Painterly Portraits: The Artists Every Portrait Photographer Should Study

Painterly Portraits: The Artists Every Portrait Photographer Should Study

Traditionally, painting and photography may be viewed as two fairly separate genres:

The painter creates from their imagination, while the photographer documents what they see.

However, many aspects of painting and photography overlap, especially if your goal is to shoot more artistic photos characterised by mood, harmonious colours, and emotion.

I’ve always loved classical art and used to take many drawing and painting classes.

As a drawing student, it’s common practice to go to a museum and copy paintings of the Old Masters–something that has invariably influenced my photography style today:

Studying the techniques of these great painters, such as their use of light, colour, and composition, has given my own photos a lot more depth and visual appeal.

Understanding the visual language of classical art can totally transform the way you approach a painterly portrait, from how you light your subject to how you guide their pose.

In this post, I’ll share several influential artists every portrait photographer should study for creating images that feel more like fine art than regular portraits.

By the way: I’ve also made a YouTube video about the same topic, you can watch it here:

But now, back to the blog post!

Let’s start with the absolute master of light and shadow:

1. Rembrandt

If you asked me who my favourite painter was, Rembrandt would be in the top three.

His portraits have such a lifelike quality, making you feel as if the subject were really looking back at you:

Image credit: Rembrandt, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

One thing that Rembrandt is known for is his use of light, especially the technique of chiaroscuro, i.e the dramatic interplay between light and dark. 

In his portraits, the subjects are not evenly lit; instead, Rembrandt used shadows to create a specific mood and give his subjects more character.

Why Study Rembrandt?

Modern portrait photographs are often bright and very evenly lit.

In contrast, Rembrandt’s paintings embrace shadows and unlit areas, which gives the artworks a mysterious or emotionally charged atmosphere:

Portrait of Hendrickje Stofells. Attributed to Rembrandt, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

By integrating this aspect of chiaroscuro into your portrait photographs, you will inevitably achieve a more painterly aesthetic, and your portraits will carry a different emotional weight.

Practical Lessons Learned from Studying Rembrandt

When adapting Rembrandt’s lighting style for photography, start with a directional, soft light source (ideally from a window or a diffused source like a big softbox).

Position it about 45 degrees from your subject’s face. 

This setup naturally creates that classic “Rembrandt triangle”: a small, inverted patch of light beneath the eye on the shadow side of the face.

(This is known as “Rembrandt Lighting” in photography. If you want to learn the technique in detail, check out my previous post on the topic here). 

With this lighting, don’t try and fill in every shadow:

The darkness is needed to shape your subject’s features and make them appear more three-dimensional.

Before I move on to the next artist, did you know you can download my free portrait photography ebook:

…but now, back to the blog post!

2. Johannes Vermeer

Johannes Vermeer is known for his calm, natural scenes and his incredible use of light. 

His paintings often show everyday life, such as someone reading a letter or sitting by a window.

What makes them stand out is how Vermeer used simple window light to shape his subjects and create depth.

Have a look at this painting which perfectly illustrates this:

The Geographer by Johannes Vermeer. Image credit: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

If you’re aiming to create a painterly portrait style, Vermeer is a great artist to study, as his artworks prove you don’t need a complex lighting setup. 

Instead, learn to understand how natural light behaves, such as the direction it comes from and how soft or hard it is.

In most of Vermeer’s work, the light comes from a side window, creating highlights on one side of the face and shadow on the other. 

This kind of lighting creates a sense of dimension without harsh contrast.

In addition, it beautifully emphasises skin, fabric, or background details:

Woman Holding a Balance by Johannes Vermeer, Image credit: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Practical Lessons Learned from Studying Vermeer

To apply Vermeer’s style in photography, start by using a single natural light source, such as a window. 

Turn off any other lights so you can see exactly how the window light shapes your subject.

Position them so the light falls at an angle rather than directly from the front. 

Look out for the soft highlight on one side of their face and a gradual shadow on the other. 

Here’s a self portrait I took with this kind of lighting:

If the light is too strong/harsh, you can diffuse it with a sheer curtain or softbox.

This setup is extremely simple and will give you the same calm, even lighting that Vermeer used.

3. John Singer Sargent

John Singer Sargent is probably the other painter from this list in my top three of alltime favourites.

He is known for his very particular style, with portraits that feel spontaneous, but are actually carefully composed.

My all-time favourite painting by Sargent: Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose. Image credit: John Singer Sargent, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Another thing that makes him stand out is that he didn’t focus on formal portraits, like other painters of his time.

Instead, many of his subjects are painted in motion or in relaxed settings, which makes them feel very modern.

Why Study Sargent?

For photographers, studying Sargent is a great way to learn about posing, flow, and composition. 

Instead of aiming for perfectly symmetrical shots, think about how to bring a sense of movement into your portraits.

Sargent’s subjects rarely look stiff: They are depicted in poses that feel natural rather than staged:

Violet Sleeping by John Singer Sargent. Image credit: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Additionally, Sargent is known for his beautiful lighting:

He often used soft, directional light to define the face, leaving other areas in the shadow; a kind of lighting that is ideal for achieving a painterly portrait look.

