This self-portrait is from a series of images inspired by my love for cinema.

I drew direct inspiration from the French New Wave director Jean-Luc Godard (using his iconic cigarette and sunglasses combo as a perfect fit for my fashion shooting style).

Currently unemployed, I decided to invest my time in this passion project to level up my portfolio and create images with the polish of modern fashion advertising.

This project was originally imagined inside a classic theater, but not a single theater in Denver would accommodate a personal project. So, without a commercial budget, I staged my own theater in my studio apartment. I bought vintage theater seats from Facebook Marketplace and applied my own creativity to sell the concept of a reverse movie theater shot.

More than a photography project, this became an art direction project. I had a specific vision of volumetric lighting, smoke, colors, and props that needed to work cohesively. I shot this project on a Sony FX2; processed my photographs through Lightroom for general culling; applied skin enhancements through Evoto; performed intricate edits with Photoshop; and finalized color grading through Lightroom.

You can read more details about my inspiration and behind-the-scenes on my website: https://www.avidvisuals.com/art-direction