A SHOOT WITH IFE MY MODEL

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO SHOOT THIS DAY?

This shoot was not one seriously planned project. It was just one calm evening when the sun was already going down little by little. That golden light they make everywhere look soft and peaceful. The breeze was gentle, not too strong, just moving slowly like the day no one wanted to end.

WHAT IS THE NAME OF YOUR MODEL

My little model is Ife, her name which means love. And honestly, the name fit her well. She carries this soft smile that makes you relax without even trying. She does not like too much posing. She just dey free; she moves around, and she smiles when she feels like it. And I like that kind of natural vibe.

CHOOSING THE LOCATION

We didn’t travel far. Just around the compound area. One simple wall with a small texture, not too smooth. I like that kind of background because it gives the photo a real-life feeling. If everywhere is too clean, it will look like a studio. I wanted something that feels like home, something normal.
The ground too gets that evening glow. The light was reflecting small from the wall. Everything is just balanced.

THE ANGLE AND LIGHT

When I started shooting, I did not stand up straight. I bent down to her level because she is small. I didn’t want it to look like I was looking down on her. Shooting from her eye level made everything feel equal. It made the picture feel soft and honest.

The sunlight was coming from the side of her face, not directly in front. So one side is bright, and one side has a small shadow. That shadow gives the photo depth. I didn’t use flash. I just allowed natural light to do the work. Natural light does not lie.

I moved around her small and small. Took some side shots. Took some close shots where her face filled the frame. I wanted her expression to speak more than the background.

WHICH MOMENT DURING THE SHOOT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE?

At one point she started laughing because somebody behind me was trying to distract her. That laugh was not planned. I quickly snapped it. And that became my favourite shot. Because it was real. No forcing. No “say cheese”. Just pure joy.

Sometimes the best pictures are the ones you didn’t plan.

The atmosphere was calm. You could hear children playing far away. Birds returning home. The sky turning orange and blue. Everything is just soft.

WHAT I LEARNED

This shoot made me realise something. Photography is not always about big cameras or expensive locations. Sometimes it is about connection. It is about patience. It is about seeing beauty in small, simple things.

With Ife, I didn’t just capture a face. I captured love. Her name. Her energy. Her innocence.