Autumn in Stockholm never stays for long. There are a few precious weeks when the light softens, the trees turn gold, and familiar streets suddenly feel cinematic. It is a beautiful time to make portraits.
Antonia wanted to capture something of that feeling, so we planned a simple afternoon walk around Djurgården. No complicated concept, no long shot list — just a camera, autumn light, and the freedom to see what we might find.
Our little adventure actually began at Sergels torg, waiting for a bus that never arrived. So we changed plans, took the tram instead, and stepped off near Nordiska museet.
Sometimes a change of plan puts you exactly where you need to be.
At first, Antonia was understandably a little conscious of the camera. Rather than asking her to pose, I suggested something simpler: forget about being photographed. Walk, look at the trees, explore the surroundings and enjoy the afternoon. I would take care of the photographs.
And that became the most important lesson of the day.
The less we tried to make a portrait, the more naturally the portraits appeared.
As we walked, talked and experimented, the camera gradually became less important. Expressions became quieter, movement more instinctive, and the photographs began to feel less like poses and more like moments.
By the end, what began as an autumn portrait session had become something much more enjoyable — an afternoon of exploring, observing, learning and creating together.
Perhaps that is what I love most about portrait photography. You can plan the location, choose the lens and study the light, but the photographs you remember often happen somewhere between those plans.
Gear: Sony A7C + Samyang 35–150mm f/2–2.8
Location: Djurgården, Stockholm
