The Empathetic Portrait

While a great photographic portrait is a thing of beauty in itself, it can also be an opportunity for a profound human connection between photographer and subject. At a time when real human contact can seem increasingly elusive, when our attention spans are getting ever shorter and distractions appear endless, the chance to slow down and really engage with another person, friend, family, or a complete stranger in the act of portraiture, for even five minutes, can be transformative.

In a career of over 40 years, Andrew Southam has made portraits for magazines, record covers, and advertising clients, as well as his own fine-art projects. And in that time, he has come to see the work as far more than just a photograph of a face, but rather as a way to truly be present with another person and create work together that goes to a deeper level of emotion and expression.

In this five-session online workshop, Andrew conducts participants, through discussion, presentations, and specifically designed post-class assignments, through an experience to grow their artistry and create truly empathetic portraits. 

First addressed is self-reflection between the workshop participants and Andrew, about how we see ourselves and what our ambitions are for the work. Even if we’re only working for our own amusement with no other destination in mind, we can still aim high and deep. How do we go about setting an intention for our work, and then set out to fulfill that as best we’re able? We discuss how to better communicate with subjects, helping to put both them and ourselves at greater ease. When we have the advantage of privacy, how do we go about creating a respectful, inspiring mood, through choices of lighting, composition, and even the music we play in the background? On the street, how do we best go about approaching strangers to create spontaneous but deeply resonant moments?     

Whether your preferred camera uses film, is a sophisticated DSLR, or you just like to capture moments with your iPhone, this is a workshop that deepens your experience as both a photographer and a human.