I love shooting with Charlie, every single time, because he’s one of the most interesting people I’ve met in London, and also one of the most genuine. He also came so prepared, with a wardrobe full of clothes and accessories in tow, and ready to give his all! And I’m so impressed by the depth of his personality and acting ability, you can really feel his presence in these photos!
I’ll be honest though, neither of us was in the best of moods when we did this shoot. So we both essentially did our best, trying things out and iterating when we hit creative bedrock. We were both tired, and it was my second shoot of the day, which is quite demanding for the way I do my shoots. It takes a lot of energy to connect with someone and get them to open up, and I sometimes feel exhausted afterwards; not because the person was exhausting in any way, just because I put so much of myself into the shoot, into providing that safety and inspiration and bringing my own authenticity to inspire theirs.
I absolutely must thank @oliver.shellhouse for joining me on this shoot and for bringing a few super interesting concepts, the main of which is the cover image for this post, and it’s such a striking look!
It is not an exaggeration to say that shooting with Lora was fantastic, and for the first time in a long time I am really really struggling to pick my favourite photos of this shoot, so much so that I’m going to make another post to compensate a little. (my short list for this post alone started at 40 must-have photos, and then I had to be ruthless in cutting them)
For this first post, I wanted to show a side of Lora that she probably doesn’t show too much, an authentic side of playfulness and depth, and a genuine combination of warmth and sensuality. I didn’t pick these photos because they’re the best (although she effortlessly looks amazing in them all), but rather because they show who she was as a person, in my eyes.
I never shot with Lora before this, I never even met her, but I’m very glad that she managed to open up and show me who she really is. This often is what I love in my photoshoots: bringing someone in as a stranger, and, rather than making them fit into rigid concepts and “moods”, letting inspiration find us, and create something that’s just *them*, like how no one else could be, not exactly so.
Congratulations again Brian on your graduation, and thank you for asking me to capture this moment for you! I'm not too pleased with the results for how glamorous you looked, but I'm happy to celebrate with you!
My friend Hylton is a complex character, a man of style and strength, but also someone who has been through a lot in this life. His presence is imposing, but he's also still building back his confidence and stability. He's someone who does a lot and still strives for more, when I feel he should just be taking a big break from it all! Here's to you, my friend, and I expect next year's photoshoot to find you blooming and proud!
Imad is someone I wish I had shot a bit more with, especially in that blinged out suit! As you can see in the photos, he brings a lot of attitude and strong aesthetics.
@iamlhaddy is another model I've shot in Morocco who has a lot of style and a great vibe. He's someone I think I would have had a great solo shoot with, because he was quite different from the others. But still, I think we got some great results!
Norry is another model from Morocco with a striking look. He's incredibly fit, but he's got a really nice, friendly energy, and it was a pleasure shooting with him!
Nehad is a gorgeous Moroccan model, and it was a pleasure to capture her. What I love most about her is this duality, of her being both a stunning woman on one hand, and a happy girl who loves life on the other. Thanks for all the fun, and I'm glad we got to create these together!
