Picture vs. Portrait

When I talk about the photographs I take for My Beautiful Family, I refer to them as “portraits.” I always use that term, to distinguish them from “pictures.” Why do I do that? What’s the difference between a picture and a portrait?

A picture (or snapshot, another term) is a photograph that’s taken without any real planning or forethought as to color, location, lighting, and composition. In a picture, there might be extra people or random objects in the background, there could be unflattering shadows on faces, the outfits worn probably don’t harmonize, and the arrangement of people is more or less however they happen to sit or stand.

This isn’t a judgment! I love pictures and take them all the time in my personal life. Pictures capture the days of our lives. They freeze precious moments in time and help preserve memories.

But a professional “portrait” is a more deliberate creation. It is carefully planned to follow an artistic vision and to be a more ideal representation. When a photographer creates a portrait, he or she intentionally omits distracting details that take away from the subject. Lighting and exposure are carefully controlled. Colors are coordinated to be complementary and to help set the mood. Angle and position are used to help everyone look their best. And composition is employed to bring out the emotional connection between family members.

Portraits are also carefully processed after they’re taken. The photographer pores over the image on the computer screen, making decisions and employing various skills to get the portrait “just so.”

When I deliver a finished portrait to a family, my goal is to give them a piece of art that tells the story of their “beautiful family,” is suitable for framing, and is worthy of being displayed in a place of honor in their home.