138 ☼ Street Portraiture As An Introverted Photographer
GIVEAWAY: $150 gift certificate for the Moment shop
Dear friends,
In this week's letter: taking street portraits as an introverted photographer and how I turned it into something that gives me energy rather than anxiety or imposter syndrome.
Also in this issue: a fantastic Process Giveaway with my friends at Moment who made available a $150 gift certificate to their online photography shop.
☀️ Shout out to the good folks at Squarespace for helping make this issue possible ☀️
Housekeeping
The current exhibition at WIHH Gallery, featuring Guy "Houston's Rhythm: The 90s Hip Hop Revolution," is the fifth installment of the Process Projected series. For additional details on Guy, his work, exhibition opening hours, and more, go here.
An Introvert Extroverting
Photography has gifted me countless cherished moments, particularly the chance to meet amazing people wherever I go. Street photography, in particular, has been a profound source of these serendipitous encounters.
Wandering through cities, camera in hand, I've discovered a world of stories and connections. As an introverted photographer, this hasn't always been easy. In the beginning, I grappled with a fear of rejection and misunderstanding. The all-too-common imposter syndrome crept in, making me question my worth: "Why would these people on the street care for my desire to talk to them and take their portrait?"
Over time and with lots of practice it got easier and later even addictively fun and easy. Sure, I get rejected sometimes, but never in a bad way. Over time, street photography has enabled me to tap into a previously untapped part of myself. I've become what I jokingly call an "extrovert-on-demand," meaning that I can switch into an extroverted mode when needed. I've found that leaning into my extroverted side for these brief encounters has enriched my life and even provided a source of energy.
My approach to street portraiture is simple: I engage in conversation with strangers who catch my eye, creating a mutual exchange as we share a moment of our lives. By giving their time and permission, they offer a glimpse into their world; I give them the feeling of being seen and heard, and they get a portrait of this moment in time.
Despite my introversion, street portraiture has become my favorite way to connect with the world around me and understand the essence of a city and its people. Over time, I've even forged lasting friendships with people I've met on the streets.
Here are some tips for fellow introverted photographers getting out there to break through that wall of hesitation and unearth their extroverted side:
Be genuine — Approach people with curiosity and respect. A warm and open smile and honest interest go a long way.
Embrace vulnerability — Allow yourself to be open about your project and intentions. This vulnerability fosters trust and deeper connections.
Practice active listening — Give your full attention to your subjects, allowing them to express themselves and share their stories.
Show gratitude — Thank your subjects for their time and offer to share the photos with them. This simple act strengthens connections and encourages future encounters.
Street portraiture has been a life-changing practice for me. It’s helped me work through personal growth while celebrating the beauty of human connection, across borders and languages.
As introverted photographers, we have the unique opportunity to embrace our duality and lean into moments of extroversion, sharing our storytelling talents, and adding tiny moments of human connection in a world that could use many more of them.
As the sunshine returns and brightens our streets, I hope some of you who identify as introverted will embrace the challenge of street portraiture. Each change meeting with a stranger holds the potential of a meaningful connection and a share smile.
Recommended Reading
If you enjoyed this issue I’d love for you to share it with friends.
Next Week: The first steps of making a new book: NOTICE Journal Volume One.
Keep shooting and take good care of yourselves and others. <3
Wesley
PS Don’t forget to sign up for the Process Projected newsletter—work by inspiring contemporary photographers twice a month.
PPS Want to support Process? Please order my photo book NOTICE. <3
Gear & Tools Used
Camera: The images in this newsletter were shot with the Pentax LX, Pentax 67ii, Contax G2.
Film Stocks: Kodak Portra, Kodak Tri-X, Double X.
Shout out to MPB.com, my go-to place to buy, sell, and trade used cameras and lenses. I love their service and am a paying customer. MPB caters to over 625,000 visual storytellers and provides a 6-month warranty. Thanks for the support, MPB! <3
Lab: All my analog work is developed and scanned by my friends at Carmencita Film Lab. They’re my favorite lab in the world. Use code “PROCESS” to get a free upgrade.
Website: Shout out to Squarespace for supporting Process. If you need a website, I highly recommend using Squarespace. I’ve been a paying customer for over 10 years (!!?). It’s an easy, professional, and affordable way to have a beautiful portfolio website and webshop. Use the code PROCESS10 for 10% off your first order.
Process Giveaway
My pals over at Moment are back for a generous giveaway! One winner will receive a $150 gift card to buy whatever you wish including film, bags, a course, and more.
To enter this week’s giveaway answer the following question in the comments:
Q: What is a question, topic, or theme you’d like to see me write an issue of Process about?
It can be any question at all, as small or big as you’d like. Hit me! For examples, check last week’s comments where some excellent questions were asked already.
ENTER THIS WEEK’S GIVEAWAY before 11 a.m. EST on April 6th.
The winner will be randomly drawn. This giveaway is for Process subscribers only.
Great article. For a time I was taking portraits of people while I walked in a particular city. I did struggle with this idea of getting a great portrait. How to ask someone to take their photograph! I remember this guy who fixed espresso machines. He always had a cigarette hanging from his mouth. I thought he was a perfect subject for my portrait. When I asked him to take his photograph he said “Why would anyone want to take a photograph of me?” It was a great photograph.
Wow, loved Audrey's picture and vibe!