Caique Silva is Inspired by Real People

Welcome to Hero of the Week, an ongoing series sharing stories from some of the best photographers in the Pexels community.

Brazilian portrait photographer Caique Silva loves shooting real people and feelings. Based in São Paulo, he's been taking photos since he was 13, starting out snapping shots on a smartphone. Portraits have become his favorite subject. "Everybody has a unconscious beauty that needs to be put outside, and this is what I explore," he says.

"The most important thing that will make you a great photographer is your connection with the unseen," Caique says. "Go outside, explore, see real life."

Caique is inspired by Portland-based photographer Ryan Muirhead, who specializes in moody portraiture. "He is a great photographer who inspires me with emotional and beautiful portraits. The aesthetic is really good too." It's easy to see this influence in Caique's work—his portraits also have a thoughtful, dreamy feel to them.

Caique's portraits stand out most when he experiments with composition, whether it's grainy black and white, creatively layered exposures, or a light leak adding texture to a shot. His images have an authentic feel, as if he's just happened to capture a subject at a moment when they're looking their best.

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