Portrait Photography for Sale
Save your search and find it in your favorites
Save your search to find it quickly
Saved search
Your search is accessible from the favorites tab > My favorite searches
Unsaved search
A problem occurred
Corset, Portrait of an Equestrienne
Amrita Bilimoria
Photography - 45.7 x 34.8 x 0.5 cm Photography - 18 x 13.7 x 0.2 inch
$1,600
Shoot again (197)
Yves Cham
Photography - 60 x 45 x 0.01 cm Photography - 23.6 x 17.7 x 0 inch
$1,364
Shoot again (91)
Yves Cham
Photography - 60 x 45 x 0.01 cm Photography - 23.6 x 17.7 x 0 inch
$1,364
Johnny Depp
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 120 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0 inch
$17,052
Ecstasy of St Teresa (medium)
Jesus Torio
Photography - 84.1 x 57.7 x 0.2 cm Photography - 33.1 x 22.7 x 0.1 inch
$1,478
Into the darkness (medium)
Jesus Torio
Photography - 32.29 x 84.1 x 0.2 cm Photography - 12.7 x 33.1 x 0.1 inch
$1,478
The Dance (Sixth move) - (medium)
Jesus Torio
Photography - 59.4 x 82.3 x 0.2 cm Photography - 23.4 x 32.4 x 0.1 inch
$1,478
The Model (medium)
Jesus Torio
Photography - 59.4 x 83.16 x 0.2 cm Photography - 23.4 x 32.7 x 0.1 inch
$1,478
The Sunbathers (medium)
Jesus Torio
Photography - 59.4 x 83.1 x 0.2 cm Photography - 23.4 x 32.7 x 0.1 inch
$1,478
Red curtain (medium)
Jesus Torio
Photography - 59.4 x 78.9 x 0.2 cm Photography - 23.4 x 31.1 x 0.1 inch
$1,478
The Dance (Second move) - (medium)
Jesus Torio
Photography - 59.4 x 82.3 x 0.2 cm Photography - 23.4 x 32.4 x 0.1 inch
$1,478
Playground II (medium)
Jesus Torio
Photography - 58.3 x 84.1 x 0.2 cm Photography - 23 x 33.1 x 0.1 inch
$1,478
Playground (medium)
Jesus Torio
Photography - 58.3 x 84.1 x 0.2 cm Photography - 23 x 33.1 x 0.1 inch
$1,478
The Believer (medium)
Jesus Torio
Photography - 84.1 x 57.42 x 0.2 cm Photography - 33.1 x 22.6 x 0.1 inch
$1,478
Please, Do not Splash II (medium)
Jesus Torio
Photography - 59.11 x 84.1 x 0.2 cm Photography - 23.3 x 33.1 x 0.1 inch
$1,478
Self-Portrait (medium)
Jesus Torio
Photography - 59.4 x 80.37 x 0.2 cm Photography - 23.4 x 31.6 x 0.1 inch
$1,478
Jean-Paul Belmondo à Venise, Italie
Vittorio Pavan
Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$909
Kenya - Les Samburu & Turkana_Mont Kenya
Nadia Ferroukhi
Photography - 50 x 50 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 inch
$1,705
Kenya - Les Samburu & Turkana_Mont Kenya
Nadia Ferroukhi
Photography - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Photography - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
$2,274
Kenya - Les Samburu & Turkana_Mont Kenya
Nadia Ferroukhi
Photography - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$909
Algérie -Les Touaregs_Sahara. Tassil N'Ajjer
Nadia Ferroukhi
Photography - 50 x 75 x 2 cm Photography - 19.7 x 29.5 x 0.8 inch
$1,364
Algérie-Les Touaregs_Sahara. Tassili N'Ajjer
Nadia Ferroukhi
Photography - 50 x 75 x 2 cm Photography - 19.7 x 29.5 x 0.8 inch
$1,364
The Chemical Brothers (2001)
Kevin Westenberg
Photography - 101 x 152 cm Photography - 39.8 x 59.8 inch
$15,074
Norah Jones (2006)
Kevin Westenberg
Photography - 101 x 152 cm Photography - 39.8 x 59.8 inch
$15,074
Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II In Blue
Chris Jackson
Photography - 51 x 76 x 0.001 cm Photography - 20.1 x 29.9 x 0 inch
$1,250
Above the clouds #5
Cody Choi
Photography - 50.8 x 76.2 x 0.1 cm Photography - 20 x 30 x 0 inch
$667
Poétique Française, 25 éléments.
