The Workshop that Breaks the Rules

The Surprising Portrait Workshop: June 20–22 Bushwick, Brooklyn

Great portraiture isn’t just about technique—it’s about voice. This workshop is about unlocking yours.

Since making this an annual event in 2023, my approach has evolved. One major shift: I now do a live portrait demo on Day 2. Instead of focusing on lighting setups or production practices, I work to create a compelling portrait in real time—discussing concepts and poses with the sitter, while on the watch for those unpredictable moments that lead to the strongest images.

You’ll see the creative process unfold with a front row seat: the negotiation, the risks, the breakthroughs.

Another major shift? The accountability group I launched after last year’s workshop. It’s become a powerful space for experimentation and research—monthly assignments, honest feedback, and deep dives into the psychology of creative growth and achievement.

The regular engagements with the group have got me developing some innovative ideas that will strengthen and deepen the 3-day Surprising Portrait Workshop.

This June, we're bringing it all together. New ideas, a live demo, multiple assignments (and critiques!) — a weekend built to challenge and expand how you shoot portraits. Visit the webpage for more details on the workshop.

Bring curiosity, leave with clarity.

Early bird pricing ends Thursday, May 1 at midnight.

Top Image: Chris leads the Surprising Portrait Workshop in Toronto, July 2024. BTS photo by Worker Bee Supply.

Second Image: The first time I did a portrait demo it was a spontaneous decision. The Los Angeles workshop group watch Chris as he shoots with Hudson Fega, February 2023. BTS photo by Alexa Rocourt.

Bottom Image: Documentary filmmaker Nanfu Wang, photographed by Chris for his accountability group, Checking Focus. November 2024.