Another first for me…

Back in the Moroccan room with Camila

I’m going to say this upfront, because I’m not interested in dancing around it: This was a first for me — photographing a transgender model. And before anyone gets weird about it (either side of the internet is fully capable of being weird), it was amazing. Like, “made a new friend, learnt something, left with photos I actually love” kind of amazing.

Okay. Enough foreplay. Let’s get into it.

Camila (IG:camilarosets) reached out to me on Fetlife asking if I’d be keen to do a shoot. California-based. Confident. Clear about what they wanted. Also: not at all the vibe of “hey photographer, can you shoot me for exposure” — which is refreshing because that gets old really really fast.

I said yes, and also because I’ve learnt over time that “firsts” are pretty awesome….most of the time. This time, definitely awesome.

We shot at FD Photo Studio in downtown LA, and I suggested the Moroccan room.

Yes — that Moroccan room. The one that has previously produced what I would describe as “extra spicy photoshoot content.” The arches, the textures, the warm walls… it’s basically made for dramatic boudoir and cinematic nudes.

Before the shoot, Camila asked if they could bring a chaperone — which I understand. They also asked if the chaperone could do BTS content. I said yes. And honestly? It was fine. It didn’t kill the vibe. If anything, it made everything feel more structured and safe. Everyone knew what was happening, why they were there, and what the boundaries were. Which, believe it or not, is actually the secret ingredient for a relaxed shoot.

This room just works. Warm tones, soft shadows, a bit of drama without trying too hard. The kind of place where you can shoot wide, shoot tight, shoot moody, shoot “editorial”… and it all looks like you planned it.

Camila also moved really well in the space. Some models fight the room. Some models let the room do its thing. Camila was awesome.

We eventually shifted into the shower setup — and this is where the shoot went from “nice” to “okay damn.”

There’s something about water + warm walls + controlled light that turns everything cinematic. It can also go wrong fast (hello, chaotic highlights and weird reflections), but we kept it simple: strong shapes, clean lines, and letting the mood do most of the work. Credit where it’s due — Camila was comfortable, confident, and not precious about it. That makes a massive difference when you’re shooting something intimate. When the model is settled, the photographer can stop overthinking and just shoot.

After the shower, we decided to do some shots in the bathtub.

Same warm palette, but softer energy. Less “look at me” and more “come closer.” This is usually the part of a shoot where you get the photos that feel personal — not because they’re more nude, but because they’re calmer. The expression changes. The tension drops. Also, doing milkbaths and boudoir shoots, I’ve learnt that bathtubs are great because you can cheat angles. The tub hides what you want hidden, shows what you want shown, and everyone leaves feeling like they made some art today. Win-win.

We finished with the yellow set under the arches — and I loved this part because it felt like a shift into something playful and strong.

Same model. Same room. But now it’s less “intimate nude” and more “editorial character.” The colour pops, the lines are clean, and the whole thing feels like a deliberate set rather than a moment you stumbled into. It’s also a nice way to end: confident, bright, and slightly theatrical. (Which is basically how I wish I looked walking out of a studio. In reality I look like a sweaty goblin carrying a camera bag.)

So yeah. First time photographing a transgender model.

And here’s what I learnt: the “first” part is mostly in your head.

A good model is a good model. A good collaboration is a good collaboration. If you show up respectful, communicate clearly, and don’t make it weird, it usually won’t be weird.

Camila was professional, easy to work with, and genuinely nice to be around. I left with photos I’m proud of.

Take care.