“No growth without assistance.
No action without reaction.
No desire without restraint.
Now give yourself up and find yourself again.”

- Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun Fat),
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

When Anastasia reached out to me about doing a photo session, she expressed a particular interest in the shibari aspect of it. I had done similar work with a friend of hers, and she was eager to try it out.

When I’m tying for a photo session, I typically do a handful of looks, starting with a classic torso box-tie with the arms behind the back, and this Diamond or Tortoise-shell dress type of pattern that is easily adaptable for a variety of looks such as over clothes or with a matching leg-tie. Towards the end of the session, I typically either do asymmetrical freeform tying without any predetermined pattern, or improvise something based on the client’s request.

In all cases, when I’m working with a client the process is a bit different from when I am tying with a partner. Physically, the process is more restrained as I limit physical contact to the minimum necessary for a good tie, and I spend more time perfecting knots and prioritizing the visual appeal. In contrast, when with a partner the flow of movement is more important, and the practice of tying and untying becomes many things: a means of play, a means of communication, and a meditative activity.

As an experience, the shibari for photo shoots is an introductory scratch on the surface, which I am glad to share.