Portrait Photography Masterclass Empathy: intimacy in portraiture
- Loredana Denicola
- Jun 7
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 9
Pisa, 2–3 August 2025
In life, we often find ourselves embarking on new paths - journeys full of challenges and discoveries. In 2021, Francesca Sand and I (Loredana Denicola) founded La Pecora Edizioni: a small, independent project born from strong ideas and a deep passion.
Challenges didn’t spare us, but it was precisely the strength of our convictions that kept us going. Our first step was Fragmentum, a self-funded fanzine that we’re distributing slowly, yet with great joy, listening to those who’ve discovered it and told us how much they found it interesting and original.
This experience gave us the push we needed.
Empathic Portrait Series | ©Francesca Sand | Photography Masterclass, Pisa
And so the photography masterclass – empathy: intimacy in portraiture was born
We decided to create something that would unite our way of feeling photography with the desire to share it. This is how the Portrait Photography Masterclass came to be, taking place in Pisa, Francesca’s hometown.
A masterclass that goes beyond technique: it aims to explore portraiture as a profound gesture of empathy and intimacy. For us, portraiture is a sacred space. It’s a dialogue with the soul of the other - and with our own.
In a world saturated with often superficial images, we want to offer a journey where listening, observing, and relating are the true protagonists.
Who is it for?
For amateur photographers, semi-professionals, and enthusiasts who want to learn not just how to take pictures, but how to truly “meet” their subjects. For those who believe photography is an act of attention.
Where and when?
Circolo di Asciano – Pisa2nd and 3rd August 2025Maximum 10–12 participants (to ensure an intimate and personalised experience)
Participation fee
€210 (2 days of full training + lunch included on the first day)
Early Bird: €190 for bookings with deposit by 30th June 2025
What we’ll do together
An intensive workshop focused on three essential levels: Relationship – Technique – Narrative
Main topics:
Building a connection with the subject: empathy, trust, dialogue
The right distance: reading the body, respecting timing
Environmental portraiture: location scouting and spatial arrangement
Staged photography: creating a conscious direction
Serial portraits: telling a story in sequence
Creative concept: what do we really want to say?
Intimate portraiture: light, closeness, context
Composition: lines, negative space, colours, framing
Posing the subject: authenticity and comfort
Group portraiture: managing multiple dynamics with a coherent narrative
Detailed programme
Day 1 – Saturday 2 August (10:00–17:00)
Welcome, introductions and overview
Interactive theory session
Listening and observation exercises (without camera)
Mini photo warm-up: “5 shots in 10 minutes”
Practical session in natural light (urban and outdoor settings)
Image review and group feedback
Workshop on posing the subject
Homework and inspiration for the next day’s project
Day 2 – Sunday 3 August (14:00–20:00)
Presentation of individual project ideas
Practical shooting session outdoors or staged photography (you may bring your own subject)
Technical guidance: composition, posing, storytelling
Editing, image selection, and preparation for presentation
Presentation of projects and group discussion
Final reflection and certificate ceremony
Practical notes
Bring a digital camera or smartphone with a good camera
Wear comfortable clothing
Bringing your own subject for the project is optional
Objectives
"For me, this masterclass is much more than just a photography lesson.
It’s an opportunity to share something profound, to offer participants not only practical skills but also new awareness and a fresh perspective on portraiture."
During these two days, we’ll start a personal journey that you can continue afterwards, at your own pace and following your own vision.
We’ll learn how to genuinely connect with the subject and the surrounding environment, without pressure or artifice. Words, glances, silence… everything can become part of the portrait. Because before the shutter clicks, there is an encounter to be lived.
We’ll practice creating and selecting images that truly speak, that tell something honest.
We’ll write and share personal reflections, without judgment, as an integral part of the creative process.
Together, we’ll build a visual narrative that’s coherent with what you feel and want to express.
And finally, we’ll imagine possible futures: an exhibition, a publication, or simply a project that carries your unique mark.
Portraiture, for me, is a true encounter.
A sacred space where we open up, expose ourselves, and leave a mark.
A mark that remains even after the camera has stopped clicking.
This is what we want to convey: photography as dialogue, as empathy, as a profound form of listening that goes beyond the image.
How to enrol
Full fee: €210Early Bird: €190 (deposit by 30th June 2025)
For info and bookings: lapecoraedizioni@gmail.com
Contacts
Loredana Denicola
Website: loredanadenicola.com
Instagram: @loredana_denicola
Francesca Sand
Instagram: @francescasand.art
A final thought
If you’ve read this far, perhaps you already feel a desire to be part of it.
This is not just a masterclass.
It’s a safe space where you can experiment, take risks, ask questions, and discover new directions.
You don’t need to be a professional.
You only need the willingness to truly see people, listen to them, and tell their stories with an honest gaze.
Bring your curiosity, your sensitivity, your doubts, and your unique perspective.
We’ll be there, with our experience and the desire to walk alongside you on this small photographic journey.
We look forward to welcoming you in Pisa, with open hearts and cameras ready.
— Loredana & Francesca
To join the workshop, please fill out the registration form below:
Alternatively, you can email us at lapecoraedizioni@gmail.com with your details: full name, email, phone number, and a brief note about why you want to participate.
La Pecora
Insta.@lapecoraedizioni
Loredana
Sito Web. loredanadenicola.com
Insta.@loredana_denicola
Francesca Sand
Insta.@francescasand_art
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