Portrait Photography for Sale

Photography, Christopher Lee, Arnaud Baumann

Christopher Lee

Arnaud Baumann

Photography - 20 x 20 x 0.1 cm

$282

Photography, Nagisa Oshima, Arnaud Baumann

Nagisa Oshima

Arnaud Baumann

Photography - 20 x 20 x 0.1 cm

$282

Photography, Béatrice Dalle, Arnaud Baumann

Béatrice Dalle

Arnaud Baumann

Photography - 20 x 20 x 0.1 cm

$282

Photography, Wim Wenders, Arnaud Baumann

Wim Wenders

Arnaud Baumann

Photography - 20 x 20 x 0.1 cm

$282

Photography, Tim Roth, Arnaud Baumann

Tim Roth

Arnaud Baumann

Photography - 20 x 20 x 0.1 cm

$282

Photography, Michel Serrault, Arnaud Baumann

Michel Serrault

Arnaud Baumann

Photography - 20 x 20 x 0.1 cm

$282

Photography, Takeshi Kitano, Arnaud Baumann

Takeshi Kitano

Arnaud Baumann

Photography - 20 x 20 x 0.1 cm

$282

Photography, Ironing hoodies, David Carey

Ironing hoodies

David Carey

Photography - 51 x 38 x 0.1 cm

$112

Photography, Viejo maestro, James Sparshatt

Viejo maestro

James Sparshatt

Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 cm

$1,976

Photography, Thom Yorke (2006), Kevin Westenberg

Thom Yorke (2006)

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 152 x 101 cm

$14,975

Photography, Madagascar, Analamanga, Mahitsy, fabrique de briques, José Nicolas

Madagascar, Analamanga, Mahitsy, fabrique de briques

José Nicolas

Photography - 40 x 40 cm

$678

Photography, Madagascar, Alaotra-Mangoro, Ambatondrazaka, son père avec ses deux garçons sur une moto chinoise, José Nicolas

Madagascar, Alaotra-Mangoro, Ambatondrazaka, son père avec ses deux garçons sur une moto chinoise

José Nicolas

Photography - 40 x 40 cm

$678

Photography, Madagascar, Analamanga, Mahitsy, hôpital de district, José Nicolas

Madagascar, Analamanga, Mahitsy, hôpital de district

José Nicolas

Photography - 40 x 40 cm

$678

Photography, Madagascar, Analamanga, mère et fils agriculteurs, José Nicolas

Madagascar, Analamanga, mère et fils agriculteurs

José Nicolas

Photography - 40 x 40 cm

$678

Photography, Madagascar, Alaotra-Mangoro, Vodiala, garagiste, José Nicolas

Madagascar, Alaotra-Mangoro, Vodiala, garagiste

José Nicolas

Photography - 40 x 40 cm

$678

Photography, Madagascar, Alaotra-Mangoro, Manganaro, enfants à la paroisse protestante du village, José Nicolas

Madagascar, Alaotra-Mangoro, Manganaro, enfants à la paroisse protestante du village

