Portrait photography is about capturing a person’s face and feelings in a picture. Many photographers have become very skilled at this. They each have their own style, making their portraits unique and memorable. Here are 30 famous portrait photographers you should know. Their work shows the beauty and emotions of people from all walks of life.
The Best Famous Portrait Photographers from History
1. Mark Mann
Location: (New York, USA)
Today’s most recognizable images attributed to Mark Mann are celebrity portraits. Hodgson’s work has graced the coating magazine covers and captured many sports, celebrity, and fashion icons.
Related Article: Fashion Photo Shoots You Must Try
2. Peter Lindbergh
Location: (Germany)
Peter Lindbergh (1944–2019) was a renowned German fashion photographer. A pioneer of black-and-white photography, he photographed the first supermodels and fully embraced their full-frontal nudity. His work changed the perception that was previously set in the fashion industry.
Related Article: Vintage Style Guide Elderly
3. Terry Richardson
Location: New York, USA
Terry Richardson is notorious for his controversial and vulgar touch on models’ parts. He works in black and white and loves controversies, becoming an essential photographer in the photography market.
Related Article: Beginner’s Guide to Portrait Photography
4. Martin Schoeller
Location: (Germany)
Martin Schoeller has made a name for himself, producing close-up portraits to the extent that individual facial features are almost entirely obscured. This has made him a sought-after photographer of celebrities and ordinary men and women worldwide.
Related Article: Photography Books for Beginners
5. Mario Testino
Location: (Peru/UK)
Mario Testino is one of the most famous fashion and portrait photographers. His suave boardroom look has appeared in videos for Vogue and Vanity Fair. He has also photographed royalty, stars, and models.
Related Article: Photographers to Watch in 2024
6. Olga Gurton
Location: (Russia)
Olga Gurton also filmed the women in a dreamy, soft style most are portrayed in a feminine light. She is interested in beauty, elegance, and emotion.
Related Article: Canadian Nature Photographer Tips
7. David LaChapelle
David LaChapelle was born in 1971 in Los Angeles, USA. David LaChapelle’s images are highly energetic and hyper-realistic, often containing a distinct element of popular culture. He does not use standard photography techniques but incorporates art features, producing sharp and outstanding images.
Related Article: Engagement Photographers in Melbourne
8. Lorenzo Agius
Location: (London, UK)
Lorenzo Agius is famous for taking glamorous pictures of Hollywood celebrations. His work froze people in their natural state, in a rather casual mood, at times playful, and mostly shot against exciting backgrounds.
Related Article: Macro Nature Photography Techniques
9. Kenneth Willardt
Location: (New York, USA/Denmark)
Kenneth Willardt mixes fashion and portrait photography and creates brilliant and meaningful pictures. They also claim that their work has been printed in the most popular magazines, and he seems to have a vivid approach to shooting.
Related Article: Photoshoot Ideas & Tips for Filipino Parents
10. Corbin Gurkin
Location: (Charleston, USA)
Corbin Gurkin is a specialist in portraits and wedding photography. Her style is tender and pretty, and her pictures make you recall the feelings and emotions of her models.
Related Article: Birthday Photoshoot Ideas for Adults
11. Olivia Rae James
Olivia Rae James is a talented Charleston-born and raised model in the United States of America. Olivia Rae James’ portraits always have an audience haze, a famous haze. Payette shoots with natural lighting and takes candids that depict a raw emotion behind them.
Related Article: Wedding Photographers in the USA
12. Steve McCurry
Location: (New York, USA)
Steve McCurry is a photojournalist who has traveled worldwide and taken a world-famous picture of an Afghan girl. Most of his portraits focus on people in the tropics, their stories being told by their eyes.
Related Article: Wedding Party You Need to Take
13. Jimmy Nelson
Location: (UK)
This is about Jimmy Nelson, who has toured the world with his camera, capturing pictures of local people. He works mainly on photo recording of nearly extinct cultures and traditions.
Related Article: Guide to Still Life Photography
14. Rehahn
Location: (France/Vietnam)
Rehahn portrays the souls of the Vietnamese people and the inhabitants of other nations. His portraits then erupt with emotions and, most times, can be used to tell the history of the person portrayed.
Related Article: Couple Maternity Photoshoot Ideas
15. A. Rajani
Location: (India)
This is a profile of Rajani, an Independent professional portrait photographer from India. He concerns himself with portraying his subject’s presumably mundane reality and personalities.
Related Article: Challenges in Photography and Videography
16. Sasha Arutyunova
Location: (Moscow, Russia/New York, USA)
This term applies to many portrait photographers widely recognized for their fashion photography. They are usually used in fashion magazines to display the beauty of models in the latest fashion.
17. Connor Hibbs
Location: (Colorado, USA)
Connor Hibbs’s primary focus is business headshots and portraits. His work is neat, tidy, professional, and perfect for someone who wants his best features captured on camera.
Related Article: Creative Hair Photography
18. Eric Lafforgue
Location: (France)
In his performative project, Eric Lafforgue searches for talents from different cultures. To borrow the words from one of the read posts, his images are about strength, wonder, and existence.
Related Article: Guide to Taking Great Ocean Pictures
19. Charlie Octavia
Location: (London, UK)
Charlie Octavia’s photographs bring a natural and majestic touch through intimacy. She prefers to shoot during dawn and dyes or use window light, producing a nostalgic look in her photos.
