Fine Art Portraits 
A fine art portrait is when the photographer is in full control of lighting and directing of the sitter, being able to show his artistic talents through the skilled use of lighting and background conditions of his/her choice. A great example of a fine art portrait photographer is Horst P Horst, whose photographic work still today inspires us up and coming photographers of the future. His mastery of lighting and printing techniques made it possible for him to produce some memorable images which were published by his employer in the magazine 'Vogue'. Although Horst died in 1999 his work will always be remembered as a huge importance within the history of photography.
www.horstphorst.com
Another more modern photographer who takes Fine Art Portraits is the American photographer Jody Ake. Although I say modern he prefers to use a very old style photographic technique, in fact it is actually just short of 150yrs old, invented in 1851 by Frederick Scot Archer and is called the Wet Collodion process. This is where a glass plate is coated in collodion and the plate is then exposed to capture a image whilst wet. Further detailed guidance into the collodion process can be seen on this informative website
Ake's portraits are very distinctive due to the old style photographic process that he uses, his prints all have beautiful artistic borders due the way in which the print has been produced from the glass negative. A very old school approach . . . this giving an air of authenticity to his modern day portrait masterpieces.
Environmental Portraits 
An environmental portrait is when the photographer considers the surrounding of the sitter to be of equal importance to the person whom is being photographed and quite possibly the most important aspect is defining that person by their surrounding environment. A fine example of a master of environmental portraits is Arnold Newman.
It was in 1942 that Newman had conceptualized the basic philosophy of his future work, "to take pictures of people in their natural surroundings with a little stronger feeling about not just setting it up." In 1946 he worked on assignments for Alexey Brodovitch, and Harper's Bazaar and Life were his major clients. He took some of his most famous portraits at this time, including one of Igor Stravinksy sitting at his piano, which ironically Brodovitch, in one of the most noted gaffes in photo history, rejected.
Jackson Pollock, Long Island, NY, 1949
Frank Stella, New York, NY, 1967
Portrait of Man Ray, New York, NY, 1960
Marc Chagall, New York, NY, 1942
“We do not take pictures with our cameras, but with our hearts and minds.
-Arnold Newman
Salvador Dali, New York, NY, 1951
Woody Allen, New York, NY, 1996
Alfred Krupp, Essen, Germany, 1963
All of the above images photographed by Arnold Newman were sourced from the internet;
Another modern photographer who idealizes in taking environmental portraits, mainly of well known public figures and celebrities is Harry Borden,
"As a photographer the qualities that you bring to a portrait are multi-faceted. It is about observing people, composition and light: these are all the things that make a great photograph as well as creating a rapport with the individual" Harry Borden states in an interview with The British Journal of Photography
Michael Hutchence 1997
by Harry Borden (b.1965),
gelatin silver photograph
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