As I've mentioned before, my subjects are often friends, colleagues, or strangers. The biggest challenge is getting people to pose—many are shy or skeptical, especially strangers. But those who’ve trusted me have received portraits, free of charge.

Why do I do this? I love photography. I enjoy framing a subject, guiding the mood, and spending a couple of hours chatting and joking during the shoot. The real reward is the satisfaction of producing a strong image.

Below are a few portraits taken over the last two years, with a brief note about each subject:

Andrea – This was our third shoot. Normally, I guide expressions through conversation, but this time she took full control, expressing whatever crossed her mind. Try to guess what she's thinking—you may be surprised. She's clearly grown very comfortable in front of the camera.

Diane – A former summer student at my workplace. Everyone—men and women—commented on her beauty. In this second shoot, I focused purely on showing her calm, solemn beauty.

Hasib – I met him at a plaza where he pretended to sell shoes to women as part of a friendly bet with his friends. The loser would pay for dinner. He was witty, polite, and had a strong personality, which comes through in his poses, even without much facial expression.

Iryna – She served me lunch at a Greek restaurant while working to fund her studies. Friendly and funny, she agreed to a shoot. Despite being new to modeling, she was a natural—expressive and quick to adapt. In some images, it's hard to believe it's the same person.

Robert – My neighbour, often stopping by for a chat when I'm gardening. On the day of the shoot, we were sharing a cool drink and talking about his upcoming bypass surgery, the garden, and telling jokes. The soft afternoon light was perfect, and you might be able to guess the mood of our conversation from his expressions.

© 2014 Gaetano Antonini