--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you are doing portraits, you have…" description: "\"When you are doing portraits, you have that intimacy with someone for a few minutes. For a really good portrait, you don't take the portrait - it's giv..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/giles-duley-24456_given_when-you-are-doing-portraits-you-have-th_1222127.jpg" --- # When you are doing portraits, you have that intimacy with… ![“When you are doing portraits, you have that intimacy with someone for a few minutes. For a really good portrait, you don't take the portrait - it's given.” quote by Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/giles-duley-24456_given_when-you-are-doing-portraits-you-have-th_1222127.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/giles-duley-24456_given_when-you-are-doing-portraits-you-have-th_1222127.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/giles-duley-24456_given_when-you-are-doing-portraits-you-have-th_1222127.jpg) > “When you are doing portraits, you have that intimacy with someone for a few minutes. For a really good portrait, you don't take the portrait - it's given.” [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A great portrait emerges naturally when the photographer and subject share a brief, intimate connection, allowing the image to arise without forced effort. **In simple terms:** Portraits arise from genuine intimacy, not forced posing. Key Takeaway Seek authentic connection before shooting. Themes photography intimacy creativity Mood reflective inspired Type instructional artistic When to use this quote - portrait sessions - artist collaborations - teaching workshops Key Concepts human connection spontaneity visual storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster trust quickly? - What moments reveal true character? A Different Perspective If the subject is uncomfortable, the intimacy may not develop, limiting the result. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimacy/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) ## Related quotes > [For me, a good portrait shows the fragility and humility of the person, and at the same time a strength, a resting in themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-tillmans/for-me-a-good-portrait-shows-the-fragility-and-humility-of-the-person/) [Wolfgang Tillmans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-tillmans/) > [I sometimes find the surface interesting. To say that the mark of a good portrait is whether you get them or get the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/i-sometimes-find-the-surface-interesting-to-say-that-the-mark-of-a/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [Fashion is where I make my living. I'm not knocking it; it's a pleasure to make a living that way. Then there's the deeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/fashion-is-where-i-make-my-living-i-m-not-knocking-it-it-s-a-pleasure/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [I thought, 'Well, I'll amuse people a little bit.' During lunch hour, while everyone was off to the faculty club and this and that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-fafard/i-thought-well-i-ll-amuse-people-a-little-bit-during-lunch-hour-while/) [Joe Fafard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-fafard/) > [I want an exhibition one day, so I am doing portraits of rock stars. I paint from pictures in magazines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fearne-cotton/i-want-an-exhibition-one-day-so-i-am-doing-portraits-of-rock-stars-i/) [Fearne Cotton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fearne-cotton/) > [I love doing portraits, its just now I want to take it to the next level and start making better and more interesting compositions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-von-d/i-love-doing-portraits-its-just-now-i-want-to-take-it-to-the-next/) [Kat Von D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-von-d/) > [I really like doing portraits, but I like taking pictures of things that are natural, like scenery, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-may-jagger/i-really-like-doing-portraits-but-i-like-taking-pictures-of-things/) [Georgia May Jagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-may-jagger/) > [“It’s because I’m a witch that I can take these pictures,” Jennie said.  “A good portrait photographer shows the outside of a person; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debora-geary/it-s-because-i-m-a-witch-that-i-can-take-these-pictures-jennie-said-a/) [Debora Geary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debora-geary/) > [“I think that a good portrait reveals a suggestion of the subject’s mind, and not just a representation of how they look. It’s by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-ross/i-think-that-a-good-portrait-reveals-a-suggestion-of-the-subject-s/) Elizabeth Ross > [A good portrait is incredibly hard to create, there is too much temptation to pander to the individual rather than portray them as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/a-good-portrait-is-incredibly-hard-to-create-there-is-too-much/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [“From underneath my hair, I study him. I know from doing portraits that you have to look at someone a really long time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/from-underneath-my-hair-i-study-him-i-know-from-doing-portraits-that/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [I still find doing portraits a terrific challenge, but even though I've done hundreds of them, I've never stopped questioning the very nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-michals/i-still-find-doing-portraits-a-terrific-challenge-but-even-though-i/) [Duane Michals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-michals/) > [In the past there were too many portraits of Chairman Mao in China. They were hung everywhere. That was not proper and it didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deng-xiaoping/in-the-past-there-were-too-many-portraits-of-chairman-mao-in-china/) [Deng Xiaoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deng-xiaoping/) > [In 1984, I was contacted by Michael Taylor, who had won a commission from a sponsor and decided he would like to paint