Pascal Therme
Photography - 80 x 65 x 0.3 cm Photography - 31.5 x 25.6 x 0.1 inch
$1,762
Pierot le fou
Pascal Therme
Photography - 50 x 60 x 0.3 cm Photography - 19.7 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch
$1,194
La Gravure selon Frédéric Ravel
Pascal Therme
Photography - 60 x 50 x 0.3 cm Photography - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
$1,307
Malangan Spirit
Wylda Bayrón
Photography - 90 x 60 x 4 cm Photography - 35.4 x 23.6 x 1.6 inch
$3,979
30's Sensuality
Tanguy Mendrisse
Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$205
African God 4
O'kiins Howara
Photography - 50 x 70 x 0.5 cm Photography - 19.7 x 27.6 x 0.2 inch
$966
Spirituality
O'kiins Howara
Photography - 70 x 50 x 0.5 cm Photography - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch
$966
Le rêveur - série oiseaux
Henry Ausloos
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$818
Untitled (5). From series: Secret Photography - Cliché Verre and Photograms
Eliška Bartek
Photography - 40 x 30 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 inch
$2,615
Julia on The Hill, Fusion 40 Éléments, Connemara, Ireland
Pascal Therme
Photography - 70 x 105 x 0.3 cm Photography - 27.6 x 41.3 x 0.1 inch
$1,648
Moving in Together (Till Death do us Part)
Stefanie Schneider
Photography - 160 x 320 x 0.1 cm Photography - 63 x 126 x 0 inch
$31,830
Galaxy brain
Leobardo Huerta
Photography - 39.4 x 31.8 x 0.3 cm Photography - 15.5 x 12.5 x 0.1 inch
$1,200
Marguerite Duras
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,297
Jacques Villeret
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,297
Les Nuls en Ripolin
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,297
Johnny Depp Hommage à Robert Mitchum dans la Nuit du chasseur
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,297
Alain Bashung à la main douce
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 60 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$2,842
Fabrice Emaer et top modèle
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 80 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0 inch
$3,297
Barman danseur
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 120 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,297
Baiser masqué
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 120 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,297
Too busy surviving to be angry
Idan Wizen
Photography - 120 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0 inch
$2,842
How do I have so many debts!
Idan Wizen
Photography - 120 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0 inch
$2,842
Don’t let me starve
Idan Wizen
Photography - 120 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0 inch
$2,842
I’m sure you did what you could
Idan Wizen
Photography - 120 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0 inch
$2,842
Masque anonyme
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 120 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,297
De dos au balcon
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 120 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,297
Baiser noir et blanc
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 120 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 47.2 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$3,297
Karl Largerfield soirée Kenzo
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 80 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0 inch
$3,297
Helmut & June Newton
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 80 x 120 x 0.1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0 inch
$4,092
Last Paradise I
Nathan Brusovani
Photography - 102 x 100 x 2 cm Photography - 40.2 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch
$1,023
Rêve imaginaire
Sabyl Ghoussoub
Photography - 100 x 100 x 1 cm Photography - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch
$1,137
Sourire Omar
Emmanuelle Barbaras
Photography - 28 x 43 x 0.2 cm Photography - 11 x 16.9 x 0.1 inch
$796
Bouche homme
Emmanuelle Barbaras
Photography - 40 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$796
Bouche femme
Emmanuelle Barbaras
Photography - 40 x 50 x 1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch
$796
Jeune touareg
Emmanuelle Barbaras
Photography - 45 x 38 x 1 cm Photography - 17.7 x 15 x 0.4 inch
$796
Above the clouds #4
Cody Choi
Photography - 50.8 x 76.2 x 0.1 cm Photography - 20 x 30 x 0 inch
$667
Above the clouds #8
Cody Choi
Photography - 50.8 x 76.2 x 0.1 cm Photography - 20 x 30 x 0 inch
$667
Above the clouds #7
Cody Choi
Photography - 50.8 x 76.2 x 0.1 cm Photography - 20 x 30 x 0 inch
$667
Girl standing by the sea
Pedro Correa
Photography - 100 x 80 x 1 cm Photography - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch
$6,707
Discover the styles & movements
Discover the selection of our experts
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 Cueto, Brno del Zou, Ren Hang, Markus + Indrani, Jerome Liebling as well as Annina Roescheisen.
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.
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.
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.