Taking Portraits of Strangers (feat. Gabrielle Motola) 

Kid: Can I be in your video Ummm, you're already in it😄😄 That last scene with the kids was precious ❤️

There has been nothing more profound in my improvement in mental health than taking candid photos of people I see. I talk with them and take their portrait and am proving to myself this world is amazing and I am a part of that 🥺

Sean, the ‘like’ button is so very inadequate.

The difference between people who "want to do" and those who "do do" is not confidence or lack of fear, it's simply the willingness to acknowledge your fear and do it anyway. Such a great insight for us who "want to do". As others have said, your videos are so beautifully produced in ways that enhance the underlying story.

“Each frame is a brushstroke bringing me closer to the final picture.” Wow.

I'm speechless. Tears rolling down my cheek. Gabrielle is the real deal. Thank you, Sean, for getting out of her way, letting her be, so we could be the beneficiaries of her insight and wisdom. Priceless.

I just read something online the other day, in which we Americans were criticized for being "too friendly" and "too pushy"; talking to strangers too readily when we travel, especially in the UK and Europe. Ms. Motola single-handedly gives the lie to that with her authenticity, openness, honesty, and most of all her humility in the act of connecting to other people and participating, however briefly, in their lives. Thank you, Sean, for sharing this, and thank you Gabrielle Motola, for who you are, and for what you do.

I met Gabrielle about 2 hours ago whilst out with my dog Stella, what an amazing thought provoking lady, I really hope I meet her again, my mind is now buzzing with emotion, Thank you so much for asking to take our portraits Gabrielle

Sean this may be the video that has touched me the deepest. Wonderful story. Wonderful portraits. Beautifully filmed. The end with the kids... teared up.

That was incredbile. Those 25 minutes flew by in no time

This is one of the best videos I have ever watched about photography, totally inspirational. Gabrielle talks about the same social anxieties I have and how she overcomes them. Makes me want to go out and photograph humans and break that anxiety I have about approaching people. I am an introvert and I find this type of photography really challenging yet it is my favourite type of photography. Thank you Sean for creating this, sharing it with the world and I hope you keep doing more of these.

Yep, you said you were looking forward to putting this one together and I can see why. A lot of Gabrielle's words resonated with me and other parts were thought-provoking as someone who spends a lot of time disconnected from people but connected with the world in a different way. I loved the bit at the end - the pure innocence and joy of youth :-) Great work, matey.

Sean, please do me a favor: imagine a 35 years old guy standing up from his living room couch and giving you a big, heartwarming round of applause. Yes, I'm doing it! Thank you for sharing this things with us. You deserve all the best!

Talking to strangers? I was taken aback. 23:00 the highlight of the video making everyone smile. Sean, your videos always come with great tunes matching with the contents. ...and realised I watch this segment again and again. Gabrielle's photos are great, but the segment of the kids you took is also great... I keep updating my comment... the last segment is so touching... with the music. The kids and Sean... Sean mumbling... (I can't believe there are people put thumbs down on this one).

Photography is one of the most fascinating ways to meditate/be in the "now".

The boys jumping into the water was SO BEAUTIFUL! My favourite part.

This is a brilliant, useful, meaningful and very moving video. Thank you.

Beautifully made video Sean, Gabrielle is so interesting and an amazing photographer, loved how you put the subtitles for the Scottish accent 😆and the lads at the end were so great.

As a patriotic Scot I am proud of my country and her people. You captured the essence of what makes us who we are. I loved it. Thank you Gabrielle and Sean for bringing our stories to the world. You have inspired me to go out and discover my country. Those wee boys at the end jumping into freezing water, just crazy wee Scottish ba*&?s. Wha's like us? Damn few and they're aw deid. Thank you

So, I am resting up with a bum leg and bowling concussion, and I decided to watch your video. DId not expect to get all teary eyed and feel so emotionally impacted, though I should have known, since your videos truly move me, and they do so so very often. As Ms. Motola said, the great thing about doing street portraits is connecting with folks, even if just momentarily. Those exchanges with strangers are an "antidote" for the emotional turmoil and trauma that can often trap many of us. Can (and does) trap me. And the "antidote" of those portrait moments is (for me) extended during the post process, "that experience of reliving a moment in time." Yep. When I look through my photos and see the "good" photos and the ones that suck shit through a brick.The good and bad all bring back moments of human connection that lift me up. Yep. And I can still recall most of my street portrait moments, and those recollections warm my heart. Kinda like this video did. Finally, I loved Ms. Motola mentioning how she is "putting the camera down more." I think I will try that. Oh, yeah. So, one of the things I learned and am learning is to share my joy of the moment with the folks I am photographing. I want let them, or us, really, create shared magic, even if that magic is just a smile at the camera and/or me. (Who knows, really?) Thank you so much for introducing Ms. Motola to us. Like you, she is someone who opens up and lets us in. Shit, even when she was talking about her equipment history, it felt personal, and certainly not the usual testosteroney posturing. Thank you. Thank you.