José Nicolas

Photography - 40 x 40 cm

$678

Photography, OMO: Untitled 44, Drew Doggett

OMO: Untitled 44

Drew Doggett

Photography - 68.6 x 50.8 x 0.3 cm

$1,650

Photography, OMO: Untitled 9, Drew Doggett

OMO: Untitled 9

Drew Doggett

Photography - 45.7 x 68.6 x 0.3 cm

$1,650

Photography, Warrior Embellished, Drew Doggett

Warrior Embellished

Drew Doggett

Photography - 68.6 x 45.7 x 0.3 cm

$1,650

Photography, Maiden of Tsonga, James Sparshatt

Maiden of Tsonga

James Sparshatt

Photography - 40 x 50 cm

$785

Photography, Hausa and Fula cultures collide, John Kenny

Hausa and Fula cultures collide

John Kenny

Photography - 67 x 45 x 2 cm

$1,646

Photography, El Revolucionario, James Sparshatt

El Revolucionario

James Sparshatt

Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm

$1,047

Photography, Mèche rouge, Pierre Boillon

Mèche rouge

Pierre Boillon

Photography - 42 x 42 x 3 cm

$429

Photography, Be gentle with my baby, David Carey

Be gentle with my baby

David Carey

Photography - 46 x 23 x 0.1 cm

$112

Photography, St Tropez Garden, Slim Aarons

St Tropez Garden

Slim Aarons

Photography - 50.8 x 76.2 cm

$2,993

Photography, Iggy Pop - La Villette 86, Pierre Terrasson

Iggy Pop - La Villette 86

Pierre Terrasson

Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm

$1,581

Photography, The Face, John Yuyi

The Face

John Yuyi

Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.33 cm

$1,355

Photography, Woman With the Head of Roses by Dali, Viktorija Pashuta

Woman With the Head of Roses by Dali

Viktorija Pashuta

Photography - 101.6 x 76.2 x 2.5 cm

$4,850

Photography, Silence of colors, Malick Kebe

Silence of colors

Malick Kebe

Photography - 75 x 55 cm

$1,016

Photography, I Have Wings Too, Dasha Pears

I Have Wings Too

Dasha Pears

Photography - 70 x 70 x 0.1 cm

$1,333

Photography, Le Mariage, Marie Dorigny

Le Mariage

Marie Dorigny

Photography - 53 x 80 x 0.1 cm

$2,710

Photography, Mère et enfant, Marie Dorigny

Mère et enfant

Marie Dorigny

Photography - 120 x 80 x 1 cm

$3,388

Photography, La Santiaguera, James Sparshatt

La Santiaguera

James Sparshatt

Photography - 50 x 40 cm

$785

Photography, La tristeza, James Sparshatt

La tristeza

James Sparshatt

Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm

$784

Photography, El caballero, James Sparshatt

El caballero

James Sparshatt

Photography - 35 x 35 x 1 cm

$1,047

Photography, New horizons, James Sparshatt

New horizons

James Sparshatt

Photography - 40 x 50 cm

$784

Photography, Hombre de la Luna, James Sparshatt

Hombre de la Luna

James Sparshatt

Photography - 50 x 50 x 1 cm

$672

Photography, A Confiança, James Sparshatt

A Confiança

James Sparshatt

Photography - 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm

$784

Photography, Saudade, James Sparshatt

Saudade

James Sparshatt

Photography - 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm

$784

Photography, Dagoberto, James Sparshatt

Dagoberto

James Sparshatt

Photography - 40 x 50 cm

$1,047

Photography, Marilyn on the Roof, Ed Feingersh

Marilyn on the Roof

Ed Feingersh

Photography - 76.2 x 50.8 cm

$1,005

Photography, Benjamin Franklin's experiment goes wrong, David Carey

Benjamin Franklin's experiment goes wrong

David Carey

Photography - 46 x 30 x 0.1 cm

$112

Photography, Synesthetic Letters - V, Dasha Pears

Synesthetic Letters - V

Dasha Pears

Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm

$881

Photography, Hope, David Djian

Hope

David Djian

Photography - 80 x 53.33 x 0.2 cm

$847

Photography, Fashion on the Street, Paris 1963, Uwe Ommer

Fashion on the Street, Paris 1963

Uwe Ommer

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm

$1,800

Photography, Rue Mouffetard, Uwe Ommer

Rue Mouffetard

Uwe Ommer

Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.3 cm

$1,500

Photography, Rue Mouffetard - Triptych, Uwe Ommer

Rue Mouffetard - Triptych

Uwe Ommer

Photography - 45 x 100 x 0.3 cm

$1,650

Photography, Rue Mouffetard, Uwe Ommer

Rue Mouffetard

Uwe Ommer

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.3 cm

$1,800

Photography, Oblivion. Hidden identity., Joanna Chudy

Oblivion. Hidden identity.

Joanna Chudy

Photography - 50 x 60 cm

$847

Photography, Les gens du lac. Pêcheurs relevant leurs filets., Marie Dorigny

Les gens du lac. Pêcheurs relevant leurs filets.

Marie Dorigny

Photography - 22 x 22 x 0.1 cm

$395

Photography, Les gens du lac. Mère et fille., Marie Dorigny

Les gens du lac. Mère et fille.

Marie Dorigny

Photography - 22 x 22 x 0.1 cm

$395

Photography, Les gens du lac. Portrait de groupe., Marie Dorigny

Les gens du lac. Portrait de groupe.

Marie Dorigny

Photography - 22 x 22 x 0.1 cm

$395

Photography, Weltschmerz-Der Teufel, Sodoma X

Weltschmerz-Der Teufel

Sodoma X

Photography - 74 x 55.5 cm

$7,566

Photography, Yankee, Ian Wallace

Yankee

Ian Wallace

Photography - 50.8 x 40.64 x 0.1 cm

$1,694

Photography, Vertebrae And Lullaby, Kalliope Amorphous

Vertebrae And Lullaby

Kalliope Amorphous

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.1 cm

$4,500

Photography, Music, Kalliope Amorphous

Music

Kalliope Amorphous

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.1 cm

$2,200

Photography, The Body Electric, Kalliope Amorphous

The Body Electric

Kalliope Amorphous

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.1 cm

$2,200

Photography, Magic Mandela, Marie Serruya

Magic Mandela

Marie Serruya

Photography - 29 x 21 x 0.1 cm

$423

Photography, L'inconnu, Malick Kebe

L'inconnu

Malick Kebe

Photography - 75 x 55 cm

$1,016

Photography, Nuer reflections, John Kenny

Nuer reflections

John Kenny

Photography - 67 x 45 x 2 cm

$1,047

Photography, Malasso, John Kenny

Malasso

John Kenny

Photography - 67 x 45 x 2 cm

$1,047

Photography, Mahumbi girl with ungava hairstyle variation. Humbi. Angola, Faie Davis

