I often reach out online for models. For Guam, reaching out on ModelMayhem is hit and miss because the modeling life isn't very active here. There are a few models, but not many, so some of those profiles are old and abandoned.
Instagram and TikTok are generally better places to find models, though you have to imagine these women get flooded with messages. You will definitely get lost in the noise. But that's a story for another time.
I found Amilia on Instagram and reached out. Fortunately, it didn't take months — she responded rather quickly.
She was in between things at the time and thought modeling would be fun since she'd never done it before. We set up a time to meet and talk about what I was looking to do. I always like to meet potential models first to see if we click. Building rapport early is crucial in photography — you need to be able to work together naturally, not force it.
We went to Michelle, my go-to MUA. Michelle always has a good read on models from working with them in her chair, and she gave me the nod. That was encouraging.
We talked through the look. Amilia was timid in person, but her aesthetic was the opposite — tattoos, mini skirt, leather, an edge that didn't match her quiet energy. I liked that contrast. It gave the images tension.
I shot with my Fujifilm X-T5, a great camera for low-light work, and my XF33mm f/1.4 — a 50mm equivalent for APS-C. Wide open at night, the lens pulls light beautifully and keeps the background soft while holding focus on what matters.
From there, the shoot just worked. We shot on a quiet street in Tumon. Black lace, natural light, no pressure. She didn't have any preconceived ideas about what worked or didn't work, so when I saw something and adjusted her, she just went with it. That makes everything easier.
Unfortunately, we were never able to match schedules again after that. She went on to become a cop — which was her dream — and I moved forward with other work. But this shoot still holds up. Sometimes you only get one session with someone, and that's enough.
Tumon after dark. No pressure, just presence.