Your videos are sheer masterpieces! And the ending was beautiful!

"I think for the most part the world is a much kinder place than we're told it is" - I love that.

She speaks confidently. Thanks to Sean’s goodwill & discretion. What an encounter!

This is one of the best videos on RU-vid. Reminds me that even when I'm depressed, mentally ill and emotionally numb, I still have empathy, love and most importantly, the ability to create pictures that connect with people.

Amazing watching Gabrielle work and talk to us. She is so present and radiates the joy of being in the world making photos. ... And then, the people who are the "subjects" break through the wall around Sean and draw us in to their world [23:10 or so]. This is what it is to be human. ... Thank you.

I could never have imagined that a "photography tutorial" video could make me feel so much and move me the way this video did. This might be my present bias speaking, but I think this is one of the finest videos I have watched on RU-vid ever.

Such a brilliant photographer she is! Thanks, Sean for introducing her to us :) Recently, I tried to make street portraits in a small village of Germany against the advice of my German friends but the outcome was pretty awesome with 3/4 people saying yes for a portrait session! Over the years, street portraits have made me hundreds of friends all over the world! Love it!

I am speechless! This is probably the best video about photography I've ever watched. I had a big smile and tears in my eyes by the end of it. Those boys and the poetry in all of it.. Gabrielle's words struck a chord. Thank you so much for talking about anxiety and depression and sharing such insightful thoughts and invaluable experience. How Gabrielle talks about how being outside and taking photos, connecting with people and moving are cures to depression and anxiety is so powerful and true. I am only at the start of my career but the truth of her words really moved me deeply. It makes me feel less alone, knowing she struggles with similar fears and I feel braver, ready to go outside and try harder. Thank you!

The most inspiring, charming portrait of this most fascinating woman. I started to follow her on Instagram as a result of hearing her describe her personal life's journey. Thank you, Sean, for introducing her.

In times of the internet which is fastest place on the world, your chanell force people to sit, calm down for 10-20min and listen.

Thank you. RU-vid at it's best. Brave to step back and allow Gabrielle to speak without hearing your questions. A pleasure to watch.

Pushed myself to do this after seeing some videos from Jamie Windsor and Pablo Strong to improve my confidence and portraits and now I'm a professional portrait photographer, it's not easy to do but those days wandering around Dublin with my 5d and 50mm were some of the happiest memories I've ever had taking photos. From all the work I've done, the only award I've ever won was from one of those portraits and that proved to me that this was such an important thing to do.

I adore this. I did not to expect to wind up in tears at the end. Beautiful. Thank you.

Sean/Gabrielle that was such a brilliant, warm and inspiring documentary; thank you.

That cover photo is absolutely beautiful

Gosh... I discovered your channel close to a year ago. I have always liked to think that in all your school years you will always remember those teachers that have made magic in you, that have touched a special interest you had and made it bigger and more important. They made you feel a click onto those. They have inspired you to be better, to enjoy your passions in a different level. In my whole life I can count those with one hand, I wish they were more, but it is, what it is. Now you have joined that precious list! You work is not only evocative, precise, beautifully filmed and inspiring, it touched my soul and I am pretty sure it has touched a lot of souls as well. I cannot thank you more for sharing this kind of content and media, it's just plain marvelous... Thank you, thank you! You make me want to be better and live more!

Wonderfully produced and great story telling. A real anti-dote to all the GAS on RU-vid. Well done Sean, and I continue to admire your work. Do keep it up.

Absolutely loved this! Gabrielle's view on photography is something I need to take closer to heart and that ending scene with the boys has made me laugh. Really nicely done! 😊👌🏻

Her flow is so natural

that ending with the boys taking a dive was sensational, the music just brings out the emotions

Your videos are always a joy to watch! Extremely well produced and with no silly filler.

Not sure why I am tearing up but I am. You are a genius Sean. Thank you for this.

Sean Tucker advocates need to dig in more videos like this one. This is a beautifully and emotionally crafted piece.

cameras, bikes, and travel, what a kindred spirit. great interview 👍

great video as usual. my kind of interview, nothing rushed just her thoughts, and the way she interacts with people is brilliant.

You don't understand how much I need this right now. This is exactly the struggle I'm grappling with at the moment. Thanks as always

Wow her comment on anxiety and depression, how being behind the screen amplifies that….but being outside makes that melt away. So spot on. I took the day off, with the intention of shooting, but when I woke up, my mind was telling me to stay in. Waste the day in bed, or playing videogames. I’m happy I forced myself outside, because I had an amazing day of walking around, shooting and having small conversations with people.

