Take a minute and think of some of your favourite photographs. Chances are that there are people in them. Portraits emote character, stories and memories. Add in the magic of living photos, and you have portrait cinemagraphs that leave a mesmerizing impact on the viewer.

When approaching portrait cinemagraphs, you always have to keep in mind the Big 3: Expression, Composition and Lighting.

Here are 8 creators from the Flixel community who make inspiring portrait cinemagraphs:

Cinemagraph by Courtney Bowles

With the gentle breeze brushing against the subject’s hair, Courtney’s approach to this cinemagraph is simple yet beautiful. A theme that she carries on her impressive gallery of wedding and engagement cinemagraphs.

Cinemagraph by Dustin Cohen

Photographer and Art Director Dustin Cohen is a master of capturing expressions. His photographs tell a deeper story, evoking emotion and a more personal connection between the viewer and subject. Make sure to check out his gallery for more!

Cinemagraph by Dhrumil Desai

As a professional fashion photographer, Dhrumil incorporates the power of cinemagraphs to his arsenal to bring his portraits to life. This portrait was created for jewelry company Freida Rothman and features the Modern Mosaic collection.

Cinemagraph by apricotberlin

Having created visual content for brands like Reebok, Adidas, Blinkked, Lala Berlin and more, photography duo Jess Schwarz & Tiago da Silva are masters of capturing expressive portrait cinemagraphs.

Cinemagraph by Jonathan Kane Houldsworth

As one of our very own Flixel Wizards, Jon is always experimenting with new ways to tell stories. He can take any scene and turn it into a beautiful cinemagraph. He calls this one, featuring his daughter: “Wildlife photography, the rare Millie mouse in the field.”

Cinemagraph by Sean Byrne

Sean is a UK based photographer known for his incredible visual imagery of the great outdoors. Having worked for brands like National Geographic, Davidoff Coolwater, Travel Alberta, The London Helicopter Company, Swiss Air and more, Sean always lets the elements of his shots speak for themselves, resulting in raw and powerful cinemagraphs.

Cinemagraph by Gagan Sadana

Famous for his street and portrait photography, each of Gagan’s photos and cinemagraphs tells a story and leaves a lasting effect of awe and wonder in the eyes of the viewer.

Cinemagraph by Julia Linkogel

Lastly, Julia is a visual artist that lets her creativity run wild through her cinemagraphs. Her portraits capture the simplistic beauty of her subjects and surroundings.

Don’t forget to upload your cinemagraphs to your Flixel account for a chance to be featured on our social accounts, website, and blog!