19 stunning portraits to inspire you

Looking for inspiration? We look across the most memorable portraitures of the past editions and the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards.

Enter your images to the Portraiture category of the Open Competition. The judges are looking for interesting, original, strong and evocative photographs, and the category should be interpreted in its widest sense. The resulting images should demonstrate a likeness to the subject and may convey expression, emotion and/or personality.

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© Ксения Косырева, Russian Federation, Entry, Open, Portraiture, 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

© Eli J. McMahon, Bulgaria, Entry, Open, Still Life, 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

© Alexander Vinogradov, Open Photographer of the Year, Open Competition, Portraits, 2017 Sony World Photography Awards

© Dmitry Tsaryov, Russia Federation, Commended, Open competition, Portraiture , 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

© Irina Bunyatyan, Russian Federation, entry, Open competition, Portraiture, 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

© Alloys Iteba, Kenya, Entry, Open, Portraiture, 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

Hasan Torabi, Iran, Islamic Republic Of, entry, Open competition, Portraiture, 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

© Thomas Golka, Germany, Commended, Open Competition, Portraits, 2017 Sony World Photography Awards

© Prue Platt-Hepworth, Australia, Commended, Open Competition, Portraits, 2017 Sony World Photography Awards

© Vlad Chirea, Romania, Entry, Open, Portraits, 2017 Sony World Photography Awards

© Julian Schievelkamp, Germany, Entry, Open, Portraits, 2017 Sony World Photography Awards

© Zarni Myo Win, Myanmar, Commended, Open Competition, Portraits, 2017 Sony World Photography Awards

© Robert Nzaou-Kissolo, Congo, Entry, Open, Portraits, 2018 Sony World Photography Awards.jpg

© Ян Панов, Brazil, Russia, Open, Portraiture, 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

© Joseph Alexander, India, Entry, Open, Portraiture, 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

© Ewa Kurzawska, Poland, Entry, Open, Portraiture, 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

© Nick Dolding, UK, Entry, Open, Portraiture, 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

© Agnieszka Maruszczyk, Poland, Commended, Open competition, Portraiture , 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

© Sphiwo Hlatshwayo, South Africa, Shortlist, Open, Portraiture, 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

"The character/person obviously has a massive to amount to do with it, their expression, the look in the eyes, the way they are holding themselves. 

Nick Dolding won the Open Portraiture category in the 2018 Sony World Photography Awards

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