Snapshot VS. portrait

[Amanda0102]

Just curious for a consensus on what the defining differences are.

If I shoot my son at the playground in a correctly-exposed, well-composed image, where does the potential for "snapshot" end and "portrait" or "professional shot" begin?

[Jim Bryant]

Candid shot.............professional begins when you learn how to control your lighting and background.

[BEGM83]

But you can't control natural light Jim...just control how you use it semantics maybe

[RichardTaylor]

Snapshot. A grab, "hold it", shot of my wife in a doorway

Camera Canon EOS 40D
Exposure 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture f/4.0
Focal Length 140 mm
ISO Speed 200


Portrait. Thread on this site.
Dan Klennert, Metal Sculpture Artists

[BEGM83]

Candid/snapshot that is also a portrait....why? Because i was aware of the lighting etc whilst my daughter was playing yet she then decided to turn model and pose for me so i guess it's also a portrait of her it's certainly an image i've printed off and have up in my home.

Candid/snapshot/portrait - all interchangable to my mind

[oldwolf]

Originally Posted by BEGM83

But you can't control natural light Jim...just control how you use it semantics maybe

You actually can control natural light with diffusers, flags and scrims.

[nickbedford]

A portrait is simply a photograph where a person or persons are the subject of the photo. So all snapshots are portraits in essence because the person is still the subject of the photo whether they're posing or not for the camera.

And without trying to get into another "professional" meaning debate, a professional portrait could technically be described as any portrait (candid or posed) shot by a professional photographer on the job.

Amirite?

[Twinpanther]

While Candid/snapshots can turn out really nice, for me a Portrait or Professional shot requires set-up and forethought.

Using BEGM83's shot as an example, although it's an awesome shot and something any parent would love to have of their child. If time and preparation were taken it may have turned out even better. Maybe soften/diffuse the sun from camera right or change the DoF.

I'm absolutely no professional. Just my opinion.

@ BEGM83, your daughter is quite the natural isn't she, lol. Such a beauty.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by oldwolf

You actually can control natural light with diffusers, flags and scrims.

+1....and don't forget reflectors.

For me, a portrait is a photograph of a person I've thought about in advance. I know how the light is, I know how the background is, I know how the white balance is, and I compose the photo the way I want it. A snapshot/candid is just a quick shot to capture the moment, regardless of the other stuff. Occasionally I luck out and a quick shot with no thought behind it turns into a portrait simply because the light etc. has worked in my favor by sheer chance.

Portrait, for a client. I knew my light, set up my background and props, metered carefully and composed:


Snapshot/candid of my brats at the zoo - had the camera set to whatever the last settings I had for the last shot, which obviously didn't work out, lol:


Snapshot/candid that works (for me, anyway) as a portrait of my SIL's friend's kid at an informal gathering I snapped quick. Same settings I'd used to grab a few shots in manual of another child, saw this one rolling around in the grass, snapped one and hoped for the best, haha. I saw some potential and did a lil' post work on it.


**Shrugs**

Just my $ .02,

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by oldwolf

You actually can control natural light with diffusers, flags and scrims.

Yupper!!!! Those tools control light pretty good.