We are always in search of the best classic portraits at Sun and Silver Photo. Of course, defining a “classic portrait” is much harder than just saying the words. So what do we mean when we say “classic”?

If seeing is believing then the image above is a classic photograph. It is a 12×10 inch tintype of Nataly at The Ember Studio in Menasha. But what makes it classic? We can think of four elements:

It is Black and White: Monotone photographs give the best classic feel. This image is naturally in a creamy silver tone because it is a Tintype. I love color but it can be a distraction in a portrait. A tintype has a single tone pallet so you are encouraged to look at the person – their expression and eyes.
The face is the focal point: All of the photos in this set have elements that naturally draw your view to Nataly’s face. Her face is the brightest element in many of these photos, and our eyes are drawn to the brightest part. Her face is also at a good viewing point in each photo.
Leading lines to the face: We’ve discussed how our eyes are drawn to the brightest part of a scene, and they are also led by lines in the photo. The curves of her arms naturally lead our gaze to her face.
Simplicity: Classic portraits are known for their simplicity. The background is simple and lacks busy detail. Wardrobe accents the body but is not distracting or unnecessarily draws our attention.

black and white portrait of woman on on an antique couch

black and white portrait of a woman on an antique couch

Here is another tintype from our time together. A beautiful image but it might flunk our “classic” portrait criteria. Can you guess why? The white covering on the couch is too distracting – and too bright. Her expression and eyes are amazing but we don’t notice them as much as we should.

tintype portrait of a woman in black dress

So just for fun we cloned the top part of the background and overlaid it on the couch. Picture below. Suddenly her face becomes the first thing your eyes are drawn to. It is the exact same brightness but appears more highlighted – including her eyes. In hindsight we should have used a black cover on the couch, live and learn!

Enjoy the digital photos from our time together – do they seem to be “classic portraits”? We sure hope so!

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