Portraiture (Lawrence-Lightfoot, 1983) emerged early in the post-modern evolution of qualitative research. Since then qualitative methodologies have expanded to meet research in myriad ways. The evolutionary path of qualitative research laid the way to paradigmatic interpretations. There is little wonder then that the use of Portraiture has appeared in numerous studies in recent times showing glimpses of varied application and interpretation. This presentation will draw on my path taking the role of bricoleur to my interpretation of Lawrence-Lightfoot’s Portraiture during my exploration of social and emotional wellbeing in a school context. The incorporation of Patchwork provided a torch that allowed me to see into the darkness of the research process and build on existing interpretations of Portraiture to enable alignment of my methodology and research problematic.