Headshot or Portrait?

Having taken headshots at one of my favorite clients this past week, AC Power, the question above came back to me. The photographs here are from previous jobs and none of them were chosen for the respective company websites, though they could have been. The three individuals did request prints.

I guess, technically speaking, every time you take a photograph of a person it is a portrait of sorts. But we make distinctions in our minds. “Portrait” seems to indicate something more creative, artistic; a deeper capturing of who the person is. “Headshot” seems to immediately denote a more utilitarian photograph.

Many photographers say that a headshot could be, and may be a portrait, but a portrait is not necessarily a headshot, or suitable to use as one.

The line can be blurred even more with headshots of actors, musicians, entertainers. They ask for and expect more creativity, a more artistic approach. “Corporate” headshots, to be used for branding, marketing, or identifying an individual in the marketplace, are traditionally a more classic head and shoulders image with the subject looking directly at the camera. Though in recent years “corporate” headshots are, in many cases, getting more creative and less “traditional.”

As you can see, I have the two different galleries on my site. On some headshot assignments I’ve been inspired by an individual to try and captured an image that I consider a “portrait.” In fact you will occasionally see images of the same person in both galleries. As mentioned sometimes an image qualifies as both.

I may not be the best judge of when one of my “headshots” is a viable “portrait,” but I do know when I am taking a portrait; always hoping for a successful one.

I guess what I’m saying is, I love photographing people. Sometimes candidly, often not. During “corporate” headshot assignments, I always ask questions to get to know a person just a bit, and try to have them feel comfortable, at ease in front of the camera. On occasion I’ll ask a person to look away from the camera, to think of a favorite person, or to consider a meaningful time in their life. I may change the lighting or the angle to create a shadow to help capture a distinguishing feature, an expression; something that might help reveal a mood or thought going on inside the person.

So, I’ll keep photographing people for their headshot needs and continue trying to capture successful portraits.