The photographer who captures “alien portraits”

“In the same way that a beautiful view might catch your eye, sometimes people just look really nice – like they’re having a nice day or putting on a fresh jacket that maybe they weren’t too sure about.”

That’s the approach taken by Mitchel Lucas, who has racked up hundreds of thousands of views on TikTok for his heartwarming “portraits of strangers.”

The streets of Bristol provide the backdrop for the series, with people captured in iconic locations such as the Harbourside.

Mr Lucas described the city as the “perfect place” for his work, where he captures people on location with their portraits.

Some of the most popular videos on his page show the process of finding a subject for a portrait, setting up the photo, taking the photo, and then instantly printing it on a mini-printer.

Mr Lucas then films himself surprising the people he has photographed with the picture, capturing their reaction in real time.

“When I first started, I thought everyone would reject it. I was a little skeptical even if I tried it, but I decided to give it a shot anyway,” he said.

“It seems like 90 percent of the reactions are positive — I don’t think I’ve ever had a negative reaction on the outside.”

“There’s a talent in taking candid photographs like this,” Mr Lucas explained – adding that it was best to be a “human person”.

“If people notice that you’re taking their picture from a short distance away and blending in, people might think you’re a bit weird.

“But if you smile and wave and go say hello and introduce yourself, then it’s a much easier and more fun way to do it.”

It’s not the first time Mr. Lucas has shared his portraits online, but the mini-printer that allows him to share the portraits is a new addition.

He previously worked as a musician, “so I was used to the freelance life,” he said, but turned to photography when gig opportunities like weddings suddenly disappeared during the pandemic.

“I started doing them (portraits of strangers) a few years ago when I first started photography, because I couldn’t get anyone to work with me, so I had to go and photograph people on the streets “, he said.

Considering that photography is a relatively new business, sharing his videos on social media has proven to be a valuable tool for finding new opportunities.

The whole process is “a lot of work,” he said, “but ultimately it’s my way of marketing and advertising my paid services.”

“I’d much rather spend my time making people smile online and stuff than put money into advertising on Facebook or something.”

And while his ultimate dream is to travel, “telling stories about people and places,” Bristol credits him with making his journey so far possible.

“Bristol is the perfect place, if there’s going to be anywhere it’s going to be open, it’s going to be here,” he said.