Mahumbi girl with ungava hairstyle variation. Humbi. Angola

Faie Davis

Photography - 61 x 58.5 x 26 cm

$975

Photography, Queen Elizabeth II On Her Coronation Day, Cecil Beaton

Queen Elizabeth II On Her Coronation Day

Cecil Beaton

Photography - 50.8 x 50.8 cm

$698

Photography, Ray Winstone (2000), Kevin Westenberg

Ray Winstone (2000)

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 51 x 40 cm

$1,999

Photography, Massive Attack, Kevin Westenberg

Massive Attack

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 40 x 51 cm

$1,999

Photography, Evan Dando Lemonheads, Kevin Westenberg

Evan Dando Lemonheads

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 51 x 40 cm

$1,999

Photography, Bat For Lashes Halo, Kevin Westenberg

Bat For Lashes Halo

Kevin Westenberg

Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 cm

$1,999

Photography, Blue sky's here for me, Ana Zegheanu

Blue sky's here for me

Ana Zegheanu

Photography - 20 x 20 x 0.02 cm

$181

Photography, Lionel joue à Bacchus dans les vignes, Pierre Boulat

Lionel joue à Bacchus dans les vignes

Pierre Boulat

Photography - 24 x 36 x 0.3 cm

$734

Photography, Juliette Gréco - Paris, Pierre Boulat

Juliette Gréco - Paris

Pierre Boulat

Photography - 50 x 40 x 1 cm

$1,016

Photography, CSS, John Yuyi

CSS

John Yuyi

Photography - 50 x 40 x 0.1 cm

$1,355

Photography, Assile, John Kenny

Assile

John Kenny

Photography - 135 x 90 x 2 cm

$5,082

Photography, Vallée des roses Maroc, Pierre Schwartz

Vallée des roses Maroc

Pierre Schwartz

Photography - 78 x 120 cm

$1,073

Photography, Auvergne, Pierre Schwartz

Auvergne

Pierre Schwartz

Photography - 66 x 100 cm

$1,694

Photography, White Spirit IV, Angélique

White Spirit IV

Angélique

Photography - 50 x 40 cm

$1,694

Photography, Daily Bread - Limited Edition Archival Pigment Print, Alain Le Garsmeur

Daily Bread - Limited Edition Archival Pigment Print

Alain Le Garsmeur

Photography - 60 x 50 x 0.1 cm

$672

Photography, Les grands projets, Vincent Citot

Les grands projets

Vincent Citot

Photography - 80 x 120 x 1 cm

$1,807

Photography, Persephone, Kalliope Amorphous

Persephone

Kalliope Amorphous

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.1 cm

$2,200

Photography, Silver, Kalliope Amorphous

Silver

Kalliope Amorphous

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 0.1 cm

$2,200

Photography, Coming Through, Kalliope Amorphous

Coming Through

Kalliope Amorphous

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 1.3 cm

$4,200

Photography, Safe, Kalliope Amorphous

Safe

Kalliope Amorphous

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 cm

$3,500

Photography, Broken Mirror II, Kalliope Amorphous

Broken Mirror II

Kalliope Amorphous

Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 cm

$2,200

Photography, Blue Ghost, Kalliope Amorphous

Blue Ghost

Kalliope Amorphous

Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 cm

$3,500

Photography, Helen Dzo Dzo Kaptur, Slim Aarons

Helen Dzo Dzo Kaptur

Slim Aarons

Photography - 51 x 41 x 0.01 cm

$2,202

Photography, Liz Pringle Refreshments in Jamaica, Slim Aarons

Liz Pringle Refreshments in Jamaica

Slim Aarons

Photography - 41 x 41 x 0.01 cm

$2,202

Photography, Jean Patchett for Saks Fifth Avenue, Slim Aarons

Jean Patchett for Saks Fifth Avenue

Slim Aarons

Photography - 41 x 41 x 0.01 cm

$2,202

Photography, Seaplane At Palm Beach, Slim Aarons

Seaplane At Palm Beach

Slim Aarons

Photography - 41 x 41 x 0.01 cm

$2,202

Photography, Skiing Waitress, Slim Aarons

Skiing Waitress

Slim Aarons

Photography - 40.6 x 40.6 cm

$2,146

Photography, Sepia Meta Graphic Lettre 8, Jean-Claude Byandb

Sepia Meta Graphic Lettre 8

Jean-Claude Byandb

Photography - 60 x 45 x 0.1 cm

$689

Photography, David, Gor Avetisyan

David

Gor Avetisyan

Photography - 102 x 66 x 2 cm

$2,033

Photography, Kostas, Gor Avetisyan

Kostas

Gor Avetisyan

Photography - 101 x 66 x 2 cm

$2,033

Photography, Philippe, Gor Avetisyan

Philippe

Gor Avetisyan

Photography - 103 x 66 x 2 cm

$2,033

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.

Read more
Need help with Portrait Photography ?

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.