Under the Leo Sun: Capturing the Art and Soul of KAMA Collection
On the first day of December 2024, I walked into the living room of my new friends, Mathilde and Jaime. I had walked in there before, but this time, the purpose was different. That day, their living room transformed into a photostudio where we captured the soul of KAMA Collection, Jaime's and Mathilde's artistic collective. Below, you'll read more about the memorable day of the shoot, followed by a selection of favourite photos. I hope you enjoy!
Getting Started before Dark
Together with my boyfriend, Jordan, who had just landed back in Marseille from South Africa, I cycled from our Apartment to Jaime's and Mathilde's place. We were later than we wanted to be, because my citybike had run out of battery. As a Dutch person, I am used to cycling on non-electrical bikes every day, but in France, the hills are more easily conquered with the help of some electricity. However, when an electric bike’s battery dies, it feels like cycling in gear 40, haha. It turns hills into mountains!
Anyhow, upon arrival, we were welcomed by the ever so wonderful energy of Mathilde and Jaime. Their warmth instantly washed away the strain of the heavy bike ride and Jordan’s fatigue from his overnight flight. Whenever the four of us reunite, our conversations naturally flow with warmth and intrigue, and this time was no exception. On the 1st of 2024's last month, we also had a lot to tell each other. However, as the days were getting increasingly shorter, we were forced to prioritise the remaining daylight. While my shoot for Kim Majorel came under time pressure because the light would become too bright and warm, the opposite was true for this shoot. It was almost winter, and we needed to make haste!
Rearranging the Wall
While Mathilde sliced us a peace of her beautiful homemade 'gateau aux Marrons', Jaime contemplated one of their livingroom walls. The latter was completely covered by paintings of them both, creating a stunning display. However, after some reflection, Jaime decided that this particular arrangement didn't suit their shoot. So, after serving us the cake and consulting Mathilde, the two of them began taking down the paintings. In about ten minutes, most of the works had been removed, as well as parts of wallpaint, haha. The wall was now a blank canvas again, ready to be rearranged in a better suiting way.
I loved that, while arranging the wall - the creation of a piece of art in itself - the space was filled with the energy of the creators. Jaime and Mathilde are both born under the Leo sun, and while choosing which work should be placed where, passion was sensible, haha. It was lovely to be in their living room, and feel the essence of their relationship, as well as their way of bringing visions to life.
Jaime had a clear vision for the wall and room, and pursued it with passion. Mathilde, in turn, was led more by intuition, and by what looked or felt good in the moment. Observing their dynamic made me reflect on my own creative approach, and on how Jordan and I together would navigate a way through such a process. I guess we'll find out while working on our own company, Hemisphere Collective.
Once the wall was set up, we all looked around the room, and laughed at the mess we had made while turning the living room into a photo studio. Only the christmas tree remained in its original spot. With everything moved to its desired place, we just needed to figure out a good way to position the models themselves. To add visual interest to their poses, we decided to incorporate height differences. As we all agreed this would be nice, we moved one of the chairs from the kitchen to the living room. With the chair in place, the space had officially turned into a studio, and the shoot could commence.
Highlighting the Artists
For us to all get into the swing of the shoot, we decided to start with the duo shots. This way, everyone could relax a bit and find their flow. However, Jaime had been envisioning his solo photos for so long that he needed to consciously take a step back to create harmony with Mathilde in their shared photos. As soon as he sat down in the chair, he was in his element, but these photos required them to connect and find a shared rhythm. As the photographer, it was wonderful to witness Jaime’s passion for his vision, and equally fulfilling to step into the role of director to enhance the results.
Although I often have a clear vision of my own, I like to leave space for input from all sides. Moreover, I aim to ensure the model feels at ease and not overly directed. Sometimes, this makes it challenging for me to strike a balance between being assertive and staying true to my vision. I suppose I’m still refining the approach that suits me best. During this shoot, I focused on practising gentle guidance to ensure the duo shots turned out successfully.
As soon as we aligned on the duo shots, we achieved results we were all content with. Once in harmony, Jaime and Mathilde looked so stunning together in front of their art. Moreover, as Jordan was with us too, we had someone to help us bring in the right light for the shoot. There was still enough daylight in the room, but we needed something to make the models stand out. Half joking, Jordan had held up a mirror just before we started shooting. It had turned out to be the perfect solution for our problem. Baptised as the 'light man', Jordan became an indispensable part of the team, haha.
Beyond literally 'highlighting' Jaime and Mathilde with the mirror, I also wanted to highlight their beauty and characters. For the individual shots, we collaborated to find the best positions and perspectives. It was lovely working with Jaime and Mathilde, as they naturally gave character and elegance to each photograph. In Jaime's case, I was offered a clear framework of poses he had in mind, and I worked to capture them in ways that conveyed his vision in the most powerful way.
With Mathilde, the process was more organic. Her approach was open, allowing us to discover the best poses together. As the daylight waned, we moved closer to the window, which ended up working beautifully. The soft light complemented her elegance, and her dress looked extra nice when her poses added a sense of shape. While Jaime exuded strength in frontal poses, Mathilde’s elegance shone as she leaned against the wall. Once we found the perfect approach, the final shots came together effortlessly. We wrapped up just as the sunlight left the room.
The Results
In the photos below, you'll see the result of the wall arrangements, the found harmony between the models, the recognition of their unique traits, and me daring to give shape where necessary. If you'd like, take a look at KAMA Collection. Here, you can also read more about Jaime and Mathilde themselves, and even buy one or more of their wonderful works of art.
