The photo-taking of a person or group of people is known as portrait photography, which has a focus of capturing the personality, mood, and expression of the subject(s). Some of the most well known and captivating photos that have been taken since it was invented are portraits of everyday people as well as famous figures. Most often the focus point for a portrait is the subject's eyes and face, some of the body, the entire body, and background elements are sometimes included too.

Probably the most vital piece of portrait photos is the lighting that is used. In the beginnings of photography, subjects had to be place near a window or under another light source. These days, however, photographers have a huge range of lighting products and set ups available to them to help light up their subject.

Studio lighting can be directionally and intensity controlled by the photographer to help bring out the subjects features, cast shadows, and more. There are many different ways to light a subject to create different moods and to accentuate different features. Some photographers still prefer natural light and use either light from a window or shoot out of doors.

Both amateur and professional photographers can get great photos with only natural light and a reflector or two. White reflectors help to bounce the harsh light and soften it and also help to even out the contrast. These white reflectors are sold in professional photography shops, but even a simple white sheet, fabric remnant, or large piece of white paper will work.

Having a professional studio is not needed to get nice and well shot portraits. Usually the most beautiful and interesting photos are taken outside or inside a structure of some sort. This type of portrait is known as environmental portraiture and it shows subjects in their natural environments and their current surroundings.

Achieving the right lighting can be a bit harder outdoors as there isn't as much control, even with the use of an on-camera flash unit. But by using the natural light that is available, great photos can be taken of people. The optimal times to take natural light portraits are early in the morning and just before the sun sets, as this is the time when the light is most flattering.

There are multiple styles of portrait photos, with the main focus often being on the subjects eyes and face with the rest being slightly out of focus. At other times, the focus of portraits may be on certain body parts, such as hands, feet, or just the eyes. Subjects can also be shot in silhouette if they are properly photographed from behind.

There are a huge number of approaches to portrait photography, and in addition to the environmental style, there is the candid, constructionist and the creative. Candid photos are taken spontaneously without the subject knowing they are being photographed, while the creative portraits are manipulated with digital enhancements. Constructionist photos are those that are telling a story, such as a happy family, worker on the job, or children playing.