Portrait Photography for Sale

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Anima Portrait #4, George Mayer

Anima Portrait #4

George Mayer

Photography - 39.37 x 27.55 x 0.1 inch

$3,000

Photographie de Marilyn par Bert Stern, Bert Stern

Photographie de Marilyn par Bert Stern

Bert Stern

Photography - 27.2 x 25.6 x 0.4 inch

$5,359

Miroir d'Elle, Tanguy Mendrisse

Miroir d'Elle

Tanguy Mendrisse

Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$197

The Hat Piece, Malick Kebe

The Hat Piece

Malick Kebe

Photography - 29.5 x 21.7 x 0.2 inch

$984

Medusa, Elvira Carrasco

Medusa

Elvira Carrasco

Photography - 39.4 x 29.1 x 0.4 inch

$3,555

Throat of a Rose, Hollie Miller

Throat of a Rose

Hollie Miller

Photography - 13.9 x 23.4 x 0.1 inch

$1,531

Into the flow, Dasha Pears

Into the flow

Dasha Pears

Photography - 29.1 x 39.4 x 0 inch

$1,619

Shame and Pride, Geert Lemmers

Shame and Pride

Geert Lemmers

Photography - 32 x 39 x 1 inch

$1,197

The Show Begins…, Grzegorz Sikorski

The Show Begins…

Grzegorz Sikorski

Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$230

Hermitage, Cecilia Paredes

Hermitage

Cecilia Paredes

Photography - 26 x 18.1 x 0.4 inch

$7,000

Barbara, Tony Frank

Barbara

Tony Frank

Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch

$1,422

La tristeza, James Sparshatt

La tristeza

James Sparshatt

Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$745

255. Bacon, Bernard Pras

255. Bacon

Bernard Pras

Photography - 41.7 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch

$5,469

Serge Gainsbourg, Jacques  Benaroch

Serge Gainsbourg

Jacques Benaroch

Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

$1,750

Fernandel  / Paris Match, Walter Carone

Fernandel / Paris Match

Walter Carone

Photography - 19.7 x 29.5 x 0 inch

$1,750

Quentin Tarantino et Uma Thurman photographie, Stephane Hubert

Quentin Tarantino et Uma Thurman photographie

Stephane Hubert

Photography - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$656

La montée des eaux (2), Fabienne Cresens

La montée des eaux (2)

Fabienne Cresens

Photography - 39.4 x 39.4 inch

$1,203

Caballeros de Oro, Ricky Cohete

Caballeros de Oro

Ricky Cohete

Photography - 24 x 36 x 0.1 inch

$4,000

Manhattan girl, Fabien Novarino

Manhattan girl

Fabien Novarino

Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$875

Tina Turner à Paris Planche contact, Georges Ghighi-Bonnin

Tina Turner à Paris Planche contact

Georges Ghighi-Bonnin

Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$656

Sans titre, Momentum

Sans titre

Momentum

Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

$547

La Froideur de l'Hiems 2, Ella Elijah

La Froideur de l'Hiems 2

Ella Elijah

Photography - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch

$569

Moroccan pool, Guilhem Ribart

Moroccan pool

Guilhem Ribart

Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,094

Darknees 1, Cécile Baldewyns

Darknees 1

Cécile Baldewyns

Photography - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

$1,094

Behind myself (1), O'kiins Howara

Behind myself (1)

O'kiins Howara

Photography - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch

$930

Godard, Karina / Paris Match, Jack Garofalo

Godard, Karina / Paris Match

Jack Garofalo

Photography - 20.9 x 31.5 x 0 inch

$1,750

Deneuve / Paris Match, Philippe Le Tellier

Deneuve / Paris Match

Philippe Le Tellier

Photography - 31.5 x 20.9 x 0 inch

$1,750

Manhattan Cliché, Michael K. Yamaoka

Manhattan Cliché

Michael K. Yamaoka

Photography - 36 x 24 x 0.1 inch

$4,922

The Beatles / Paris Match, André Lefebvre

The Beatles / Paris Match

André Lefebvre

Photography - 20.9 x 31.5 x 0 inch

$1,750

Bardot - Caron / Paris Match, Michou Simon

Bardot - Caron / Paris Match

Michou Simon

Photography - 19.7 x 29.5 x 0 inch

$1,750

Nomad, Lucy Besson

Nomad

Lucy Besson

Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

$1,422

Marilyn Relaxes in A Hotel Room, Ed Feingersh

Marilyn Relaxes in A Hotel Room

Ed Feingersh

Photography - 29.9 x 20.1 x 0 inch

$864

Belmondo  / Paris Match (1), Gragnon François

Belmondo / Paris Match (1)

