Chicago is a city known for its balance: its got all the draws of a typical major US city - a wealth of restaurants, respected galleries, a world-class music scene. Yet unlike the 'if you-know, you-know' snobbery of New York, or the glittering pretence of LA, Chicago has the warmth and openness of a much smaller place. It carries all the creative credentials of a cosmopolitan capital, but without the arrogance of its counterparts.

Raised in Italy with Ghanian heritage, Lawrence Agyei moved to Chicago as a teenager. He built a career in the Midwest capital and has established himself as one of the city's most exciting emerging contemporary portrait photographers with work appearing in publications such asTeen Vogue, Vanity Fair, Studio Magazine and Rolling Stone. He strives to document and reflect the times we live in - with a focus on immigration, he intimately captures his subjects while subtly weaving in Chicago's palettes, fashion and moods in the backdrop.

In the guide below, he shares where he finds creative inspiration in the city: