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
Aura (Identity Claims Series)
Imanol Marrodán
Photography - 30 x 53.3 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 21 x 0 inch
€1,000
What we remember, what we pray 2
Giana De Dier
Photography - 25 x 20 x 1 cm Photography - 9.8 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch
€1,200
What we remembered, what we prayed 6
Giana De Dier
Photography - 25 x 20 x 1 cm Photography - 9.8 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch
€1,200
Steve Martin 2007 (II)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Les photographes
Arnaud Baumann
Photography - 30 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 x 0 inch
€950
Vagabondages 12
Carlos Arriagada
Photography - 50 x 75 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 29.5 x 0 inch
€1,700
No title
Philippe Pasqua
Photography - 170 x 140 x 0.5 cm Photography - 66.9 x 55.1 x 0.2 inch
€14,000
Mandy Smith
Pierre Terrasson
Photography - 40 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
€1,500
The Creation of Color (M)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 76.2 x 76.2 cm Photography - 30 x 30 inch
€4,794
The Creation of Color (S)
Tyler Shields
Photography - 45.7 x 45.7 cm Photography - 18 x 18 inch
€2,397
LoveLoveLove (Triptych) (M)
David Drebin
Photography - 76.2 x 304.8 cm Photography - 30 x 120 inch
€7,671
Gwen Stefani - Anaheim Pond, Anaheim, CA II
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Gwen Stefani - Anaheim Pond, Anaheim, CA
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Quentin Tarantino - Hollywood Grill, Los Angeles, CA
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Johnny Cash - Tennessee
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Michael Jackson - LA Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA (II)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Michael Jackson - LA Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Bob Marley at Berkshire Music Glen, (III)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,877
Bob Marley at Berkshire Music Glen, (II)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,877
William Macy - Poses for a Portrait on the Set of The Con - Los Angeles, CA
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Bobby Simmons
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
David Byrne of the Talking Heads
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
James Caan on the Set of Vegas - Los Angeles, CA
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Jolene Blalock
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Lucy Liu - Holmby Hills, CA III
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Jet Li - Los Angeles, California
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Dwight Yoakam - San Antonio, Texas
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Mel Brooks - Los Angeles, CA
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller Pose for a Portrait to Promote their Film 'Starsky & Hutch' - Los Angeles, CA 2004
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,877
Carmen Electra - Los Angeles, California 1998 II
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Will Ferrell (II) - Los Angeles, CA 2007
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Will Ferrell - Los Angeles, CA 2007
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Martin Scorsese - 2006
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,877
Jane Monheit - New York, US 2003 (IV)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Lucy Liu - Holmby Hills, CA 1999
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,877
Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller Pose for a Portrait to Promote their Film 'Starsky & Hutch' - Los Angeles, CA 2004 (II)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,877
Penelope Cruz and Pedro Almodóvar - 2006
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Steven Spielberg - Cover of Time magazine, 2005
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Jane Monheit, 2003
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Jane Monheit - New York, US 2003 (II)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Joaquin Phoenix - Los Angeles, CA 2002
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,877
Joaquin Phoenix - Los Angeles, CA 2002
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Lucy Liu - Holmby Hills, CA 1999 II
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,877
Steve Martin 2007
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,877
The Fabulous Billygoons, Boston, MA, 1980
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,877
Siouxsie and the Banshees, Steven Severin, and Budgie - Boston, Massachusetts Circa 1980
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,877
Lene Lovich - Boston, Massachusetts Circa 1980
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Jolene Blalock - 2002 II
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
La Peste (L- R) Peter Dayton, Mark Karl, and Roger Tripp - Boston, Massachusetts, 1980
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Killing Joke - Back Stage, Boston, Massachusetts 1980
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,877
The Neighborhoods - Boston, MA
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
The Neighborhoods - Boston, MA (II)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
Members of the band the B52's - Boston, 1980
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,877
Members of the band The B-52's - Boston, 1980 (II)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,877
Members of the band The B-52's - Boston, 1980 (III)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,877
Members of the Buzzcocks Danny Farrant, Chris Remington, Steve D - Boston, 1980
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,877
The Cramps, lead guitarist Poison Ivy
Michael Grecco
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 2 inch
€2,877
Brian Tristan - Cramps guitarist Kid Congo Powers
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
The Cramps lead guitarist Poison Ivy (II)
Michael Grecco
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 5.1 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 2 inch
€2,877
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.