This was great, Sean. And she described riding a motorcycle SO perfectly. It has a calming and centering effect for all those reasons. That was beautiful.

Love the way she talks about her experience on a motorcycle. Really well put. Felt the same way when I had my bike. You experience things so differently. You're not cut off. Miss it.

Words are inadequate to describe my emotional response to this video. This is truly beautiful on every level. Thank you!

Have watched your vids for a fair while now and have always found them engaging and informative. Your eloquent use of description and reason, the calming tone of voice and the in depth feel and look of your work, the high level production values....some of the best YT photography stuff out there. But this......this was truly a work of real art. Your mastery of how to edit, to see what is there and use it fully, to integrate your own thoughts and then bring in someone who you yourself admire and then potentially learn from and bring us along on the journey with you......possibly your most engaging video yet. And not just because it was less of you and more Gabriella but the change of direction and the thought process behind it. Yes we still want to see more of you but to see you actually act on a thought process of your own and doing it in such an immersive and engaging way and using someone else who is equally as talented and as engaging as a tool to do this.....an absolute work of genius. This is the kind of thing I would happily see late night on BBC2 or BBC4 and have no qualms with it being there. Well done Sean and well done Gabriella. I bloody loved this!

Another brilliant video! I think it's not right to call these .. just videos but more of insights or thoughts or something more. It gives a person something to think about. I started photographing people on the streets in my area when I began photographing. But over the period I gave that up and got busy shooting food & weddings. Portraits have always been therapeutic! This video is nails what it's like to go out there and take photos of random strangers. Gabrielle is a gem of a person. Such a simple, nice way to talking to people and getting photographs. The last part where the kids surround you and start jumping and just being happy made me smile. It felt genuine. Thanks for sharing this and the photos in the end. Cheers mate. I'm go through my old hdd's to search and take out portraits I did and soon get back on the road photographing people.

What a brilliant portrait of a wonderful person and photographer. I wanted to say „yes, yes‘ all the time. Very empowering Sean.

What a masterfull short documentary. I loved this. Gabrielle is so wise and insightfull. Very well done!

These collaborations you do featuring these other artists are always so beautiful and inspiring. Thank you.

This is real soul food, Sean. I could go on babbling and extolling this or that virtue of your episode, but it wouldn't add anything. Makes me want to do more people photography, which, being an introvert, I habitually shy away from. The emotions when you view those photos and the footage are unlike anything I experience when I look at my own photos.

A subject of increasing interest to me, so this couldn't have come at a better time. Excellent Sean 🙂

It's nice that the gear stuff only showed in the end, because portrait of strangers is not about the gear, but all the contact she talked about. Great video man...

Thanks for sharing Gabrielle with all of us, Sean.

I’ve only recently discovered your channel, but I have made up for that lost time by catching up with many of your absolutely beautifully filmed and edited videos. To my chagrin, this is the first time I think I’ve actually commented. I often find your words thought provoking, more than occasionally inspirational, and there are frequent moments when something you say or a visual moment in one of your videos will inexplicably bring a tear to my eye. I particularly loved this whole video, and Gabrielle Motola‘s story, but there was just something about that last section when you filmed the boys jumping in the sea that literally had tears streaming down my face. You’d think that being a 61 year old man I’d have learned to have more emotional control, but as I get older I seem to get even more emotional! Awesome beautiful work, as always, in every possible respect.

The timing, i just watched your last video few minutes ago. Awesome!

Amazing documentary. You had me glued to my seat and entertained immensely. Picking up my camera today to go shoot. Thanks for this inspiration.

Sean, Your stories don't fade. This one still shine 2 years later. They all shine. I always come back to some of your great stories. I don't know what you are going through in your life, but your stories reach us across the ocean to inspire us, our lives, and our imaginations. I just want you to know that. Cheers.

Engaging, thought provoking, dynamic. You inspire.

Great video, great subject , and the last minute or so with the lads diving was superb, what great images came from that. 10/10

Really enjoyed meeting you down at the sea front in North Berwick!👍

You videos sometimes move me to tears but tears of happy realisation that I’m nit on my own feeling the way I do.🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾😌

I could not control myself liking and commenting after watching this video. A different viewpoint and working style you are presenting is really helping me to rethink about myself. I love how honestly you accept things you can’t do or the fears you have. And then you completely leave the video on another artist and their perspective. Gabrielle’s work is very engaging. She’s astonishingly good at connecting with people. I wish I could be as good as her. Wow, I loved the video.

