Rashira Musisi (Model)

I first heard from Rashira in September of 2022. A mutual friend and model had passed on my contact info as I was always searching for models throughout my time in university. My senior year was incredibly packed and I didn’t meet Rashira until the opening night of our senior project exhibition. I’d remembered her willingness to model and showing up to see my thesis work meant for me so naturally I added her to a list of artists I wanted to photograph. 

Months later, we managed to set a date and meet by the waterfront. It’s there I learned how great of a hero Rashira is. From her numerous studies in Uganda, a modelling career in her youth, moving alone to Canada to complete her education and her plans for working with the UN, there was no obstacle too great to conquer.

While we tried various compositions with numerous urban backdrops, the ones that stood out most in the end were the ones where SHE stood out the most. A prominent figure deserves to pop off the page. Coupled with the timelessness of black and white, her portraits reflect both the great artist and human she is.

Natalia Cza (Model)

I met and photographed Natalia (TFP) on such a beautiful Saturday morning in the summer. She was easy to relate to as an artist: she recently finished her studies in biology when Covid threw a wrench in the job market (and global economy). She wanted to try modelling as a pastime until life picks up again. I respect the artists that create when there’s nothing to gain but art itself and this shoot was exactly that: a small break from daily mundanity and a tap into the creative. If I took anything away from this shoot it was how character makes all the difference. She had a great deal of sarcasm that had to break through the facade of stiff professionalism before it showed on camera. I truly believe it was the banter that allowed her to open up by the end to show emphasized gestures and facial expressions that made her image set. We joked how she would be a great hand model; she was very comfortable with her hand on/near her head, which we made the most of, and I’m sure as she continues modelling we’ll see strong use of hand/arm gestures in her poses!