Capturing Faces on Brick Lane
Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone
Rather than sticking to candid photography, I decided to head up to Brick Lane and push myself out of my comfort zone. This time, I focused on street portraits—approaching strangers and asking them to pose. It’s a skill I wanted to practice, particularly building quick rapport so people feel comfortable in front of the camera. Plenty of photographers do it, so how hard could it be?
Fabiana — From Candid to Posed
First up was Fabiana, from Taiwan, who caught my eye with her stylish look. She was completely engrossed in texting and didn’t even notice me taking a few shots from a short distance. When I asked if I could take a proper portrait, she agreed—and the posed shot turned out far better than the candid ones.
Joseph and the Organ
Next, I met Joseph, who was playing an old organ outside a shop about halfway up Brick Lane. He seemed to know the owner and was encouraging passersby to try it, despite the ‘Do Not Touch’ sign. Joseph was happy to pose for a few shots, adding a lot of character to the series.
Anthony — Photography on the Pavement
Nearby, Anthony had a clothing stall set up on the pavement. We got chatting while I was swapping lenses, and it turned out he was into photography too. I used my 85mm lens for his portrait—such a great focal length for street portraits, giving a nice balance between intimacy and distance.
Tamarah Djalloul — Future TV Presenter
Next, I met Joseph, who was playing an old organ outside a shop about halfway up Brick Lane. He seemed to know the owner and was encouraging passersby to try it, despite the ‘Do Not Touch’ sign. Joseph was happy to pose for a few shots, adding a lot of character to the series.
Tom — Improv Comedy and Profile Shots
Tom was next—his hair stood out before I even saw his face! He does improv comedy sketches and liked the idea of getting some fresh profile shots, so we grabbed a few quick portraits.
Salvatore — Hesitant but Engaging
Finally, there was Salvatore, originally from Italy but now living in Paris. He was a bit more hesitant, which you can see in his expression. Some people are naturally more reserved, and that’s part of the challenge with posed street portraits—you never know how people will react, and not everyone will be keen.
Reflections on the Day
For my first attempt at posed street portraits, I’d say it went well. Maybe I got lucky, maybe I picked approachable subjects, or perhaps my “hang around and wait for curiosity to kick in” technique worked. In 2–3 hours, I managed to take six portraits without any outright rejections. Having my iPhone loaded with examples of previous work was incredibly helpful—it reassures people and shows what they can expect from the session.
I’ll definitely be back to Brick Lane to keep practicing. There’s something really rewarding about engaging with people, hearing their stories, and capturing a moment that feels a little more intentional than a quick candid shot.