You can add you own (I think the wiki has the exact details of how to add them) or download packs with them in them from the workshop.

When i scroll through the portraits at character creation; only the original ones show up.

At the very least you can replace any portrait in Steam\steamapps\common\Shadowrun Returns\Shadowrun_Data\StreamingAssets\ContentPacks\seattle\art\portraits

i have browsed through the portraits changed some of the names to "pc_elf_01" or something similiar to that but i was still unable to access any more portraits.

I'm surprised nobody has really answered this yet. (Sorry, I would have earlier, but I was at work, and had trouble copy & pasting from my phone).

http://shadowrun-returns.wikispaces.com/Importing+your+own+Portraits

If it's not showing up, make sure you're using the .png format. Other than that, I'm not sure what issues you might be running into (as long as you followed this tutorial).

Ok, I've dowloaded some portrait packs, but nothing I do do allows them to be used in character creation.

I've tried to follow the steps in the following thread, but nothing works:
http://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/app/234650/discussions/0/864974467227721515/#p1