cm Photography - 22.8 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch

$3,946

Photography, Joie version 2, Joël Moens

Joie version 2

Joël Moens

Photography - 110 x 110 x 2 cm Photography - 43.3 x 43.3 x 0.8 inch

$3,608

Photography, Magic Yayoi, Marie Serruya

Magic Yayoi

Marie Serruya

Photography - 29 x 21 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.4 x 8.3 x 0 inch

$152

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Need help with Portrait Photography ?
What makes a portrait photograph?

A portrait photograph can be a photograph of a person's head and shoulders, but it can also be of an animal or of a different section of the subject's body such as their feet. Portrait photographs in art often tell or hint something about its subject to the viewer, such as an aspect of their personality, but still contain an element of mystery. 

What are the three major types of portrait photography?

The three major types of portrait photography are posed portraits, candid or anonymous portraits, and conceptual portraits. The last type, conceptual or creative portraits, can be experimental and abstract, and may not represent an image close to a traditional portrait.

What are the six styles of portrait photography?

The six main types of portrait photography are fine art portraits, traditional portraits (for example posed portraits taken at school), lifestyle portraits, group portraits, street portraits and glamour portraits.