Question about portraits

[jenna4]

Hey all - I am a simple amateur photographer but I recently rediscovered this site and just love it. I need some help understanding the photographic definition of "portrait".

Dictionary.com defines portrait as: a likeness of a person, esp. of the face, as a painting, drawing, or photograph.

I had always thought of portrait photography as posed shots. However in looking through the SYS portrait section I see all sorts of shots including what I would call candids as they didn't appear to be posing and sometimes the people didn't seem to know their photo was even being taken.

So, I was wondering, can candids sometimes also be portraits? If a subject isn't looking into the camera, or if their face is not shown, is it still considered a portrait? And then, is portrait photography really any photo of a person or people?

Please help me (a relative beginner) to understand - thank you very much!

[candleman]

"a likeness" prettymuch says it.

a picture of their hand is classed as a portrait too, because its a part of a person/personality.
you will also find pics of pets are portraits too, becasue of the attachment of a personality to the animal.

so, yes, candids are portraits.. its depicting a human personality or a "likeness" of an individual.

i hope that makes sense.

[jenna4]

Yes it does, thank you.