Naelle was my summer intern this year. So when I told her we were going to do a photo shoot together, she pushed back almost immediately. It became an ongoing, half-joking conversation about exactly how I was going to get her in front of the camera. She was resistant in the most endearing way, not rude, just genuinely unconvinced that this was going to go well for her.
The day I convinced her to be my muse was the day we photographed another model as a test shoot for a completely different project. I checked the lights and atmosphere so Naelle could see what the experience looked like before she stepped into it. I wanted her to feel prepared, not ambushed.
Starting with the classics
We opened with clean, direct headshots against a neutral Oliphant backdrop, lit with my trusty Profoto strobes. She was warming up, getting comfortable with where to look and what to do with her hands. You can see the concentration in these frames, she was working at it, which is exactly how most sessions start.
The dress that changed everything
Then she looked through the studio wardrobe and pulled out a full-length black sequined dress. The moment she put it on, something shifted. She went from someone getting through a photo shoot to someone who had fully decided to show up. The dress fit her like it was made for her, and she knew it. We went from coaxing smiles to me trying to keep up with her. In this series of images, she owned every single one.
If you’ve been putting off a session because you don’t feel ready, or you’re convinced you’re not someone who photographs well, Naelle came in kicking and screaming and ended up looking like a celebrity in a sequined gown from our studio wardrobe, in front of a simple yet gorgeous Oliphant backdrop, under my favorite Profoto strobes, in Tokyo. The dress is still here. And if you want to go full celebratory for a birthday or milestone, this is exactly the kind of session built for that.
If you’re interested in portraits or headshots photography, reach out. We’d love to hear from you.
Our collaborative partners:
- naelle_abt · @naelle_abt
