Jessica 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.
Read MoreThis is a question that I’ve been hesitant to approach, because for a long time I wasn’t sure.
It took me over ten years of photography before I started to find my voice and figure out what it was I had been trying to say all along, and likewise shibari has taken some time, about ten years off and on. Most of my realizations have come after I found my voice through the art of photography, and started to find parallels.
This boudoir session with Tiffany took place just as winter was starting to end in Los Angeles, though it may look like summer to folks elsewhere in the world. The session itself was effortless, I truly believe that when photographer and subject are in sync, soulful photographs are as natural as sunshine.
Read MoreThis is kind of a special one.
Read MoreNew shibari work with Svetlana. We had an interesting discussion about sensuality and how it is perceived, which got me thinking about who the intended audience is for a given artwork, as opposed to simply a viewer.
Read MoreNathalie and I decided to do another virtual session, since travel is still limited and she’s currently living in Europe. I woke up early in the morning here in Los Angeles to catch the late afternoon in her time zone (nobody said being a photographer was easy). As the shoot went on, Nathalie became more confident in herself and got into her groove, barely needing any direction from me.
Read MoreNathalie and I met when I was living in Tokyo in 2017. We only had a brief window of opportunity to work together, so, I did what I always do: I improvised.
Read MoreLike any art, shibari is a way to express one’s self with another, and for me it is a gentle art that is primarily about communion. It demands deep trust and a high degree of communication from both the one casting rope and the one being bound, and it can reward a powerful experience. This work is an exploration of that and an attempt to convey what that bond feels like in that moment.
So, that being said, I’d like to present to you what happens when you bring together two people with soft rope, fresh flowers, a camera, and some of that beautiful Los Angeles sunshine.
Read MoreIt has been a long, long year.
To celebrate vaccination, I got together with E, who was actually one of the last people I did shibari with prior to the pandemic.
My ropework was a bit rusty, my fingers stumbled through knots, and I only gradually remembered the structure of the ties. Gradually I was able to get out of my head and embrace a spirit of play, just enjoying a moment of intimacy with a friend without judgement.
New work from my recent virtual boudoir session with Genesis. With this session, I felt inspired by the quickly fading winter light.
Read MoreLena and I have known each other since college, and though we’ve gone our separate paths, we reconnected last winter. Of course, with the pandemic we’re all cooped up, with nothing to do but read books, tend to our plants, and drink coffee. Well, almost…
Read MoreEarlier this month I had the pleasure of a virtual photo session with Marlena. For this session we decided to go with an intimate feeling, and in this set we made use of her lovely vanity for a through the looking-glass effect.
Read MoreDue to the Covid quarantine, I and others have found that it is possible to do beautiful boudoir photo sessions virtually, by means of video calls. For me, creating art through these sessions is a joy, like flying after being let out of a cage. It’s still quite a ways away from the experience of actually having a proper boudoir photo shoot in person, but it is also rewarding in its own unique way, with constraints and opportunities.
Read MoreMegan is an actress in Los Angeles, and we connected though some mutual friends on social media. This was one of those photo sessions that just demands to be in color, so of course I must obey. Its easy for me to get caught up in a dark mood and aesthetic sometimes, so it was refreshing to go for a lighter approach with this session.
Read MoreSomething I have been thinking about lately is heterosexual male sensuality/beauty, and how it is depicted (or more accurately, excluded) in our visual culture. Certain aspects of male anatomy are commonly referenced in pop culture as a source of humor, but never depicted outside pornography (aside from a few brief glimpses in HBO’s Game of Thrones). Women’s bodies are idealized & commercialized to a far greater degree than mens’, and in turn has generated pushback in the form of body-positivity and a focus on inclusiveness. Is the same true for men? Maybe in the gay male cultural ecosystem, but not really for straight men, at least as far as I can tell.
Read MoreI have been thinking about how little men are conditioned to being seen. While our society makes young girls aware of their appearances, reinforced by “Disney Princesses” and later makeup advertisements, boys and men are very rarely expected to be actively looked at. We are given expectations of how to dress depending on our work or local culture, but that is more of a uniform. Men are very rarely ever looked at as sensual, sexual beings in a way that isn’t about some fantasy about power…
Read MoreAnything that can be looked at has probably been photographed, but it’s the expression that matters. Even my work with my dear friend Ryan, who I have known and been photographing since we met in college, continues to change and grow, just as we do. Each time, better than the last.
Read MoreI hope you all had a happy halloween, and now, a happy Día de Los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead for my friends who are less familiar with Latin American culture. It is a celebration and remembrance of the lives of those who have passed, and its roots are a combination of indigenous Aztec traditions with Catholic influence.
Read MoreWhen Belinda of Opus Events reached out to me about photographing a vegan bridal shoot in collaboration with The Kind Bride, my first thought was that these photographs would have to defy expectations. Weddings and other events usually are places of excess, and typically do not prioritize low-waste or sustainability. I wanted to show that a wedding that does prioritize sustainable practices and materials can be as stylish and make as much of a statement as even the grandest event.
Read MoreNew work from a casual boudoir session with Belinda. She’s been having a rough time lately and this shoot was a good change of pace. I think it’s important to take a break from normal life every now and then and just enjoy the moment. So, we had a moment, shared with the young monstera deliciousa and other small plants I am growing.
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