Gragnon François

Photography - 29.5 x 19.7 x 0 inch

$1,750

A l’est rien de nouveau, Fermet et Faton

A l’est rien de nouveau

Fermet et Faton

Photography - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0.4 inch

$1,094

2153, Salvatore Arnone

2153

Salvatore Arnone

Photography - 35.4 x 27.5 x 0.1 inch

$2,390

Verse, Yevgeniy Repiashenko

Verse

Yevgeniy Repiashenko

Photography - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0 inch

$1,209

Jesus loves you, Nashville, TN, USA, David Tesinsky

Jesus loves you, Nashville, TN, USA

David Tesinsky

Photography - 7.4 x 11 inch

$273

Dietrich / Paris Match, Paul Slade

Dietrich / Paris Match

Paul Slade

Photography - 31.5 x 20.9 x 0 inch

$1,750

Hardy / Paris Match, Gérard Gery

Hardy / Paris Match

Gérard Gery

Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch

$656

Y, From the series Lous and The Yakuza, Hunter & Gatti

Y, From the series Lous and The Yakuza

Hunter & Gatti

Photography - 20.6 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$3,000

Nick Cave Portrait, Detlev Schneider

Nick Cave Portrait

Detlev Schneider

Photography - 43.7 x 35.4 x 0.4 inch

$5,141

The fire guard, Vilma Leino

The fire guard

Vilma Leino

Photography - 16.9 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

$339

After Rossetti, Richard Dunkley

After Rossetti

Richard Dunkley

Photography - 20 x 16 x 0.5 inch

$495

Un peu de rouge pourtant, Nicolas Claris

Un peu de rouge pourtant

Nicolas Claris

Photography - 29.5 x 19.7 inch

$1,203

C918 - 21, Stephane Charpentier

C918 - 21

Stephane Charpentier

Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch

$1,750

Gabrielle Coco Chanel (Silver Gelatin Print), Horst P. Horst

Gabrielle Coco Chanel (Silver Gelatin Print)