20. Anna Leibovitz
Location: (New York, USA)
Annie Leibovitz has been one of her generation’s most popular portrait photographers. She paints famous personalities and has left an indelible mark on society due to her work, which captures the true nature of the people she works with.
Related Article: Aspen Tree Photography
21. Manny Librodo
Location: Philippines/Thailand
Manny Librodo’s portraits are bright and rich in colors, most depicted against beautiful backgrounds. His specialties are fashion, fine art, and portrait photography.
22. Lisa Kristine
Location: ( California, USA)
Lisa Kristine has become famous for her strong stories. She photographs human suffering and different cultures. Her work portrays the pride and soul of the people she portrays.
23. David Lazar
Location: (Australia)
This captures the essence of the cultures of a place and people, according to portraits produced by David Lazar. This is because he creates spectacular, bright photos with the help of natural light.
24. Antonin Kratochvil & Czech Republic
In this category, we have selected to present only two photographers, one of whom is Antonin Kratochvil, a photographer from the Czech Republic living in the USA.
The type of photography that Antonin Kratochvil produces is realistic and edgy. Most of his portraits depict passion and passion deeply. In addition to doing detailed, fine art portraits, he is noted for being a photojournalist, capturing people in extremes.
25. Joe McNally
Location: (New York, USA)
Joe McNally is a professional portrait photographer for National Geographic and several other magazines and brands. His portraits are moving, and the contrast is perfectly balanced here.
Related Article: Tips for Better Food Photography
26. Sasha Arutyunova
Sasha Arutyunova (born in Moscow, Russia, and is now living in New York, USA).
Sasha Arutyunova’s portraits are usually well-expressed, and her works are generally good. She effectively uses lighting and composition and has a style of her own. She paints beauty and emotion.
27. Justin Hogan
Location: (Canada)
Justin Hogan has been photographing life surrounded by elements, capturing portraits using natural light and locations that promote a warm atmosphere.
Related Article: High Desert Photography
28. Zhang Jingna
Location: (Beijing, China/USA)
Ethiopian-born and raised Zhang Jingna captures a blend of fine art and portrait photography that feels dreamy. Her work carries the cinematic, and she does portrayism.
29. Brett Harkness
Location: (UK)
Sajeektivity is Brett Harkness’s official website, where he offers his diverse portrait photography services, including wedding photography, engagement photography, lifestyle photography, and more. He has a simple and conservative style, and his approach to moment shooting seems close to reality.
Related Article: How to Photograph Waterfalls
30. Brian Ingram
Location: (USA)
Brian Ingram mainly shoots editorial and lifestyle portraits. His photos are usually dramatic and have an element of gloss and glare, making them easily memorable.
These photographers have contributed much to the portrait photography category, introducing new perceptions and creativity. They have embraced the elegance, variety, and passion of individuals of any age, starting from childhood.
10 Camera Settings & Equipment Tips for Portrait Photography
- ADJUST YOUR aperture to WIDE (from f/1.8 to f/2.8)
Aperture determines the depth of field—more or less of it. A larger number produces less depth, meaning the background is less distinct, and the subject becomes more prominent. This effect is substantial when focusing on the subject’s face and eyes.
- Choose the Right Lens (50mm or 85mm)
A lens brighter than the standard lens, such as fifty or eighty-five prime lenses, is ideal for portrait photographs. They give a clear image with an excellent blurred background and retain a perspective look.
- Adjust the ISO Setting
Your ISO must be set to its lowest (for example, ISO 100-400) to avoid noise that degrades the quality of photos. Adjust the ISO to optimize lighting in low light, but don’t overdo it to prevent low-quality images.
- Use a Fast Shutter Speed
The shutter speed should be at least 1/125 of a second or faster to prevent a blurry image caused by the movement of either the camera or the subject. Alternatively, increase the speed for any photographic session involving children or moving objects.
- Focus on the Eyes
Stay tuned to the eyes of the subject because they are the best point of focus in a portrait. Initialized Initialized Fixed Single Point AF to make the eyes of the face and the subject clear and well-focused.
- Utilize Natural Light
Natural light is perfect and can be collected during the morning or evening, the so-called golden hour. Ensure your subject faces the light to avoid overexposing some parts of the image.
- Use a Reflector
A reflector assists in lighting up areas hidden from your subject’s face, making the lighting even. It is just a part of a gadget that can help, especially outdoors or natural light.
- Shoot in RAW Format
Shooting in RAW collects more information, which means you have more control over what final image you want. You can permanently eliminate exposure or modify the colour and other parameters while keeping the image with no quality loss.
- Try Out New Views
It is advisable to examine the matter from different viewpoints and elevation levels. If you take the picture from above at a slight angle, you will get a slimming look; however, shooting the photo straight on you would enhance the subject’s facial features.
- Use a Tripod and Remote Shutter
A tripod is recommended to achieve maximum stability, particularly at night, when taking shots with wider apertures or requiring more prolonged exposure. The remote shutter also helps avoid camera movement, thus making it easier to take more explicit photos.
If you follow the above tips and change the settings on your camera, you can make beautiful, professional images.
Final Words
These portrait photographers are some of the best in the world. They took pictures that showed more than faces – they captured feelings and stories. From old black-and-white photos to colorful ones, each photographer has their style. Their work helps us understand how particular people are. We can learn how to see others differently and feel connected to them by looking at their pictures.
I hope you enjoyed it. I’d love to know which portrait photographers you include on your list of ‘the best’ – please let us know in the comments below!
