Studio Sessions with Shamilla
Studio Session with Shamilla — A Blend of Light, Style, and Creative Flow
There’s something about working in a studio that always feels like coming home. Unlike shooting outdoors, where the sun has a mind of its own, the studio gives me complete control over lighting. Every highlight, every shadow, every mood can be carefully controlled and sculpted.
On December 1st, 2025, I had the pleasure of diving into that creative freedom alongside Shamilla at Affordable Imports Studio in San Juan, Trinidad.
Shamilla isn’t just a model, she’s a full creative package. Hair, makeup, styling, and even the mood board for this shoot were entirely her vision. She arrived with a clear aesthetic in mind, blending bold fashion with rich, expressive energy. My role was to sculpt that energy with light.
For this session, I leaned into continuous lighting, building the setup around an Aputure 1200d as the key light paired with a 60-inch softbox and grid for soft yet controlled illumination. The backdrop was brightened with two Nova LED panels, and I brought in two Aputure 600d lights to use as fill and rim lights whenever the concept called for extra depth. A spotlight modifier came into play as needed, especially for the more dramatic, moody frames.
For this shoot, I used the Fujifilm GFX 100s and the GF 110mm F2 and GF 55mm F1.7 instead of my usual Fujifilm XT4. I wanted as much detail as possible for these photos and the 100 megapixel sensor of the GFX provides a lot of detail as well as a lot of dynamic range.
The goal was to explore both bright, high-key lighting and deep, atmospheric shadows. For closeups, I transitioned to a 34 inch beauty dish and shot against a black wall, perfect for isolating details and capturing strong, sculpted highlights.
One of my favorite moments came from pure improvisation. The mirror shots weren’t on the mood board at all, they were a spur of the moment idea that ended up adding a dynamic, reflective layer to the series. Shamilla made the entire process seamless; the moment the lights came on, she flowed effortlessly from pose to pose, matching every shift in lighting with new expressions and movement.
This shoot was a reminder of why I love studio work, not just the technical precision, but the creative exchange. When lighting, styling, and personality all align, the studio becomes more than a space. It becomes a playground.
Looking forward to the next one.
