This was a rather minimalist shibari boudoir photography session with my client M at my studio in Los Angeles. It was a rare cloudy day, and I wanted to convey a sense of softness in the ties and in the color. She went through a lot since the last time we had worked together, and had come out through the other side happier and healthier. I felt honored to document this new stage of her life and her newfound feeling of freedom and confidence in herself.
I had shot a virtual photo shoot with Cam during the COVID lockdowns. So naturally, I was ecstatic when she reached out about doing a floral shibari boudoir session for herself.
I recently spent a few Autumn weeks in Japan with my girlfriend, and while I was there I had an opportunity to refresh my art practice. In Zen Buddhism there’s a concept called “Shoshin", beginner’s mind..
"My photoshoot experience with Shane was so wonderful! Shane’s ability to bring forth a creative space that was fun and natural impressed me, as I tend to be a little shy in front of the camera and I was definitely unsure how to pose... During our session, I felt I could easily lean into my personality, and he captures it in his photos effortlessly.”
Like many women I work with, A is normally is the one at the top of control in her professional life, and she was looking forward to an opportunity to experience something different. In this case, an expression of finding release and freedom through sensuality.
A reached out to me about doing a session because her birthday was coming up, and though she had achieved a successful corporate career, she had never really dabbled in making art. So, we planned out a delightful shibari boudoir session. Read how it turned out.
For all my skill in helping others gain confidence in front of the camera, when it comes to myself, I feel like I need as much help as anyone else. Each of these photos took several outtakes, deep breaths, and giving myself permission to be seen, in a vulnerable way.
This was another shibari session at twilight with A, who I’ve worked with before. My goal with this session was to capture the feeling of the experience of tying or being tied.
This is from a minimalist Shibari session I did with Maddie at my studio in Los Angeles. If you are reminded of the way the light strikes a crescent moon, then I am glad.
‘On the empty mountains no one can be seen,
But human voices are heard to resound.
The reflected sunlight pierces the deep forest
And falls again upon the mossy ground.’
A collaboration with Kelton Ching and Vivian Lee, inspired by Peking Opera and Southeast Asian mythology .
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.
This is a recent shibari session I did with Sarah, our first time working together. The goal was to make work that was elegant and sensual, and explore the mystery of how the ethereal aspect of our souls/personality intertwines with the flesh and blood nature of being human.
Lori is an artist and business owner who reached out to me for a floral shibari session, and wanted to try something that she had never done before.