“My portraits are more about me than they are about the people I photograph.” ~Richard Avedon.
I feel like there are two conflicting views of portrait photography that often intertwine and fight for dominance.
On one hand, portrait photography can be meant to capture the essence of the soul and personality of the subject. In this method, the portrait is meant to tell something intimate or to highlight certain aspects of the subject and display them in the form of a lasting memory. The photograph is composed and shot to be a complete reflection of the person in it.
The other approach, however, is almost the opposite. It shows the subject through the creative lens of the photographer. The photograph reflects the style, ideas and personality of the photographer just as much-if not more- than the subject.
I feel like both of these aspects are present in each portrait that is taken, although their proportions vary from photo to photo and from photographer to photographer. They coexist in a balance that helps determine what direction the photo will take.
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