Oh La Lea!

When a model trusts you with her first nudes

Oh La Lea!

Lori (modelled as Oh La Lea) and I had 4 sessions together. Her aesthetic was alt model, always wearing a sharp bob with fairly defined, angular features. We'd shoot away to curated metal/punk playlists featuring Green Day, Rise Against, Hed PE and the like.

Conversation always flowed, and we had a good laugh as well as creating some cool images along the way. During what was our final session together, she broached the subject of art nude.

I'd never raised it as those weren't her levels, and I'm a firm believer in creating a safe space to work. Rule 1 of that is no level pushing. Ever! But she'd decided she wanted to give it a try. I have to say I was honoured to be trusted with that.

So, we shot a few images. They're quite different to a lot of the art nude stuff I'd normally shoot. Some of this is Lori, herself and her approach to posing, which nearly always had an element of the coquette about it. But it's also my approach has refined and improved over the years. I'd like to think I'm a better photographer now with a stronger understanding of light.

I think it would be interesting to shoot these again.

As these are nudes, you'll need to be an Archive Room member to see the rest of the images. Free trials available so you know what to do!