Implied Intent
Val in a mono implied fashion set
Shooting update
Today, in among the ever-growing list of shoots to process, I'm making a first-time trip to Hallam Mill over in Stockport. I'll be meeting Gem, another 6' model, for a shoot that we've tried to make work a few times over the last year or so.
Expect swathes of pale skin, bright red hair and a range of striking images from fashion through to fashion/art nudes to be coming your way later this year.
A first shoot is always a leap (in the best way)
There’s something uniquely alive about a first collaboration. You arrive with a few reference points, a handful of ideas, and the rough shape of a visual plan — but the real work begins when you see how someone moves, how they hold still, and how quickly they can switch between softness and intensity.
With Val, that click happened fast. She has that rare combination of calm presence and physical control: she can keep a pose clean and architectural, then break it into something more vulnerable without it feeling forced or performative. For a photographer, that’s gold — because it means you can build a set that has variety, while keeping a consistent aesthetic and emotional tone.
Libre Studio, Liverpool — simple space, strong results
That first shoot took place at Libre Studio in Liverpool, in Spetember 2024, and it was precisely what I love in a studio environment: uncluttered, practical, and focused. A plain backdrop, controlled light, and enough room to work the angles — no gimmicks needed.
When you strip a look back like this, everything becomes about shape, line, and expression. The posing has to be en pointe. The lighting has to be intentional. And the images either hold attention… or they don’t. This is the kind of setup that suits fine art portraiture perfectly because it gives space for the subject to carry the frame and its focus.
The look: monochrome, sculptural, and intentionally minimal
Styling-wise, we kept it clean and graphic: high-waisted wide-leg trousers, heels, bare shoulders, and very little else to distract from the silhouette. It creates a strong contrast and a timeless feel — the kind of simple wardrobe choice that lets the body become a design element rather than a “theme”.
A lot of the strongest frames from this set are built on long lines and counterbalance: a lean that feels like it should fall, but doesn’t; arms that extend like geometry; shoulders turned just enough to change the mood; a gaze that alternates between direct and withheld. Even with a minimal set, there’s a lot of variety available when the model understands how to “edit” a pose into something readable.
Mark Skeet
Direction and flow: how we built the set
I tend to work in short “chapters” during a shoot. We’ll find a base pose that’s working, then I trust the model to build on this. I’ll only ask for small changes if I feel it's needed. The model moves, head angle, shoulder rotation, hand shape, breath, eye line; subtle changes, that add up to a powerful cohesive overall photo set. The goal is to stay in the same visual language while expanding the selection. That’s where the strongest galleries come from: not random variation, but controlled progression.
Val is particularly good at this. She takes direction quickly, but she also brings her own ideas into the moment — not by overpowering the plan, but by adding nuance. That’s the difference between simply being photographed and actively collaborating.
Why this set stands up
Looking back, it’s easy to see why this first Liverpool session remains one of my favourites. It has that early-shoot energy — the slight unknown, the testing of boundaries, the rapid trust-building — but it’s paired with a polished end result. The images feel composed, modern, and deliberate, with a classic black-and-white studio finish that suits the minimalism.
If you enjoy studio work that prioritises form, expression, and clean lighting — this set is exactly that. Below, subscribers will find the full sequence, including wider frames, tighter portraits, and a range of poses that move from graphic and composed into something more intimate and emotive.