What's on the Cover?

This year I have been trying to focus on shooting more figure study sessions. Recently I had the opportunity to photograph my first male figure study, and I just wanted to share a perspective that I have never had before as all of my models for this genre of photography have been female.

Men get penalized for straying from social norms, and they are looked down on for being vulnerable or showing any sign of "weakness" in the eyes of society.

I want to fight back against this because vulnerability is such a beautiful thing: it shouldn't be worn with shame or guilt!

As Brené Brown once said, "what makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful."

Through my magazine cover, I wanted to show the allure of male vulnerability in its essence. Most men are not fully confident in their bodies, even if they are in excellent physical shape.

I wanted to showcase the male physique by utilizing a more "feminine pose", not a typical male pose because men are typically positioned in a way that makes them look big and powerful thanks to the camera angle.

I would also like to add that it is important to respect your model's comfort zone when it comes to editing, sharing, or posting the images online. There is a certain level of trust that is given when photographing the human form at it's most vulnerable, and we as photographers need to respect that by not pushing the model or their boundaries.

Overall, this photoshoot was a learning experience and it showed me that

despite the insecurities that we have, there is still this level of beauty showing when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable with another person.