In a world drowning in airbrushed ads and Instagram’s glossy pages, there is something breaking through all the noise. People don’t just want flawless faces staring back at them—they want real ones. Wrinkles that tell a story, freckles that dance across a smiling face, scars that demonstrate resilience. Portrait photography isn’t about chasing perfection; it’s about capturing the person. And that person, is diverse, unfiltered, and above all humans.
There is a demand for authentic and inclusive pictures, and it is the one area of photography I love the most. Readers, clients, and scrollers alike are beginning to reject the Hollywood standards of yesteryear for portraits that reflect the messy, beautiful world of who we are. If you’re ready to ditch the over-polished playbook and shoot what’s real, I am your photographer and let’s connect— it maybe even change your day.
Let’s be honest: the world’s tired of perfection. Scroll through X (or your chosen media platform) or flip through a magazine, and you’ll see it—people are done with the same old Photoshopped faces. There’s a hunger for “representation". Black, brown, pale, or golden skin tones; bodies that defy the size charts; ages that span the toddler struggling to walk, to the 90- year-old using a stick—it’s all perfection. It’s not just a feel-good trend. Look at the advertising brands with their diverse campaigns which are racking up engagement. As a photographer who leans into the raw stuff it is great to see.
Over-edited images feel like relics of the 2010s, while unfiltered moments—think a child mid-laugh — are what stops you scrolling. Today authenticity isn’t just nice to have; it is what people crave.
Inclusive portraiture? It means for many people “You’re seen. You belong.” How can that bring a smile to your face.
So, what does this look like in practice? It’s not about slapping a filter on your lens and telling a diverse group it's a shoot. It’s deeper than that. A diversity in subjects means photographing people who don’t fit the old “idea of perfection”—and not just as a token gesture. Think grandads with weathered hands, teenagers with spots, people in wheelchairs, or non-binary friends rocking their vibe. It is important to mix it up naturally, like life does.
Let's stop the heavy retouching. Let pores show, let hair frizz, let expressions crinkle. A smile with crow’s feet beats a smoothed-out blank stare any day. don’t you think?
I like to look for situations where I don’t just shoot a face— I shoot life. A musician with their guitar, a builder covered in dust, a kid clutching a melted ice cream. In my work I try to look for those details that scream “this is me.”
When I work with people, trust is everything and it is important I chat and talk about likes and dislikes. I ask and talk about you. Maybe you have a favourite hat or a goofy pose—those quirks make the shot special to you. if you are a couple how you stand with each other, walk with each other and how you talk.
I like to think and plan for darker skin tones which pop with warm, soft light. I think golden hour or a diffused light. Lighter tones it is important to watch for overexposure that washes out every detail. A little trial and error goes a long way.
I try to ditch the stiff “stand here, chin up” poses and routines. I like people to move—dance, slump, laugh, whatever feels right for you. A curvy person shouldn’t have to hide their shape; a shy kid shouldn’t have to fake a grin. It is different when people feel relaxed, and it is a natural pose. I think it is important for clients to know that as a photographer I don’t just simply stand, point, and shoot. A twirl or a laugh beats a posed stare.
A question from my previous career is one I always think is important. Are you photographing the same “type” over and over? It is important to reach out to someone new—a neighbour, a stranger, a face you’ve overlooked. Diversity starts with your choices. You don’t need a fancy studio or a big budget. Just curiosity and a lens that sees people as they are.
Authentic & inclusive portraiture is about swapping the airbrush for real “brushstrokes” of being human—every shade, shape, story, that’s what cuts through the digital clutter. So, get in touch no filters, no apologies—just the beauty of what’s already there.
If that sounds like something that interests you, drop me a message and get in touch.
