Shadows, Textures, and Presence: A Studio Session with Lesly

Lesly first reached out while stationed in Guam, responding to a casting call I’d posted online. She was serving in the Army at the time and expressed interest in collaborating. Whenever someone reaches out like that, it usually means they’ve taken a look at my work and want to create something similar, incorporating their ideas. That’s the kind of collaboration I enjoy.

Our first shoot was a beach bikini session. It was fun, but shots like that can feel repetitive after a while. Still, it was a great way to get comfortable working together, and Lesly was easy to photograph from the beginning. Of course, it helps that she has a natural, effortless beauty that comes through in every frame.

Life got busy for a while, and we stopped shooting. But eventually, I reached out again, and we planned a more involved studio shoot. This time, we took a more intentional approach. We planned out a few different looks and ended up with many strong black-and-white images that I liked.

The original premise for the black and white studio shoot was a single light, sexy shoot. I asked her what sexy meant to her and offered some ideas, like an oversized shirt or sweater. I asked her what she would lounge around in at home with her other half, and we went from there. We started with denim. I’ve always felt that denim looks great in high-contrast black and white. The texture stands out, the shadows have more depth, and the photos reflect something grounded and real. I used a single light for this set and kept things simple, letting the fabric and the shadows do their thing.

Next, we switched to a white, long-sleeved button-down shirt. The look felt like a 1950s pinup photo, even though that wasn’t the intention. I adjusted the lighting for this part and added a few more layers to soften the image and shape the mood differently. It was still black and white, just a different kind of energy.

After that, we moved into lingerie. I returned to using one light. For these single light setups, I use a V-Flat with the black side to remove light and add shadow, but I also use the white side to bring light into the scene if needed. A single light source is still my favorite way to shoot: simple lighting, strong contrast, and lots of shadow. Lesly really showed up for this part, and we ended up with some of the most dramatic shots from the day.

We wrapped up with headshots. There was no styling, no extra setup, just clean portraits focused on her expression. I like ending shoots this way. It brings everything back to the person and allows the session to close on a quieter, more personal note.

Looking back, this shoot reminded me why I keep returning to black and white—how simplicity, trust, and collaboration can elevate a photo beyond just light and shadow. Lesly brought all of that, and more.

A H Oftana

Guam-based freelance photographer |

I take pics of most things |

Freelancer NYT, WSJ, ThePost |

ASMP |

USMC Veteran!

http://www.oftana.com
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Lingerie at the Beach — Testing Mood with Light

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Photographing Confidence: The Intimacy of Working with Mature Women