Portrait Photography
Photography is an art form. It is one of the most familiar and highly accessible art forms in the world. With a camera in hand, anyone can have that little touch of brilliance, as they capture special moments on film. Portrait photography is one of the most popular forms of photography in the world. People love to commemorate big moments with a picture. Whether it is the birth of a child, a wedding or a graduation, a portrait photographer is almost always on the guest list.

Portrait photography is also one of the oldest forms of photography. Dating back to the 1800’s, portrait photography has been around almost as long as the camera. Before the camera, portraits were created using oil paints. Although the final product was lovely, the process was painfully slow and required hours of sitting in one place. Such labor intensive efforts were also very expensive, so not very accessible to most people. The invention and popularization of the chemical camera, which was able to almost instantly capture an image on a negative was the start to the long and prestigious history of portrait photography.

Initially, it took as long as 30 seconds to capture an image on film. This long exposure time was related to the limitations of lighting. In order to make sure that the image was captured, all portraits were generally taken in a portrait studio. Although portrait photography was originally confined to the setting of a photographer’s studio, the modern portrait photographer can now practice his craft virtually anywhere. Portable lighting and reflecting equipment means that anywhere, even a forest or playground can become an instant portrait studio. It also means that it is easier than ever to become a portrait photographer.

Many colleges and art schools offer courses on photography, which can teach you the basic fundamentals of using a DSLR camera. Some camera shops even hold workshops. You may also want to ask a photographer whose work you admire if they would be willing to mentor you. Today’s digital cameras mean make it easier than ever to become a photographer. Digital media means that there is no film, no need for a darkroom and as soon as you snap the image, it is on your memory media, ready to be printed off. If you are interested in becoming a portrait photographer, visit your library and check out some books, so that you can learn more about the ins and outs of the trade.