An artistic portrait starts from an idea: a mood, a reference, a character or a story you want to put into an image. Choose a photographer whose world meets that project, then build a creative brief with them that sets the concept, the team, the retouching, the images delivered and their publication.
Artistic portrait or professional portrait
An artistic portrait serves a creative intention: expressing yourself, exploring a style, supporting a personal or artistic project. A professional portrait serves a specific use, such as a profile, a CV or a company page, with expected framing and look.
If you need a clean, effective photo for your work, professional portrait photographers fit that need better. For a project as a pair, couple photographers can also offer a creative approach.
Choosing a photographer by their world
In artistic portraiture, the photographer's world matters as much as their technique. Look at complete series rather than a single image: light, colour, staging, relationship with the sitter and consistency from one series to the next.
- World
- does their work speak to you, and is it close to your idea?
- Light
- do they work in a studio, in natural light, or both?
- Direction
- do the people photographed look engaged rather than stiff?
- Staging
- do sets, props and costumes serve the image?
- Retouching
- does their editing, natural or highly worked, match what you expect?
A photographer may also suggest a direction you had not thought of. Leave them room, while staying clear about what you do not want.
Building a creative brief
The creative brief helps the photographer understand your idea and make a realistic offer. It does not need to be long, but it should cover the references, the concept, the people involved, the retouching, the deliverables and publication.
References and concept
Gather a few reference images, paintings, films or photographs, and explain what you like in each: the light, the colour, the pose, the mood. Then describe your concept in a few sentences.
Collaborators and responsibilities
An artistic portrait sometimes involves a makeup artist, a hairdresser, a stylist or a particular set. Say who chooses them, who pays them and who provides the outfits and props.
Retouching
Say what level of retouching you expect: natural, or more pronounced with work on colour, texture or composition. Retouching time often changes the quote.
Deliverables and publication
Give the number or type of images you want, the formats and the intended use: keepsake, exhibition print, album cover, social media. Also agree on what the photographer may publish, in their portfolio, an exhibition or a competition.
Ask the quote to state: session length, location or studio, collaborators included or not, level of retouching, number of finished images, timing and permitted uses.
Sample creative brief: a chiaroscuro portrait
This brief shows how to bring together the elements of a creative project. It is a fictional example to adapt, not a client case or a standard package.
- Intention
- a portrait to mark a change in life, restrained and intense.
- References
- chiaroscuro portraits inspired by painting, dark background, a single side light.
- Concept
- head and shoulders, gaze out of frame, a deep-coloured fabric as the only prop.
- Collaborators
- light makeup, done by someone chosen with the photographer, included in the quote or not.
- Location
- in a studio, to control the light.
- Retouching
- work on light and colour, natural skin.
- Deliverables
- a selection of finished images, one of them large-format for a print. Number and timing to be set in the quote.
- Publication
- the photographer may publish one image chosen together in their portfolio; no other use without agreement.
This example is for comparing offers on the same scope. If you add a second set or a fine art print, list it as an extra request.
Rights and publication of the images
The photographer remains the author of the images. What you can do with them, private use, prints, social media or commercial use, depends on what the contract provides. If the portrait is meant to promote a business, an album or a show, say so before the quote.
On your side, publication of your image by the photographer needs your agreement, which does not follow from simply being photographed: Service Public explains image rights (in French). Specify the media you accept, an exhibition or a competition for example.
Comparing offers and booking
The price of an artistic portrait varies with length, location, collaborators, retouching, deliverables and uses. To compare two photographers, send them the same creative brief and check what each proposal includes.
Before booking, check:
- the concept and references shared;
- the collaborators, and who chooses and pays them;
- the level of retouching planned;
- the images delivered, their format and timing;
- the permitted uses and publication terms.
Enter the city and date in the search, or browse the cities listed below. On a photographer's profile, look through their series and packages, at a fixed price or on quote, and send them a message to share your references. Then choose the package closest to your project, the date, time and place, and add your brief to the booking request. If they accept, the photographer sends you a contract drawn up from the booking, which you sign online before they do. Graindevue does not use price as a ranking criterion.
Frequently asked questions
I have never posed. Can I do an artistic portrait?
Yes. The photographer directs the session and guides your poses. Tell them it is your first time, and ask how they start the session to put you at ease.
Do I need a precise idea?
Not necessarily. A few references and an intention are enough to start; the photographer can suggest a concept from there.
Are makeup and outfits included?
Only if the offer says so. Ask whether the photographer works with collaborators and whether their work is part of the package.