Jessica Chávez

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What is Editorial Portraiture?

Editorial Portrait of Artist and Entrepreneur, Gil. Photographed by Yeya Monroig.

Hi friend!

As a portrait photographer, it's important to have a strong understanding of the different styles of portrait photography in order to effectively communicate your message and connect with your audience. In previous blog posts, I discussed What is Headshot Photography? and What is Corporate Portraiture? and how they can be used to capture different aspects of a subject's appearance and personality.

In this post, we'll continue to dive into portrait photography by exploring the concept of editorial portraiture and its importance for photographers and businesses. Whether you are a photographer looking to create meaningful and impactful images, or a business owner looking to showcase your products or services and build brand awareness, understanding editorial portraiture can be an invaluable tool.

Portrait photography under the moonlight. Photographed by Yeya Monroig.

Editorial portraiture is a type of portrait photography in which a story or message is told. It is frequently used to illustrate articles, profiles, and other features in magazines, newspapers, and other publications. Understanding editorial portraiture as a photographer can help you create meaningful and impactful images that capture the attention of your audience and effectively communicate your message. However, editorial portraiture is important not only for photographers; it can also be a valuable tool for businesses looking to showcase their products or services and build brand awareness.

So, what exactly is editorial portraiture, and why is it important for photography and businesses?

What is Editorial Portraiture?

Editorial portraiture is a type of portrait photography that is used to illustrate a story or convey a message. It is frequently used in magazines, newspapers, and other publications to accompany articles, profiles, and other features. Unlike traditional portraiture, which is often concerned with capturing a subject's appearance and personality, editorial portraiture is concerned with the context and purpose of the photograph. It is intended to illustrate a story or message, and the portrait is used as a tool to communicate that story to the viewer.

Editorial portraiture can take many forms, ranging from traditional headshots to more creative and expressive images. It can be shot in a studio or on location, and it can feature a single person or a group. The most important aspect is that the portrait conveys a message or tells a story.

Portrait photograph of social media Influencer and Actress, Larissa Dones. Photographed by Yeya Monroig.

Why is Editorial Portraiture Important for Photography?

Understanding editorial portraiture as a photographer can help you create meaningful and impactful images that capture your audience's attention and effectively communicate your message.

Here are a few reasons why editorial portraiture is important for photographers:

  • It contributes to the storytelling of the article:

One of the primary goals of editorial portraiture is to illustrate a story or convey a message. Photographers can help their audience connect with the subjects and get a sense of who they are and what they do by using portraits to illustrate the story. This can help to make the viewer's experience more meaningful and engaging.

  • It helps to showcase your skills:

Editorial portraiture requires a combination of technical abilities and creative vision. As a photographer, creating successful editorial portraits can demonstrate your ability to work with a variety of subjects, lighting situations, and locations, as well as your ability to tell a story through your images.

  • It helps to build your portfolio:

Editorial portraiture is a great way to diversify and deepen your portfolio. You can demonstrate your range as a photographer and your ability to create meaningful and impactful images by creating portraits that illustrate a story or convey a message.

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Why is Editorial Portraiture Important for Businesses?

Editorial portraiture is not just important for photographers – it can also be a valuable tool for businesses looking to showcase their products or services and build brand awareness. Here are a few reasons why editorial portraiture is important for businesses:

  • It helps to establish credibility:

Businesses can use editorial portraiture to establish credibility and showcase their expertise. Businesses can demonstrate their expertise and credibility to potential clients and customers by featuring portraits of business owners, employees, or industry leaders in publications.

  • It helps to build brand awareness:

Editorial portraiture can be a powerful tool for increasing brand awareness and showcasing a company's products or services. Businesses can reach a wider audience and increase their visibility by featuring portraits of business owners or employees in publications. This is especially beneficial for small businesses or startups seeking to establish themselves in a competitive market.

  • It helps to connect with customers:

Editorial portraiture can assist businesses in connecting with their customers and developing a sense of trust and connection. Businesses can show their human side and give customers a sense of who they are and what they stand for by featuring portraits of business owners or employees in publications. This can help to increase customer loyalty and foster a sense of community around a company.

  • It helps to stand out:

In today's crowded and competitive market, it can be difficult for businesses to stand out and differentiate themselves from the competition. Editorial portraiture can be a powerful way for businesses to stand out from the crowd by showcasing their distinct personality and message. Businesses can capture the attention of potential clients and customers and leave a lasting impression by featuring unique and memorable portraits in publications.


Overall, editorial portraiture is an important aspect of photography and can be a valuable tool for businesses. Businesses can use editorial portraiture to effectively grow their business and achieve their goals by using portraits to tell a story, establish credibility, build brand awareness, connect with customers, and stand out from the competition. Whether you are a photographer looking to create meaningful and impactful images, or a business looking to showcase your products or services and build brand awareness, editorial portraiture can be a valuable tool.

To be a successful editorial portrait photographer, you must first understand your target audience and the message you want to convey through your images. Strong technical skills and the ability to work with a wide range of subjects, lighting situations, and locations are also required. Finally, it's critical to have a distinct style that distinguishes you from other photographers and helps to make your images memorable and impactful. Photographers can create powerful and engaging editorial portraits that connect with their audience and effectively communicate their message by honing these skills and staying up to date with the latest trends and techniques.

I hope this blog post helped you understand what defines editorial portraiture and how it is designed to help your client’s business by enhancing their business articles or content and framing their values.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog! I look forward to sharing more on being a portrait photographer.

Stay tuned for the next blog post!

xx, Yeya

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