I was recently talking to a friend about dance, and how it involves a nonverbal communication. There is so much that happens during a dance such as tango or ballet, beyond the music and physical movements that are easy for observers to see. There is an internal aspect, of being able to connect through touch and be able to feel your partner’s center, to read how their balance shifts and their energy changes. Shibari is much the same way, in that the constrictive aspect of rope bondage means both partners must become more aware of their balance and their partner’s, and calls more attention to every single touch as the tie progresses. The rope (or the dance) provides the setting and framework, but the real art is in making space for vulnerability and allowing that two-way connection to happen.

One might be surprised to know that Jessica is actually quite introverted, and had never done a photo session like this before. She writes:

It was such a pleasure to work with Shane. Before we started we talked about my boundaries. He listened and helped guide me through out our shoot. Watching him tie was very intriguing and relaxing. I felt so at ease the whole time. As we shot he would show me what we had shot and I couldn’t believe it was me. He captures you perfectly and elegantly. Looking forward to shooting again.