Based in London, Laura Pannack is a photographer focuses on social documentary and portraiture, seeking to explore the complex relationship between subject and photographer. In 2010 she received first prize in the Portrait Singles category of the World Press Photo awards and has been extensively exhibited and published both in the UK and internationally.

When EyeEm hosted a masterclass with Laura in London last October, I took on the opportunity to ask the 30-year old talent extraordinaire a few questions about her work:

On Photographing ‘Young British Naturists’

“For 1-and-a-half years I researched and sourced individual people that are naturists around the UK and gained access to clubs where it’s legal to be naked. I wanted them to be able to relax and be natural, but for me to have permission to photograph.”

“I wanted to learn more about photographing groups. I wanted to challenge myself with regards to how I photograph people in a natural way and how not to disrupt what I want to photograph. But at the same time capture some sense of reality.

On Personal v. Commissioned Projects

“There’s a lot of commercial work I shoot that’s irrelevant to my personal work. The reason why people commission me is because they would want me to photograph something in particular in my style.”

“I really set myself personal projects and I’m really dedicated to them. I’ve got complete creative freedom which is so important to me and I immerse myself so much into them.”

“With commissioned work it’s very much about collaboration. Because it’s not just my ideas that come into play, it’s lots of other peoples. We’re more having a conversation between us and creating a project together.”

On Portrait Photography

“Taking some of these pictures is a very unique experience. You always both walk away feeling like you’ve had an experience.”

“I hope that within the moment I photograph somebody, we form a connection.”

On Sharing Work Online

“For me it’s more about putting the work out there like having a conversation with somebody. It’s not necessarily an end result. Or to gain anything out of it. It’s more just because I find it interesting.”

“I love looking at photography. For me personally it’s interesting to be part of that network where you’re kind of all sharing. I feel like you learn more when you share, because people criticize. I very much welcome that, I very much enjoy having a conversation about images that help me progress as an artist.”

See more of Laura Pannack’s work on her website. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. See photos by participants in Laura’s recent EyeEm Masterclass on taking portraits of strangers.