Portrait photography, in the studio and nationwide
Portrait Photography
Portrait photography is the photography of a person, not of a role. A good portrait holds whoever is in front of the camera: the expression, the gaze, the character. This page explains what professional portrait photography includes, how it differs from headshots, and when each one fits. The session itself happens in the studio or with a mobile studio that comes to you, anywhere in Israel.
The difference between a portrait and a headshot
Both terms describe photographing a person, and the difference is the purpose. Headshots serve a defined professional use: LinkedIn, the company website, the email signature, the press. A portrait is first of all for the person themselves: a photograph that says who they are, without a use case fixed in advance.
In practice the line runs between questions of format and questions of character. In headshots the backdrop, the crop and the clothing are set in advance by where the picture will appear. In portrait photography there is more freedom: more dramatic or softer lighting, a dark or light backdrop, sitting or standing, and an expression chosen for the person rather than for the platform.
Professional portrait photography rests on three things: lighting built around the face, a portrait lens that blurs the background and draws the eye, and direction of the person being photographed. Most people do not know what to do in front of a camera, and that is fine. That is a portrait photographer's job: to lead the person to the right expression.
A portrait then lives in many places: an about page, an article or interview, a lecture, a personal profile, and sometimes a print on a wall at home or at the office. That is why it is worth photographing it properly once, instead of dragging an accidental picture from year to year.
The conditions are identical on both tracks: full studio lighting with flashes, light softeners and reflectors, neutral backdrops in grey, black, light and dark, and dedicated portrait lenses. In the studio or at your place, the result is built from the same tools.
A simple rule of thumb: if the picture is meant for a defined place, LinkedIn, a company website, the press, start with headshots. If the picture itself is the goal, start with a portrait. The two can also be combined in one session: first the exact format, then freer photographs.
If you are looking for a photograph for work, every track is on the professional headshots page. If you are looking for a photograph of yourself, you are on the right page.
Business portraits
A business portrait sits between the two worlds: a photograph with personal presence that still serves a professional purpose. It is common among people whose face is part of the brand: consultants, lecturers, therapists, public figures, executives who appear in the press.
Where you meet it: at the top of a personal website, on a conference speaker page, in a profile piece and in personal-branding materials. In each of these places the picture stands alone, at full size, so it has to hold more than a small profile photo: expression, light and intent.
The difference from a standard headshot is the tone. A business portrait allows itself more interesting lighting and a less formal expression, which is why it works well on an about page, in lectures and in interviews. Sessions take place in the studio at Moshav Nes Harim, between Ein Kerem and Beit Shemesh, or with a mobile studio that brings the same equipment anywhere in Israel.
This is what working with a portrait photographer looks like in practice: a short conversation before the session that defines what the picture needs to do, a session of 30 to 120 minutes depending on the package with direction all the way through, and at the end a shared selection of the right images and professional editing.
For a consistent series of team photographs, the better track is business headshots.
Artistic portraits
Artistic portraits are the other end of the scale: photography made for the picture itself. Black and white or color, low light, a clean backdrop, and plenty of time for one right expression. Some people arrive at an artistic portrait after their headshots, when they want one photograph that belongs to them and not to the role. The big difference is the pace: an artistic portrait does not chase a list of deliverables but one expression, so there is time to sit, to talk, to try different light and to return to the first idea. If for you the photograph is also an object, a print on the wall and not only a file in a profile, you are at home here.
This side of the work grows out of Sharon Gabay's art world, years of street photography and human documentation. To get to know that side, visit the art world.
Portfolio
Portraits from the studio
A selection of portraits from the ongoing work: public figures, executives and professionals. Hundreds of public figures have been photographed in Sharon Gabay's studio, and the portraits here are a small part of them. Every photograph on this page is real work with real clients.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about portrait photography
- What is the difference between a portrait and a headshot?
- Headshots serve a defined professional use: LinkedIn, the company website, the press, and their format follows the destination. A portrait is a photograph of the person themselves, with more freedom in lighting, backdrop and expression. The difference is the purpose, not the quality.
- How long does a portrait session take?
- Between 30 and 120 minutes, depending on the package. An artistic portrait benefits from the longer session, because the right expression arrives when nobody is rushing.
- Where are portraits photographed?
- In the studio at Moshav Nes Harim, between Ein Kerem and Beit Shemesh, or with a mobile studio that comes to you anywhere in Israel with the same equipment and the same result.
- Do I get direction in front of the camera?
- Yes, throughout the session: where the shoulder goes, where the chin goes, when to breathe. Most people discover they are more photogenic than they thought once someone directs them.
- What are artistic portraits?
- Photography made for the picture itself, not for a defined use: dramatic or soft lighting, black and white or color, and a clean backdrop. The result is one strong photograph of the person.
- How much does portrait photography cost?
- The full price list is on the services page, and the right package is matched in a short WhatsApp conversation based on what you need.
- Black and white or color?
- Both are done. Black and white emphasizes expression and the structure of the face, color keeps things natural. The choice is made together, based on the picture you imagine and where it is going.
- What should I bring to a portrait session?
- Clothes you feel good in. It is recommended to bring two or three different sets, and the choice between them is made together in a short conversation before the session.
Ready for your portrait?
Write on WhatsApp what you are looking for, a personal, business or artistic portrait, and we will plan the session together: in the studio or with a mobile studio that comes to you.