Collaborating with Sony, I recently had the privilege to guide some talented photographers and creatives for a one-of-a-kind experience at the Sony x Layepro Environmental Portrait Workshop in Senegal. This carefully curated workshop not only covered the technical know-how about photography but also had our participants take a deep dive into the heart of Senegalese culture through their lenses.

Senegal and her People Through Environmental Portraiture

As the name suggests, environmental portraiture is clicking portraits of individuals in their natural surroundings, i.e. their environment. But why, you may ask. Isn’t the subject, not their environment, more important in a portrait? Yes, but not if the environment could convey more— a deeper story about who your subject is and what they do. (Less is not more, in this case.)
Keeping this in mind, Sony and I designed the workshop to be immersive. We had our participants engage with the local Senegalese craftspeople—fishermen, tailors, and drivers— and document their lives and stories in powerful narrative-driven images.

Three Locations, Three Occupations

Since the primary purpose of our workshop was to visually represent the distinct aspects of Senegalese life, we marked down three key locations for our participants to photograph.

The first place we came to was the vibrant textile market of Colobane. Here, our participants after exploring the area, photographed the local tailors. Adorned by colorful fabrics with intricate patterns, this site was particularly challenging to us as we had to showcase the dynamic environment. However, with the best equipment Sony had to offer and my timely guidance, our participants handed in some riveting compositions that foregrounded the tailors' craftsmanship and artistry.


Our next stop was the ruggedly charming Mosquée de la Divinité. Boasting Senegal's finest fishing industry, this coastal landmark allowed our photographers to capture the fishermen on their daily grind. While the rustic and vibrant location had our participants churn out some beautiful shots, I have to admit that the timing was the silent hero. The golden hour offered us a warm and natural backdrop, allowing us to capture not just the fishermen in their element but also the myriad textures surrounding them.


Culminating in a completely different energy, the final leg of the workshop took place at Garage Lat Dior. A transportation hub, this area was bustling with the sounds and movements of the city. This was the perfect spot for the participants to learn to balance static portraits against the dynamic environment of vehicles and urban life. During this enthralling night shoot, we captured the vibrancy of Senegalese drivers and their world.

Mastering the Craft with Sony

As we roamed through the various parts of Senegal, I made sure our participants also knew how to use their equipment, teaching them everything they needed to know about capturing environmental portraits, from camera settings to lighting adjustments. To ensure we get the best output, we used a variety of Sony's best and most coveted cameras, including the ILCE-7CR to get perfect high-resolution photographs with excellent detail and ILCE-7RM5 to capture the finest details in our environmental portraits. We also made use of the versatile and compact ILCE-6700 for quick-moving situations.

These top-of-the-line cameras were paired with handy lenses like the SEL14F18GM wide-angle prime for low-light situations, the SEL20F18G compact wide-angle to click intimate environmental portraits, the SEL15F14G ultra-wide prime for unique perspectives, and the SELP1020G wide-angle zoom for flexibility in framing.

The hands-on session aided by cutting-edge tools allowed the participants to capture the most riveting details in the most challenging conditions. The result? Each one of them left with a portfolio of striking, authentic portraits.

Not Just A Workshop!

The Sony x Layepro Environmental Portrait Workshop was a smashing success in enhancing the skills of our beloved participants. However, to me, it was also more than just a learning experience; it was an opportunity to document and celebrate the rich, diverse culture of Senegal. By laying focus on the lives of the local craftspeople, the session highlighted how the art of storytelling and photography go hand in hand. It gave our participants the chance to not only take photos but also to connect with their subjects, understand their stories, and portray them respectfully and true to their environment.