From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia Portrait
photography (also known as portraiture) is the capture by means
of photography of the likeness of a person or a small group of
people, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The
objective is to display the likeness, personality, and even the
mood of the person. Like other types of portraiture, the focus
of the photograph is the person's face, although the entire body
and the background may be included. A portrait is generally not
a snapshot, but a composed image of a person in a still
position. A portrait often shows a person looking directly at
the camera. Unlike many other styles of photography, the
subjects of portrait photography are non-professional models.
Many family portraits and photographs that commemorate special
occasions, such as graduations or weddings, are professionally
produced and hang in private homes. Most portraits are not
intended for public exhibition. Portrait photography has been
around since the invention and popula