This is amazing Sean. Thank you for providing this incredible inspiration

Another inspiring piece Sean. Really appreciate your hard work!

I wasn't going to watch this episode because I didn't think the subject matter was really for me. However, I just watched it and how inspiring is Gabrielle and her work. Excellent story and well told. The outcome for me - there are lessons to be learned, as well as inspiration to be found, in so many places that you might not expect.

This exceeded my expectations by a long shot. I browsed on the laptop hung over Sunday morning (after Christmas party) and feel I really should have watched this streamed to the TV in the evening, where I am formally watching rather than browsing. I will watch again with my partner. Really good.

One of the most beautiful and inspiring videos I have ever watched here on youtube. Thank you so much for this Sean, this has inspired me to move out of my comfort zone and start taking portraits again.

Sean and Gabrielle, you saved my day with your video, especially with the last 2 minutes ! Thank's a lot and keep on!

I absolutely loved this. I started watching it because I have a 'project' to photograph a stranger next week. By the end of the video I was smiling with a warm feeling inside. Just amazing.

This is the real Christmas in July. Gabrielle, one of my favorite portrait photographers - whose work is clearly considered, and is accompanied by meaningful thoughts and excerpts every time - on the channel of the kindest youtube photography teacher. Beautifully produced, and very inspiring. Thanks Gabrielle for helping me get some courage, and reframe how I feel about approaching people on the street.

Thanks Sean for this brilliant interview. Gabrielle Motola is an inspiring and wonderful human person. Your work should be on television.

such an amazing video! she's lovely and i feel like i learned lots from her. your channel might just be the best photography one out there sean! thanks for sharing

I think in today’s increasingly suspicious world it’s a wise strategy to ask people’s permission before taking their photo, rather than randomly shooting people in the street. The opportunity to engage with that person, even for a minute or two, makes a huge difference. It’s easier to ask if you’re a female photographer I think, but as a male hobbyist I’ve been trying it out and it certainly is possible and rewarding. This video was totally inspiring; as is the norm from Sean Tucker. Bravo.

Them kids will look back on those photos oneday and wish they could go back to that time. :) Very nice!

One of my Favorite videos On RU-vid of the year. Thank you for that. 🙏🏼😊

Awesome Sean and Gabrielle, I really enjoyed this... gave me goose bumps. Thank you 🙏

Yet again you've given us another portrait full of empathy and love. The work you do behind the camera is every bit as insightful as the work your subject captures. In fact, I think this is your unique strength. You are fascinated by, and respect, the creative process and you have the skills and intuition to reveal them to a wider audience. Your humanity leaks through. Bravo.

What a totally inspirational video and interview. Having recently moved to Calgary, Alberta I was determined to capture the new people I met on the streets, over 500 stranger portraits later I still get a buzz from it. It never ceases to amaze and surprise me the things total strangers will tell me. Thanks to you both for sharing your stories.

I felt every word she said! Thank you Sean for making this video. :)

That's what Photography is all about, well made video, i didn't want it to end!

So many points that she touched on that really hit me. Don't just shoot have a conversation, and the world is not evil like we are so often told people in general are kind hearted. Makes me want to leave the solitude of the landscape and try a new adventure.

I felt like I was watching a well produced tv show or documentary, a new level of RU-vid video. Well done! Inspired.

Superbe video Sean. I think you've just inspired me to shoot portraits of strangers. Keep up the great work.

Wow, beautiful video, incredible talent you guys have... made me cry at the end... in a good way.

Pure gold. The cinematography, her shots, her attitude towards portrait photography and the choice to leave the kids for last was a sweet, sweet touch. Great as always, Sean!

I cried. Every photographer needs to see this.

I really enjoy watching this video. It's genuine and honest. The ending parts with the boys jumping to the lake is really breaking-free. By the way, love the color platte! Thank you for producing such a great content!

Great vid as always buddy. Best image was the group shot of the kids.. a great shot and a treasure for each of them to have.... time will change everything but that image will always be.

What an incredible movie!! Gabrielle gets close to people, but you got close to her. She is so open and real. Just starting to explore her work. And you: there are vloggers that just BS to get hits; there are those that are interesting and talk about themselves most of the time; and there is you who showcases other people! You are at your own level Sean, thanks so much for making/sharing!!!

A very inspiring video. Gabrielle is very natural approaching people and her photos are simply amazing, they capture the emotions of that moment very accurately!

Really good video. Great subject matter, really well shot and put together.

Sean, fantastic video! Excellent production, videography and content.

This moved me. Thanks for the work you do. I love photographing people but dread talking to strangers.

I have been riding motorcycles for over 30 years and I have never before heard a better description of what riding feels like. Normally we just say ‘if you have to ask you wouldn’t understand’.