- calm
- Natural Light
- Wide
- tangled
- Soft Light
- Sitting
- simple
- Rule of thirds
- minimal
- Center Framed
- intimate
- Indoor
- Home shoot
- Hiding faces
- floor
- Directional Light
- clean
- Window Light
The story behind the image
We began the session chatting about life and shot some photos with them in casual outfits which they gradually took off. And that’s what I was more looking forward to because I knew they were comfortable with their nudity in front of photographers and I wanted to capture a couple in a very vulnerable and raw way. And finding a real couple that would help me transmit this feeling 100% comfortable, doesn’t happen every day.
Directions
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
As they took most of their clothes off, I asked them to sit on the floor tangle their legs and arms. I wanted to show mostly skin, not identities defined by clothes or even facial expressions. I wanted a feeling of them melting with each other as much as possible.
What did you say?
Let’s have you guys sit on the floor and tangle yourselves. Get your legs over each other and cuddle in. Even hiding your selves. Imagine you are melting into one another.
Tone of Directions
Calm
Composition
If you follow my work or other posts here, you know, I love centering the couple, I love giving them protagonism while at the same time leaving space for their surroundings. In this case, once again, I wanted that symmetrical look, I wanted them to feel as one rather than two separate stories.
framing
Center Framed
Focusing
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
I definitely centered the focus in the middle. I didn’t care so much about a specific spot, as I knew that as long as the focus was on them, that was all I needed.
Focus Mode
Single Shot Autofocus
Focus POints
Single Point
Focused on
arms
Equipment &
Exif
Camera
Lens
Flash
Filter
100 @ f/1.6 ISO100 WB-Auto
The way the EXIF is written out follows the common photographic method (with the inclusion of White Balance at the end). Here it is broken down:
Shutter Speed @ Aperture ISO White Balance.
Light & Weather
We had the available natural sunlight from the only window, which was on the left of the image. I positioned myself and the couple in such a way that the light was coming from the side since I wanted to create dimensions with the highlights and shadows. This not only adds a bit more drama to the feel of the image, but it makes it feel a bit more alive.
Light Type
Natural Light
Weather
Indoor
Editing Workflow
How did you edit this image?
During the editing, I wanted to keep the photo natural and balanced. But definitely had to bring up warmth to it, I added grain and pulled down the highlights. I used my own custom preset and after getting the warmth right, I adjusted the usual exposure settings to get the overall tones I wanted. Sometimes and image doesn’t need much editing.
Editing Software
Preset Used
Own settings
Challenges
Fortunately, I didn’t have any challenges with this shot. Everything worked out just fine.
Solutions
Non required.
Location
Location Name
Tulum
Location aDDRESS
Airbnb in Tulum
Loation Type
Private Home / AirBnB / Apartment
Country
Mexico
The only thing I would have done differently here was to have their underwear removed before this shot, but that wasn’t the case, and if I’ve tried to re-do the photo afterward maybe it wouldn’t have looked the same. However, I believe it doesn’t disturb me a lot and I love the image just as it is.
I think I will definitely try this pose with another couple because I love how intimate and vulnerable it feels. I know it will always look a little different with different people, different backgrounds, light, etc.
