Laura Pannack: Portraits of Youth

Born in 1985 in Kingston upon Thames, London, Laura Pannack discovered her passion for photography at Central Saint Martins and began her career in her 20s. She rose to prominence with a World Press Photo Award in 2010 for her portrait Graham and later won the John Kobal Award in 2014 for Chayla in Shul. Now based in London, her 15-year career blends personal projects with commercial work, often focusing on youth. Her images stand out for their muted tones—like soft greens and greys—and tender, unguarded moments captured in natural light.

Primary Genres:
- Portrait Photography
- Social Documentary Photography
Primary Photography Style:
- Straight Photography: intimate, narrative-driven with a focus on real, unposed moments
- Expressionism: authentic and emotive, highlighting raw human connection
Key Message:
Laura Pannack’s photography delves into the bond between subject and photographer, using trust to reveal authentic stories and explore personal and societal themes with sensitivity.

Pannack’s work often centres on young people and communities, from teenagers in her Young Love series to couples navigating Brexit’s emotional fallout in Separation. Her aesthetic is defined by soft, muted colours—think flesh tones or misty greys—paired with textures like worn fabrics or diffused air, all lit by natural light from windows or overcast skies.

She shoots candid scenes with analogue film (Bronica 645, Hasselblad 6×6) for personal projects, embracing its organic flaws, while switching to digital (Canon 5D Mark IV, 85mm lens) for commercial jobs. In editing, she uses Lightroom to subtly adjust contrast and warm hues, keeping the focus on authenticity rather than polish. Her photos, displayed in galleries like The National Portrait Gallery or books like Youth Without Age and Life Without Death (2023), feel tender and unforced, drawing viewers into quiet, human moments.

For intermediate photographers, Pannack’s approach is a lesson in blending analogue and digital techniques. Her film work teaches how to use unpredictable textures for depth, while her digital precision with prime lenses (shot handheld at 1/125s) shows how to maintain intimacy. Her reliance on natural light, similar to the zone system’s tonal control, highlights subtle contrasts to evoke emotion—perfect for those learning to balance technical skill with storytelling. Projects like Young British Naturists, where nudity fosters trust, encourage shooters to build rapport with subjects over time, weaving broader issues into personal narratives.

Accolades:
- World Press Photo, Portrait Singles (2010)
- John Kobal Award, Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize (2014)
- Prix HSBC pour la Photographie (2017)
- Sony World Photography Awards, Portfolio Category (2021)

Trivia:
- Uses nudity in projects like Young British Naturists to build trust with subjects
- Finds inspiration in Virginia Woolf’s introspective writing
- Runs workshops to spark creativity in young photographers
- Created Separation to reflect Brexit’s impact on relationships

Lessons from this Photographer:

Laura Pannack shows that trust and patience with subjects can unlock authentic, powerful portraits. Her mix of analogue film and natural light teaches photographers to embrace imperfections for richer stories, while her subtle editing keeps the focus on emotion. By exploring her subjects’ psychology, she inspires shooters to dig deeper, connecting personal tales to bigger themes—an approach that encourages experimentation with light, lenses, and long-term relationships in their own work.