Akin’s Visual Journal #12

Some portraits look effortless, but they rarely are. This is the story of one I couldn’t plan for.

Akintunde Brown

Jun 28, 2025

The Illusion of Spontaneity in Portraiture

Some of the portraits I remember most are the ones that look spontaneous but aren’t.

I spend time studying people before I photograph them. I think about light, shadows, comfort. I rehearse. I prepare.

That’s not something I downplay. It’s part of the work.

But sometimes, life hands you a moment you didn’t see coming.

Like when I met Luna.

I was in Bristol, taking a break from Cambridge, wandering the city with no real plan. On a street near King’s Square, I saw her. Her tattoos, her stance, the way she seemed to announce her presence just by existing.

Normally, I have a careful way of asking strangers for portraits. But with Luna, the words came out differently:

“I think you’re perfectly positioned for an impromptu photo session. Don’t say no. You’ll love it afterwards.”

She laughed. She said yes. And in that moment, everything aligned.

Could I have positioned her better? Maybe. Could I have removed a background distraction? Sure.

But I wouldn’t change a thing.

The moment was real. And that matters more than perfection.

Some of my favourite portraits

I turned this story and others like it into a short narrated video. It’s essentially this story told aloud, with some of the portraits I’ve made along the way. You can watch it here 👇🏾👇🏾

Thanks for reading. If you’ve ever stumbled into a moment that stayed with you, I’d love to hear about it.

Akin’s Visual Journal

Akin’s Visual Journal #12

Some portraits look effortless, but they rarely are. This is the story of one I couldn’t plan for.

The Illusion of Spontaneity in Portraiture

Some of my favourite portraits

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