1. “Portraiture is a window to the soul”
Portrait Photography
“A portrait! What could be more simple and more complex, more obvious and more profound.” - Charles Baudelaire
“Portraiture is a window to the soul”
Holding Virgina - Sally Mann

2. Types of Portraits
When we speak of portrait photography in general terms there's a tendency to overlook the sub-categories. From the strictly formal to the candid street shot. Here is a range of the more common types of portrait photography.
Candid
Posed
Formal
Couple
Environmental
Sporting
Children
Group

3. Candid
un-posed and
unplanned photo 

4. Posed
Communication between photographer and the subject about the body position and expression

5. Formal
Communication between photographer and the subject regarding clothing, location, style and mood

6. Couple Interpretation of a relationship between two people
Hiroshima, August of 1945

7. Small Group
Interpretation of a common bond between members of a group

8. Environmental
An environmental portrait shows the subject(s) in their own territory.

9. Sporting
shows the subject with their uniform, equipment in their sporting environment.
The important factor is to let the equipment and location tell part of the story.

10. Children

11. Portrait Tips Choosing the Right Background Focus on the Eyes
Lighting, Lighting and more Lighting
Change the Format Framing
Alter Your Perspective
Experiment with Subject Expressions
“Play” with focus
Give Your Subject Space to Look Into
Reflection & Shadow
Movement
Get serious

12. Choosing the Right Background

13. Focus on the Eyes
“the eyes are the window to the soul”

14. Lighting, Lighting and more Lighting
Lighting is the most important element in any photo composition and sets the mood, feeling and character of your photo.

15. Change the Format Framing
Mix your framing

16. Alter Your Perspective
completely change the angle that you shoot from

17. Experiment with Subject Expressions

18. Same shot+different focus =different story

19. (UN)Focus
It adds some mystery to the image

20. Give Your Subject Space to Look Into

21. Reflection & Shadow

22. Movement
Use movement to show action, even if it blurs out the subject entirely.

23. Get serious
Not all portraits need to have a smile, capture the serious emotions too

24. but not too serious….