Practical Lessons Learned from Studying Sargent

To channel Sargent’s aesthetic, you can ask your subject to move slightly between poses instead of holding one position for too long. 

Capture several frames in quick succession using burst mode; often, the most interesting or natural shot occurs in the in-between moments.

Violet Sargent and Flora Priestley by John Singer Sargent. Image credit: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

When composing, pay attention to negative space and balance. 

Sargent often placed his subjects off-centre, using empty areas of the frame to draw attention back to the face. 

This technique works just as well in photography, helping the portrait feel more dynamic.

4. Vilhelm Hammershøi

Vilhelm Hammershøi is my mum’s favourite painter–but of course that’s not the reason I’m including him here 🙂

Hammershøi isn’t as widely known as painters like Rembrandt or Vermeer, but I find his work can be a great inspiration for photographers.

In fact, I just took a self-portrait loosely inspired by his tone in tone style:

Hammershøi was a Danish painter who was active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 

He is known for his quiet, muted interior scenes and calm or contemplative figures. 

What characterises his paintings is the limited colour palette, coupled with very restrained compositions; his paintings often feel more like a real moment rather than a staged scene.

Interior with Young Woman Seen from Behind by Vilhelm Hammershøi. Image credit: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Why Study Hammershøi?

If you want to create a painterly portrait with a minimalist or modern fine art look, Hammershøi’s approach is definitely worth studying.

In his paintings, you’ll rarely find strong contrast or vivid colours.

Instead, he used soft tonal variations and simple compositions to evoke a serene atmosphere:

Artwork by Vilhelm Hammershøi, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Hammershøi proves that you don’t need a lot of visual information in a picture to communicate an emotion; a few well-balanced elements can be more powerful than a busy composition.

Practical Lessons Learned from Studying Hammershøi

If you want to emulate Hammershøi’s style in your painterly portrait photography, try to incorporate negative space and neutral tones. 

You’ll want to simplify your scene as much as possible by shooting against plain walls/subtle backdrops and using a limited colour palette. 

The mood of the image should be created through muted, neutral tones and minimalistic compositions rather than elaborate outfits or makeup.

Image credit: Vilhelm Hammershøi, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Lighting is another essential part of Hammershøi’s aesthetic:

He often used soft, indirect daylight from windows, which created a calm, even lighting.

This is far away from the dramatic Rembrandt lighting; with this lighting style, you’re creating a very tranquil atmosphere and a fine art feel.

Another trick to emulate Hammershøi’s visual style is to use a Photoshop technique that I call “creating atmosphere”.

This basically reduces the contrast in the image and evens out the tones.

You can read all about it in the blog post 5 Painterly Photoshop Tricks to Transform Your Photos into Art.

5. Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun

The last painter on my list today is Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (finally a female painter!).

Vigée Le Brun was one of the most successful portrait painters of the 18th century.

She is known for her elegant style and soft colour palette; here’s an example:

Self portrait by Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun. Image credit: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Her subjects are usually portrayed with a relaxed expression, natural pose, and flattering light.

Why Study Vigée Le Brun?

If you’re looking to create a painterly portrait aesthetic in your photography, Vigée Le Brun’s work is a great reference:

She demonstrates that you can create images that feel classic without being overly formal. 

Her subjects rarely look stiff or uncomfortable; instead, they appear approachable and confident. 

This is mainly due to her attention to their posture (especially subtle gestures) and a sense of movement within the image.

An essential characteristic of Vigée Le Brun’s artworks is her use of colours:

She often used warm, harmonious tones that gave her portraits a welcoming and elegant feel.

You won’t see many strong contrasts, but rather smooth transitions and balanced palettes; this helped unify the subject with the background and outfits:

Marie-Antoinette by Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun. Image credit: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Practical Lessons Learned from Studying Vigée Le Brun

The lighting in Vigée Le Brun’s work is typically soft and even, avoiding harsh shadows. 

This kind of lighting keeps the focus on expression and details, making the features look smooth and natural. 

You can achieve a similar look by using diffused window light or a large softbox placed slightly above eye level. 

When posing your subject, have them sit in a comfortable position with a slight turn of the shoulders.

Additionally, choose outfits and a backdrop in warm or neutral tones to keep the look cohesive.

Next, introduce props and clothes or accessories with interesting textures for that three-dimensional effect like in this painting:

Portrait of Marie Gabrielle de Gramont, Duchesse de Caderousset by Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun. Image credit: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Finally, you can use colour grading in Photoshop to give your photo that warm aesthetic:

Simply use the adjustment layer “Photo Filter” and add a warming filter, or add some yellows and reds using the “Colour Balance” tool.

(Learn the basics of colour grading in my previous post: Photo Colour Grading: Everything You Need to Know).

And that’s it for today!

Which of these painter’s aesthetics would you most like to emulate?

Let me know in the comments!