5 Must-Haves for Approaching Urban Portraiture

Greetings to all photography lovers!
I'm Juan P. Bialade and in this opportunity I want to share with you the five essential elements that I consider essential when approaching the urban portrait. In my course at Domestika, "Urban Portraiture: Connecting with Our Subject", we explored how this form of photography can become a powerful tool to explore the links and the human condition in an urban environment.

1. Understanding the Environment
The first step in capturing urban portraits is to understand the environment in which you find yourself. The city is an ever-changing landscape, full of details, colors and textures that can complement your subject. Before you press the shutter, take a moment to observe your surroundings and make sure all elements contribute to the story you want to tell. The choice of location can have a significant impact on the narrative of your portrait.

2. Establish an Authentic Connection
While portraiture is a technical issue, one of the most important aspects, perhaps the most important aspect, is the ability to establish a genuine connection with your subjects. When photographing people on the street, it is essential to build a bridge of trust and empathy. Listen to their stories, show interest in their lives and create an environment where they feel comfortable being themselves in front of the camera. This will reflect in the authenticity of your portraits and the ability to convey the true essence of your subject. It is important to remember that we are documenting other people's lives with our camera.

3. Creative Composition
Composition is a fundamental part of any photograph, but in urban portraiture, it can elevate your work to another level. Experiment with interesting angles, unusual framing and unique perspectives to create portraits that stand out amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. Don't be afraid to break the traditional rules of composition; sometimes imperfection can be perfect.

4. Mastering Lighting
Light is essential in photography, after all, we are writing with light! (photography is derived from the Greek words "foto" which means "light" and "grafía" which could be translated as "writing"). But in the case of urban portraiture it still has a special aspect, and learning how to modify it, manage it and mix it with the ambient light is crucial. In my course, I have prepared an additional resource called "Light Modifiers", which reviews the four most common light modifiers and how choosing them will give your portrait a different character. Mastering these modifiers will allow you to effectively sculpt light, creating dramatic effects and enhancing your subject's features. Light is a powerful tool for telling stories and evoking emotion in your urban portraits.

5. Narrative and Context
Finally, don't forget about narrative and context in your urban portraits. Each image should tell a story or convey an emotion. Think about what you want to communicate with your photography and how the elements of the environment, your subject's expression and lighting can help you achieve it. Adding context to your portraits can give them depth and make the viewer connect even more with the image.

Join the Experience
If you're ready to dive into the exciting world of urban portraiture and explore connections and the human condition through photography, I invite you to join my course on Domestika, "Urban Portraiture: Connecting with Our Subject".
Through practical exercises, technical tips and exploring the relationship between lighting and portraiture, you will learn how to capture the essence of the city and the stories of its inhabitants in a unique and powerful way.
You can find more information and join the experience here.

I look forward to seeing you at the course, where together we will explore the limitless possibilities of urban portraiture and learn to connect deeply with our subjects and the urban environment around us.

Let's make urban portrait photography a tool for exploring the world and the human condition!

I look forward to seeing you at the course and thank you for reading.