Shoot Recap: DOT | Studio Editorial

This studio session with Dot was built around contrast — soft and sharp, grounded and ethereal — brought together through controlled styling, lighting, and lens choices. We moved through several distinct looks, each with its own rhythm, but all unified by a clear point of view.

I shot this on the Canon R5II, using the RF 50mm f/1.2 for the full-length compositions and the RF 135mm f/1.8 for the tighter portrait work. The 50mm lets me work close while maintaining a sense of space and structure, while the 135 renders the close-up beauty shots with clarity, depth, and smooth falloff. Lighting was clean and intentional — nothing overworked — just enough to sculpt and separate without drawing attention to itself.

Hair and makeup by Tee Dujardin provided a visual through-line. Her styling shifted with each look while staying cohesive, elevating the wardrobe choices and giving Dot range without losing identity.

Dot herself brought presence and adaptability, which allowed me to steer the direction while leaving space for collaboration. The resulting images are the product of aligned efforts — a shoot where each element had room to do its job, and I made sure it all moved in sync.

This wasn’t just about taking pictures — it was about building a contained world for a few hours and shaping the outcome with intention.

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