Horst P. Horst

Photography - 9.1 x 9.1 x 0.1 inch

$18,000

Chuck Berry. Alabama. Octobre 1965, Jean-Marie Périer

Chuck Berry. Alabama. Octobre 1965

Jean-Marie Périer

Photography - 9.8 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$1,641

Expansión, Javier Artica

Expansión

Javier Artica

Photography - 11.6 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

$492

David Bowie Planche contact, Mousse

David Bowie Planche contact

Mousse

Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$820

1%, Samuel Cueto

1%

Samuel Cueto

Photography - 47.2 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch

$8,750

Roadster, Franck Leclerc

Roadster

Franck Leclerc

Photography - 13 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

$755

Alain Delon et Jean Paul Belmondo, Serge Benhamou

Alain Delon et Jean Paul Belmondo

Serge Benhamou

Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$656

Tom Cruise à Paris Planche contact, Pierre Suu

Tom Cruise à Paris Planche contact

Pierre Suu

Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$711

Karl Lagerfeld à Saint Tropez Planche contact, Serge Arnal

Karl Lagerfeld à Saint Tropez Planche contact

Serge Arnal

Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$711

Girl Standing with Oars, Tony Potts

Girl Standing with Oars

Tony Potts

Photography - 22 x 16 inch

$1,900

Selfie @ Altitude - Belgium, Stefan Darte

Selfie @ Altitude - Belgium

Stefan Darte

Photography - 16.5 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

$1,608

Johnny Hallyday et Dalida, Didier Sibileau

Johnny Hallyday et Dalida

Didier Sibileau

Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$656

Bowie, Laurent Durrey

Bowie

Laurent Durrey

Photography - 39.8 x 28.7 x 1.2 inch

$3,281

Godard, Karina / Paris Match, Jean-Claude Sauer

Godard, Karina / Paris Match

Jean-Claude Sauer

Photography - 20.9 x 31.5 x 0 inch

$656

Chirac, 1967 / Paris Match, Patrice Habans

Chirac, 1967 / Paris Match

Patrice Habans

Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$1,312

Sedmokraska, Mária Švarbová

Sedmokraska

Mária Švarbová

Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

$1,750

Les invisibles, La Plage, Calais, Aglaé Bory

Les invisibles, La Plage, Calais

Aglaé Bory

Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch

$766

Stigmates Oeuvre 1, Joseph Caprio

Stigmates Oeuvre 1

Joseph Caprio

Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$831

Seven, Isabelle Floch

Seven

Isabelle Floch

Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 inch

$2,734

Squirting champagne, Lagoon of Orbetello, Marco Tenaglia

Squirting champagne, Lagoon of Orbetello

Marco Tenaglia

Photography - 17.5 x 26.4 inch

$1,039

Clark Gable à Paris, René Vital

Clark Gable à Paris

René Vital

Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

$766

Attente, Eden

Attente

Eden

Photography - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.1 inch

$3,817

Memory insect 3, Shilpa Joglekar

Memory insect 3

Shilpa Joglekar

Photography - 17.3 x 17.3 x 0.1 inch

$766

Danse du vice, Iconographia

Danse du vice

Iconographia

Photography - 8.7 x 5.9 inch

Sold

Dear Frida, Harry Fayt

Dear Frida

Harry Fayt

Photography - 47.2 x 31.5 x 0.2 inch

$4,594

Right-eye Rita, Vesna Jovanovic

Right-eye Rita

Vesna Jovanovic

Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

$656

Last Paradise I, Nathan Brusovani

Last Paradise I

Nathan Brusovani

Photography - 40.2 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

$766

Piece J, Robin Ek

Piece J

Robin Ek

Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 inch

$432

Pina Bausch, Thomas Dellert

Pina Bausch

Thomas Dellert

Photography - 27.6 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch

$4,156

A corps ouvert, Daria Nelson

A corps ouvert

Daria Nelson

Photography - 4.1 x 3.3 x 0 inch

$437

Hassan Hajjaj, Hassan Hajjaj

Hassan Hajjaj

Hassan Hajjaj

Photography - 12.6 x 8.7 x 0.1 inch

$197

Chiara Slewett, Rio de Janeiro, 2005 +  "I Love You" édition collector, Mario Testino

Chiara Slewett, Rio de Janeiro, 2005 + "I Love You" édition collector

Mario Testino

Photography - 16 x 12 x 0.4 inch

$5,141

Blue Monday, Hel, Poland, Lukasz Spychala

Blue Monday, Hel, Poland

Lukasz Spychala

Photography - 7.9 x 7.9 inch

$328

Warrior of compassion, Punta Valdes, Argentina, Veronica Barbatano

Warrior of compassion, Punta Valdes, Argentina

Veronica Barbatano

Photography - 4 x 11 inch

$273

Ruffle season Palm Springs CA, Photograph, Archival Ink Jet, William Dey

Ruffle season Palm Springs CA, Photograph, Archival Ink Jet

William Dey

Photography - 20 x 15 x 0.1 inch

$525

Blond in Dior, Cécile Plaisance

Blond in Dior

Cécile Plaisance

Photography - 27.6 x 22.4 x 1.6 inch

$9,570

Rembeka, Thandiwe Muriu

Rembeka

Thandiwe Muriu

Photography - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$7,656

Rouge sur Blanc, Charlotte Abramow

Rouge sur Blanc

Charlotte Abramow

Photography - 3.9 x 5.9 inch

$656

Welcome On Board Deluxe, Philippe Shangti

Welcome On Board Deluxe

Philippe Shangti

Photography - 35.4 x 35.4 x 0.4 inch

$16,406

You are one in a melon 1, Derrick Ofosu Boateng

You are one in a melon 1

Derrick Ofosu Boateng

Photography - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

$3,828

Untitled Portrait of Female, Man Ray

Untitled Portrait of Female

Man Ray

Photography - 10.13 x 10.25 inch

$3,000

Mick Jagger "le poing" Londres, Pierre Terrasson

Mick Jagger "le poing" Londres

Pierre Terrasson

Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 inch

$1,094

Maud, Théo Gosselin

Maud

Théo Gosselin

Photography - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$2,406

Aria, Claude Guillaumin

Aria

Claude Guillaumin

Photography - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

$1,859

The Lovers then and Now, Feng Kaixuan

The Lovers then and Now

Feng Kaixuan

Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$1,728

Occult Games #2, Léa Bon

Occult Games #2

Léa Bon

Photography - 29.53 x 19.68 x 0.1 inch

$1,000

Untitled 24 (NY), Arslan Sükan

Untitled 24 (NY)

Arslan Sükan

Photography - 31.5 x 44.1 x 0 inch

$2,500

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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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.