Brittany's First Session

Digital original

I always enjoy first sessions with new (or even experienced) models; there is always the question of what will emerge from the blend of what the model brings to the session, and where I am at the time. For me, often recent sessions influence the work, part of the continuous evolution of my creative process, while for the models, the could be any number of elements influencing their day, an colouring the photo session.

Digital original

I have a deep, and seeming unending love for placing lips in the bottom corners of indoor nudes…

Brittany is a photo student who approached me about working together because of her interest in photography over all, and attraction to the work I do. We decided to begin with an indoor session more because of the time of the year than an actual desire to work inside - late March in Nova Scotia is too cool for even the hardiest of models.

Digital original, 6 frame stitch

On the whole, the session went well - as usual I opted to work on the white sheets, which I find lends a uniformity to all my indoor work; even with studio lighting, the space looks consistent from session to session. As is the default for first session, most of the images focused on the face as much as the body, celebrating both Brittany, and the Nude at the same time.

Christine Models Indoors

Digital original

Indoor photography is not my preference, but when Christine got in touch to see if I'd like to do some photos, I scrambled to find some space to photograph in (at the end of March, it is a little too cool for outdoor work in Nova Scotia). The session began with some simple available light portraits, working the beautiful window light that flooded the room we were working in.

Digital infrared original

After some other portraits, working with both the colour and infrared cameras, I set up some studio lighting, and returned to a theme I'd explored with Chrstine in December - the Nude on a mirror; in this case, the digital infrared camera permitted me a lot of freedom to experiment with composition and poses, and a number of really pleasing images were created.

Digital infrared original

Nicole's First session

Digital infrared original

The primary goal of a first session is pleasing the models, and gaining their confidence with the process, but when I can combined that with creating strong portraits like this one, it is a good session indeed! Nicole was introduced to my work by Miranda, and after meeting to discuss things, we set a date to work together.

Digital infrared original

This entire session was spent with Nicole posing on a couch covered with a white sheet; the light was perfect to work with, flooding across Nicole 's figure, and providing beautiful soft highlights and shadows.

Digital infrared original

Even through I have worked with digital for four years now, I still find making images in colour challenging - it is so much more complex than working in black & white. One of the few situations in which I really feel I can work well in colour is when it is relatively monochromatic - and filling the frame with skin does just that.