Portraiture in its many forms

The Sony World Photography Awards Open and Professional competitions both feature ten diverse categories that you can enter, one of those being portraiture. In our latest Entries of the Week, chosen from submissions into the Open competition, we focus on this timeless genre - one of the most popular and oldest forms of photography, as diverse as the medium itself.

Portraiture has a rich history as an art form, focusing on capturing the essence of individuals or groups and creating authentic representations of its subjects. Its versatility is evident in its evolution alongside photographic technology and artistic trends.

From the lengthy, motionless family portrait sessions of the 19th century to today’s quick, candid selfies, portrait photography has continually adapted to and reflected the times. Despite changes in technique and tools, its fundamental purpose—capturing the essence of a person - remains constant.