Ever had a photoshoot go completely sideways... only for it to become one of your favorites?
Because that's exactly what happened here.
Literally nothing went according to plan.
Our original model canceled at the last minute. We were already behind schedule. We were trying a new set design we'd never built before, complete with a DIY red curtain backdrop, and suddenly the entire day felt like it was slipping away before it had even started.
For a moment, it felt like all of the preparation had been for nothing.
But creative work has a funny way of rewarding flexibility.
Sometimes the best thing you can do is let go of the image you thought you were going to make and stay present enough to notice the one unfolding in front of you.
Thankfully, we found another model who stepped in at the last minute, and she ended up being absolutely perfect for this concept.
The Concept
The inspiration for this shoot was theatrical portraiture.
We built a custom box set, painted everything red, and created our own stage using red fabric as a curtain backdrop. Combined with a dramatic spotlight and the styling, the whole set took on this vintage Hollywood feeling.
You can view more of the BTS and creation process here.
The concept was stage fright, that strange contradiction of desperately wanting to be seen while simultaneously fearing the spotlight.
So instead of chasing one specific pose, we explored that emotion.
Confidence.
Anxiety.
Anticipation.
Hesitation.
Choosing THE image
We photographed hundreds of frames, searching for that feeling.
Ironically, THE image wasn't one we planned.
It was captured near the very end of the shoot.
To us, it feels like a liminal moment, a quiet pause just before someone steps into the light. There's anticipation, uncertainty, excitement, and fear all existing in the same frame.
That's the photograph that made us stop.
That's the one we couldn't stop thinking about.
And that's why THIS became THE image.
To sort through hundreds of photographs from this shoot, we used Narrative to help us cull the entire session. It dramatically sped up our workflow and made it easier to cut through the noise.
But choosing the final image has never been about finding the technically "best" photograph.
It's about finding the one that makes us feel something.
The one that lingers.
The one we keep coming back to.
Speeding up the Process
Narrative helps us get to that moment faster by eliminating decision fatigue, and we're incredibly grateful they're sponsoring this series.
If you'd like to try Narrative for yourself, you can download it for free here.