a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/in-1984-i-was-contacted-by-michael-taylor-who-had-won-a-commission/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by Giles Duley > [I am a big believer in love. Love for me is what got me through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/i-am-a-big-believer-in-love-love-for-me-is-what-got-me-through/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [When I worked as a music and fashion photographer, I always had the nagging feeling that there was something missing, that I wasn't using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/when-i-worked-as-a-music-and-fashion-photographer-i-always-had-the/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [A lot of great creativity comes from restrictions,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/a-lot-of-great-creativity-comes-from-restrictions/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [I really love the Olympics: Daley Thompson's back-flip, Derek Redmond's father helping him finish the 400m after his hamstring snapped at the 1992 Games…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/i-really-love-the-olympics-daley-thompson-s-back-flip-derek-redmond-s/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [For those looking at me, meeting me for the first time, it is the body they see. I am labelled as disabled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/for-those-looking-at-me-meeting-me-for-the-first-time-it-is-the-body/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [My friends love this idea of me as half man, half camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/my-friends-love-this-idea-of-me-as-half-man-half-camera/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [For most Olympic athletes, their training is their hardest challenge and where they push themselves to the limit. For Paralympians, training and competition is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/for-most-olympic-athletes-their-training-is-their-hardest-challenge/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [I don't see many people as heroes and, though I love sport, I believe athletes rarely deserve that praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/i-don-t-see-many-people-as-heroes-and-though-i-love-sport-i-believe/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [I was obsessed from the moment I took my first photograph. I wanted to make photography my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/i-was-obsessed-from-the-moment-i-took-my-first-photograph-i-wanted-to/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [I don't see myself as being injured by a landmine or the Taliban; I was injured by ignorance and hatred. When people do these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/i-don-t-see-myself-as-being-injured-by-a-landmine-or-the-taliban-i/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [I had been a fashion photographer for over ten years, but I'd always been dissatisfied with what I was doing. It was all about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/i-had-been-a-fashion-photographer-for-over-ten-years-but-i-d-always/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [People who look at Greek statues never say it's a shame because they're not complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/people-who-look-at-greek-statues-never-say-it-s-a-shame-because-they/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [I'm not a war photographer. I've always dealt with the consequences of conflict,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/i-m-not-a-war-photographer-i-ve-always-dealt-with-the-consequences-of/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [If you focus on the things you can't do, you'll destroy yourself. Just remember everything you can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/if-you-focus-on-the-things-you-can-t-do-you-ll-destroy-yourself-just/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [War is not something that can be won. Everybody loses at war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/war-is-not-something-that-can-be-won-everybody-loses-at-war/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) [Explore all 24 Giles Duley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) ## More Given quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. 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Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The old charters of Massachusetts, Virginia, and the Carolinas had given title to strips of territory extending from the Atlantic westward to the Pacific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-bushnell-hart/the-old-charters-of-massachusetts-virginia-and-the-carolinas-had/) [Albert Bushnell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-bushnell-hart/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Susan B. Anthony must be turning in her grave if she knew that millions of women who have the right to vote are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/susan-b-anthony-must-be-turning-in-her-grave-if-she-knew-that/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [If life were like a competitive race, some people would be given a flying start and others would line up with weights tied to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-grothe/if-life-were-like-a-competitive-race-some-people-would-be-given-a/) [Mardy Grothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-grothe/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Music is one of the ways by which you can know everything which is going on in the world. You can feel... through music...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/music-is-one-of-the-ways-by-which-you-can-know-everything-which-is/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [Today, at Harvard, any student with the currently fashionable color of skin is given rights denied to students of the currently unfashionable color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capp/today-at-harvard-any-student-with-the-currently-fashionable-color-of/) [Al Capp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capp/) > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [It was given out that the animals there practised cannibalism, tortured one another with red-hot horseshoes, and had their females in common. 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