People photography - an introduction

Setting the stage

Every human has two unique sides: an outside, and an inside. A body, and a soul. Both sides are beautiful and interesting, and it is up to you to decide how much of each you're willing to expose. That decision determines the type of shoot.

Portraits

When shooting a portrait I'm aiming at the inside, your individuality. You are unique, you have your own character and personality, and I want to showcase that. So I look for inner beauty in all its richness, including the rougher edges: that which makes you so captivating and special as a human being. It can be a formal portrait, a casual photo for family, friends or yourself - as long as it's my artistic representation of you, and your face and its expressions are predominant, we're in the 'portrait' category.

'Close To My Heart' is a special portrait project in which I invite you to share a part of your story, portraying you with something that is near and dear to your heart. Maybe the object has intrinsic value, maybe it represents something (or someone) that is of great significance to you - a memory of the past, a gift from the present, a hope for the future... Whatever makes your heart jump.

Bodyscapes

In contrast, a bodyscape focuses solely on the outside, aiming to celebrate the aesthetics of the human form by depicting (parts of) a body, either male or female, as if it were a landscape. The lines and shapes of the naked body are emphasized using pose and perspective, light and shadow. Posing for a bodyscape shoot can be a great help in learning to see your own body in a new light. As these images are all about physical features and not about the personality of the model, I often choose to keep faces out of the frame.

Art Nude Portraiture

If the focus expands to encompass both the sheer beauty of a naked body and the personality of the model, then we're moving into art nude portraiture territory. This is the domain of ultimate self-expression, in which the model freely shows 'body and soul'. An art nude portrait is both about the outside and the inside; the human form we all share, and your individuality as a person.

Boudoir

In between portraits and art nude portraiture there's a photography segment called boudoir, named after the private dressing room where a woman can freely move in various states of (un)dress. Like art nude portraiture, boudoir aims to capture both the beauty and personality of the model, but in a less revealing way, and often in a more playful and teasing fashion. Usually, parts of the body will be strategically hidden from view by the pose and the direction of the light, or are simply covered by fabric like lingerie, bed sheets or a bathrobe, effectively adding sensuality to the scene. The model is in full control, deciding what to reveal and what to conceal.

Self-Love

After decades of primarily being used to satisfy the male gaze, photographic domains like bodyscapes, boudoir, and art nude portraiture have now been fully reclaimed by women and embraced as an excellent and very effective way to boost your confidence and self esteem. Seeing your own body in its natural beautiful splendor, favourably lit and tastefully photographed, is a great antidote for the heavily photoshopped, unrealistic beauty standards society imposes on us. Treating yourself to a boudoir shoot can be a powerful act of self-love, and self-care.

TFP

Boudoir and art nude portraiture shoots are almost always privately commissioned shoots, intended exclusively for the eyes the client had in mind. But I do appreciate having some examples of these styles in my portfolio, so other clients can get a better idea of what this is all about and what they can expect. That’s why I also do these shoots as TFP, Time for Picture: both photographer and model invest their time and talent and are rewarded with great pictures they can use. You will find a few images that originated from these TFP shoots in the 'bodyscapes' album, which I altered by cropping the face out of the picture, effectively transforming them into semi-bodyscapes.