"Capturing Transformation: A Journey of Creative Portrait Photography and Collaboration"

In this blog post, I'll be exploring my journey in creative portrait photography, focusing on a project I did with a client and now friend Deniz Ural. Our collaboration began at a pivotal moment in Deniz's life as she was transitioning into a new career path, a journey filled with optimism, creativity, and a sense of liberation. To symbolize this fresh start, Deniz had jokingly said it was time to "chop" her hair off. She sought portraits that would encapsulate this exciting new chapter, and I was here for all of it!

A Collaborative Journey

Often In my work with clients, I view our time together as more than a service transaction; I see myself as a creative companion and collaborator. This approach was fully embraced in my project with Deniz. Together we created a mood board, exchanged ideas, and found ourselves in a state of creative synergy, often surprised by the similarities in our thoughts and concepts.

“Starlet” w/ Deniz Ural 2022

Deniz had a clear vision for her portraits, desiring to encapsulate a sense of timelessness, femininity, and power. She had a specific preference for black and white images, although I couldn't resist sneaking in a few color shots. A valuable tip from a friend, Tala K, led us to Fitzroy Rentals in Toronto, where we found some fantastic outfits. These were further enhanced by a selection of accessories that Deniz brought along. Despite the time constraints, we managed to capture a solid amount of outstanding shots during our few hours together.

The Gear and Techniques

For this photoshoot, I utilized the Sony a7III camera, paired with the Tamron 70mm-180mm and 28mm-75mm lenses, both known for their lightness and versatility. When it came to lighting the Tuxedo outfit, I used 3 Profoto D1 strobes, two of which were used to light the backdrop, and one was directed at the subject. This key light was modified with a Profoto RFi Octa Softbox (4'), positioned at a 45-degree angle, slightly above her head. This setup, known as Loop Lighting, was used to cast a shadow on the side of her face and obscure her eyes, particularly for the “Lady LaMancha”. For the second set featuring the "Dreaming" concept, I kept it real simple, using just one D1 strobe equipped with a magnum reflector which amplifies the light from the strobe by 1 stop.

“Lady Lamancha” w/ Deniz Ural by Omii Thompson. Outfit The Roland Tuxedo Jumpsuit designed by Jay Godfrey from Fitzroy Rentals Toronto, Canada.

The Final Product

This project was a valuable learning experience, particularly in manipulating light to evoke specific moods. The photoshoot resulted in two distinct sets of images: one set was high key, “powerful”, and a Vogue-like magazine feel, while the other had a moody, atmospheric quality reminiscent of 1920s films, like back in the day, Hollywood starlet, "Sophia Lauren Vibes". The thrill of the day was the creative experimentation that took place in the studio.

“Dreaming” w/ Deniz Ural by Omii Thompson. Outfit The Moonlight Gown designed by Gemy Maalouf from Fitzroy Rentals Toronto, Canada.

Overall, it was a great day of collaboration and creativity. Working with Deniz was a pleasure, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a part of her journey.

Until Then,

O