Some of the most memorable portraits begin long before the shutter is pressed.
Join Laurin Strele, documentary photographer and photojournalist, for an immersive Leica Explore workshop focused on one of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of photography: approaching and photographing strangers. Drawing from years of experience documenting people across cultures, communities, and environments around the world, Laurin will share practical insights into building genuine human connections that lead to meaningful portraits.
This hands-on workshop explores what happens in those crucial first moments of contact. How do you approach someone you have never met? How do you ask for a portrait respectfully? How do you read a "no"? And how do you stay present long enough for trust to develop and an honest photograph to emerge?
Whether you are new to street portraiture or looking to deepen your documentary photography practice, this workshop will help you develop the confidence, communication skills, and awareness needed to create authentic portraits of people you meet along the way.
What You Will Learn
- How to confidently approach and engage with strangers
- Building trust and rapport in a short amount of time
- Reading body language and respecting personal boundaries
- Working through rejection and understanding when to step away
- Creating authentic portraits through genuine human connection
- Practical techniques for documentary and street portrait photography
- Evaluating and strengthening your images through constructive critique
Workshop Outline
9am to 10am - Introduction/Briefing @ South Beach Quarter Store
10am to 1145am - Hands-on session (Venue to be announced later)
12pm to 1pm – Lunch Break
1pm to 2pm - Photo Sharing/Debrief
2pm - End of Workshop
Event Details
Date: 10 December 2026 (Thursday)
Time: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Venue: Leica Store @ South Beach Quarter
This workshop is open to photographers of all skill levels and camera brands.
About the Instructor
Laurin Strele is an Austrian-born documentary photographer and photojournalist whose work explores the human experience across conflict, culture, and transition. His assignments and long-term projects have taken him to countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, India, Syria, Ukraine, and Lebanon. His photography has been published internationally by publications such as GEO, Newsweek, and Der Spiegel.
Spaces are limited to ensure a personalised learning experience. Register early to secure your place.
Cancellation & Registration Policy
We understand that plans can sometimes change, and we appreciate your understanding as we manage a limited number of seats for this exclusive event.
- Registration is confirmed upon successful payment and receipt of a confirmation email from Leica Akademie.
- As seats are limited, all registrations are non-refundable.
- Should Leica Akademie need to make changes to the programme, venue, speaker schedule, or event format, we will communicate these updates to registered participants as soon as possible.
- In the unlikely event that Leica Akademie cancels the event, a full refund of the registration fee will be provided.
Our cancellation policy helps us ensure that every available seat can be allocated fairly and that we can continue to deliver meaningful experiences for the Leica community.
By registering for this event, you acknowledge and agree to the above terms and conditions.
