A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it
Edward Weston
Edward Weston makes an important point. A good portrait photograph is shaped by the connection between two people, photographer and subject. Without that connection the image is at best less interesting, at worst lifeless. When we look at an interesting portrait we discover something about the person portrayed: their life, their character. But we only do so if the photographer has discovered this and brought it out in their image.
In what is a timely challenge for me Ritva asks us to share some portraits for this week’s Lens Artists challenge. My usual approach to people photography is to take candid shots. Quite often I prefer the natural look that these have, but it does mean, I know, that I risk taking and sharing shots of people who would much rather I didn’t and who would have refused had I asked permission.
But there is another reason I tend to take candid shots. In addition to liking a more natural unposed result, I’m not always very confident about asking people to pose. But on our latest trip I found Filipinos so friendly and approachable that I did ask for permission to photograph quite a few of those we met. I also, I confess, did as I quite often do and ‘piggybacked’ on the permission granted by some to my husband, who is always much more confident in asking!
Another advantage of asking is that it can give you an opportunity to strike up a conversation with your subject. One example is the market trader below. We had a fun chat in which we attempted to explain what an Irish leprechaun was!
So here, quite simply, is a gallery of portraits all taken on our Philippines trip and all, unusually for me, with permission! Some may reappear in future posts about the places we visited, and one has already been seen, but I wanted to acknowledge and celebrate the friendliness we encountered there by bringing everybody who posed for me together in this post.

Young policemen on the streets of Manila

School girl in Vigan, Luzon Island
She and her friends (see feature photo) saw my camera and came rushing over asking to be photographed – all they wanted in return was to see the photo, which produced lots of giggles!

Trainee altar servers in Nuestra Senora de la Caridad, Bantay, Luzon Island

School girl in Bangaan, Luzon Island
Our local guide Conchita’s mother in law, Bangaan, Luzon Island


Our lovely main guide Jezzy with her god-daughter (and local guide Conchita’s granddaughter), Bangaan, Luzon Island
Another local guide on the rice terraces of Bangaan, Luzon Island


In the market in Banaue, Luzon Island
Drying rice near Banaue, Luzon Island


Ifugao women at the rice terraces near Banaue, Luzon Island
Shopkeeper in Vigan, Luzon Island (happy for me to photograph her child but didn’t want to show her own face)


In the market in Vigan, Luzon Island
I visited the Philippines in February and March 2025
12 Comments
norasphotos4u
You captured some wonderful images!
ThingsHelenLoves
All beautiful portraits. The one of the baby with mother turned away is really striking.
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
They all look such lovely people, but the schoolgirls are my favourite. What energy!
Egídio
Sarah, I am with you about candid photos. They often capture more of a person’s soul than a posed portrait. This is a great gallery, especially the old people and the children.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
Your photos are always so good, same this time, the smiles are contagious and all are willing to be captured by you. Our local guide Conchita’s mother in law, Drying rice near Banaue, Shopkeeper in Vigan are maybe my favorites.
Graham Stephen
👌👍🌟✨💫
thehungrytravellers.blog
Looking very familiar! I wish we had more photos of Raquel’s daughter Zira who were our hosts in Baguio, she was so demonstrative in her facial expressions. So many good people in the Philippines….
photobyjohnbo
Sarah, I expected to see some of your portraits of people in your travels, and I wasn’t disappointed. I love the shy shopkeeper and the mother-in-law photos.
Anne Sandler
Great environmental portraits Sarah. You do have the knack for capturing emotion. I especially liked your image of the shy mom and baby. That photo told a great story. Well done!
margaret21
I was looking forward to your response to this challenge, as I’ve always admired your candid portraits. And I haven’t been disappointed!
Sarah Wilkie
Aw, thank you Margaret 😊😊 Although strictly speaking, for once these aren’t really candid shots but rather posed!
margaret21
Still candid enough!