Ten years ago I wrote this article about a the difference between portrait vs headshot photography, but lots has changed since then. In 2009 some agencies and individuals were barely learning about this new phenomenon called social media or were adverse to change, while the younger generation was embracing it. Ten years later and now its different. Since we no longer have phone books, marketing and advertising relies on Google, Instagram, Facebook, and countless other social media channels to survive as a business or entrepreneur.
Headshot is a synonym for portrait but is used more commonly to refer to professional profile images. They can be photographed to brand an individual or photographed to match the branding identity of a corporation. Often people make the mistake in thinking that its an image of a person’s head but contrary to popular belief, it can also be full body image. The intention is to capture the personality so viewers can understand the individual.
A head shot or headshot is a modern (usually digital) portrait in which the focus is on the person. The term is applied usually for professional profile images on social media, images used on online dating profiles, the ‘about us page’ or a corporate website and promotional pictures of actors, models, and authors.” Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_shot
Portrait photographs now refer to images of people pre-social media era. Photographers would be hired to capture portraits of important people to be printed and displayed.
Historically, portraits were usually commissioned for special occasions, such as for weddings, military, or notable politicians. Due to the rarity of portraits, they were usually only commissioned by wealthy families. In the last century the frequency with which portraits were captured has expanded to celebrities, school photos, family portraits for middle class citizens, special anniversaries, and more. A portrait picture might be artistic, or it might be clinical as part of a medical study. Now a days, portraits can serve many new purposes, from usage on personal websites to display in the lobby of a business.
The following are some of the common differences when one refers to portrait vs headshot photography.
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