Portrait photography, also known as portraiture, is a type of photography that aims to capture the personality, identity, and essence of a person or group of people by using effective lighting, backdrops, and poses. The goal is to convey something about the subjects identity, personality, or story. Portraits can be artistic or clinical, and they can serve many purposes, ranging from usage on a personal website to display in the lobby of a business.

Portrait photography can take a wide range of forms and be done in an endless variety of styles. There are many different techniques for portrait photography, and often it is desirable to capture the subjects eyes and face in sharp focus while allowing other less important elements to be rendered in a soft focus. Headshots have become a popular style within portrait photography, particularly in the entertainment industry, where they are commonly used to showcase an actors or models facial features and expressions.

There are essentially four approaches that can be taken in photographic portraiture: the constructionist, environmental, candid, and creative approach. The constructionist approach is when the photographer constructs an idea around the subject, and it is the approach used in most studio and social photography. The environmental approach involves photographing the subject in their natural environment, such as their home or workplace. The candid approach involves capturing the subject in an unposed, spontaneous moment. The creative approach involves using various techniques, such as unusual angles or lighting, to create a unique and artistic portrait.