Behind the Lens | HERA Magazine International
Some photoshoots stay with you long after the camera has been put away. Not necessarily because everything went perfectly, but because of the person standing in front of the lens.
Ren was one of those people.
With her striking hair colour, beautiful tattoos and natural presence, she was someone I thoroughly enjoyed photographing. But what I remember just as fondly were the moments when she would suddenly burst into giggles, breaking the concentration of the shoot and bringing a wonderful sense of fun to the whole experience.
We worked together on three separate occasions, and each shoot brought something different. By our third session, I felt Ren had really found her confidence in front of the camera.
The results spoke for themselves. Some of the photographs from that final shoot had the kind of presence and impact that wouldn’t have looked out of place on a magazine cover.
And, as it happened, there was a magazine cover involved.
A Model with Personality
One of the things I particularly enjoyed about photographing Ren was her personality.
She had a wonderful sense of humour, and every so often, right in the middle of a shoot, she’d get the giggles.
Those moments were lovely.
Photography can sometimes become a very serious business, with everyone concentrating on the lighting, the pose, the expression and whether everything is exactly where it should be.
But Ren could break that concentration with a laugh, and suddenly the atmosphere would change.
There was something very genuine about those moments. They reminded me that the person in front of the camera matters just as much as the photograph we’re trying to create.
Her distinctive hair colour and tattoos also gave her a look that was entirely her own.
She wasn’t trying to fit into somebody else’s idea of what a glamour model should look like. She was simply Ren, and that was more than enough.
Three Shoots, One Growing Confidence
I had the pleasure of photographing Ren three times.
Looking back, I think the third session was where everything really came together.
There’s a difference between being comfortable in front of a camera and truly owning the space in front of it. By that third shoot, Ren seemed to have found that extra confidence.
Her poses had presence, her expressions were engaging, and there was a natural ease about the way she worked.
As a photographer, it’s particularly rewarding when you see that development over several sessions.
You begin to understand how someone moves, which angles work particularly well, and how to bring out different aspects of their personality.
And the model becomes more familiar with the photographer, too.
That growing familiarity can make a real difference. The shoot becomes less about wondering what to do next and more about exploring what you can create together.
With Ren, the results were some of my favourite photographs from our time working together.
There were images that, to my eye, had all the qualities of a classic glamour magazine cover.
Which brings me to a rather enjoyable little story.
A Cover Girl for a Day
During this shoot, Ren had an idea of her own.
She wanted me to create a mock cover inspired by a famous glamour magazine, as a surprise for her boyfriend at the time.
It wasn’t something particularly complicated in principle. We would take one of the photographs from our session and turn it into a personalised magazine cover.
Of course, making something look like a convincing magazine cover involves a little more than simply placing a title across the top of a photograph.
The image needs the right composition, space for headlines and enough visual impact to hold everything together.
I put the cover together for her, and she absolutely loved it.
That was particularly satisfying.
Sometimes photography is about creating images for a portfolio, an exhibition or publication. Other times, it’s about producing something personal that someone will treasure.
This was very much the latter.
And there’s something rather amusing about looking back on it now.
At the time, I was creating a pretend magazine cover for Ren.
Today, I’m featuring her photographs in a real magazine.
Life has a funny way of coming full circle.
Beauty Beyond the Dress Size
One of the things I remember most clearly about Ren was how beautiful she looked in front of the camera.
She didn’t conform to the narrow dress-size expectations that have sometimes dominated glamour and fashion photography, but that was never what made her photographs work.
It was her confidence, her expressions, her individuality and the way she carried herself.
Her hair colour was striking. Her tattoos added character. And her personality gave the photographs something that couldn’t be created with lighting or Photoshop.
I’ve always believed that photography should celebrate the person in front of the lens rather than try to force everyone into the same mould.
Ren was a wonderful example of that.
Some of the most memorable portraits come from people who bring their own individuality to a shoot, rather than trying to imitate someone else.
And Ren certainly did that.
When Everything Comes Together
Every photographer has sessions they remember particularly fondly.
Sometimes it’s because the lighting was perfect. Sometimes it’s because an idea worked better than expected. And sometimes it’s simply because the person you’re photographing made the experience enjoyable.
With Ren, it was a combination of things.
Three shoots gave us the opportunity to build familiarity and confidence. Her distinctive appearance gave the photographs character, while her humour kept the atmosphere relaxed.
By that final session, we were creating images that felt confident, polished and full of personality.
And somewhere along the way, we even made her a magazine cover.
A Final Word from HERA
Looking back at these photographs, I’m reminded of why I enjoy photographing people.
It’s not simply about producing an attractive image. It’s about the conversations, the laughter, the ideas that develop during a shoot and the satisfaction of creating something that both photographer and model are pleased with.
Ren brought all of those things to our sessions.
Her confidence grew, her personality shone through, and together we created photographs that I’m still proud of today.
And although I remember the more polished glamour portraits, I remember those unexpected fits of giggles just as fondly.
Thank you, Ren, for three thoroughly enjoyable shoots, some wonderful photographs and a few very happy memories.
Photography and editorial: HERA Magazine International
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