You may be familiar with portrait photography, but have you ever had the pleasure of experiencing the fine art form? If you haven’t, it’s time you did. Fine art portrait photography has exploded in the luxury portraiture photography market in recent years. The results are superbly evocative and make simply stunning wall art.

So, what exactly is Fine Art?


Fine art is visual art considered to be something created for aesthetic or intellectual value rather than practical purpose. According to the Oxford dictionary, fine art is:


Creative art, especially visual art whose products are to be appreciated primarily or solely for their imaginative, aesthetic, or intellectual content. An activity requiring great skill or accomplishment.


Fine art is essentially an art form practiced for its beauty. It’s all about why it was created and comes from a concept or idea derived from the artist. There is a difference between commercial and fine art. The purpose of fine art is to simply exist. Historically, fine art encompassed painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and poetry, but now includes photography, too.


"CREATIVE ART, ESPECIALLY VISUAL ART WHOSE PRODUCTS ARE TO BE APPRECIATED PRIMARILY OR SOLELY FOR THEIR IMAGINATIVE, AESTHETIC, OR INTELLECTUAL CONTENTAN ACTIVITY REQUIRING GREAT SKILL OR ACCOMPLISHMENT"

—According to the Oxford dictionary, fine art is:

S0 What Is Fine Art PORTRAIT Photography?


In Fine art photography, the photographer is the artist, and the recording of the subject is not the main purpose. Making an artistic statement is. A fine art portrait image is created by the photographer as an artist and not just by the camera. The photographer’s vision is central to the resulting shot. Much preparation and planning goes into Fine art photography, attention to minute details others would not even notice. Details such as lighting, styling, posing, colouration, editing, even down to printing and full execution of the visual image.


A fine art portrait photograph is intended for wall art. It can sometimes be described as "décor photography" or "photo décor." 

Fine art portrait photography delivers maximum impact and depicts emotion in a vivid and distinctive style. These portraits are timeless and capture the essence of the subject’s character in a vision created by the photographer. The photographer may use location, props, or surreal lighting to manipulate the image to the one he or she is trying to achieve.


Ultimately, fine art portrait photographs are the family heirlooms of the future. This is art for art’s sake. 


If you like the idea of your image hanging in your descendant’s hallway, then a fine art portrait photograph is a must. To find the photographer that is right for you, be sure to check out image portfolios. Go with the one that evokes the most emotion in you.

Fine art is an artist, beautiful creative outlet for creatives.  I encourage you to join a local workshop or learn more about posing and lighting techniques for this art form.