I like mixing and matching backgrounds and foregrounds as well as models. I find that by pairing two wildly divergent energies, interesting things tend to happen. In this shot, there are two models. Autumn is 5’10”, 102 pounds and a runway model who had just returned from Paris. Brian Anderson is 5’9″, 250 pounds and is a demolition derby driver I am friends with who had never modeled a day in his life. Together they worked magically.

As part of my 1940’s era shoot, I wanted someone burly who would look like they belonged in a men’s undershirt. Brian fit the billing. The one thing I mentioned to him prior to shooting was that everything appears farther away in camera. You might be standing an inch from someone, but in camera, that inch can appear like a huge chasm. For this shot, I told Brian to hold Autumn. He did so, but he did so as gently as he could.  Just take a look at the way his right hand is barely touching her arm. After numerous failed attempts to get Brian’s head closer to Autumn, I finally ended up pushing his face into her neck just before this photo so I could get the angle correctly.   And it absolutely works.

All the era specific jewelry and clothes really do make this photo pop.