Rediscovering Classic Lighting with New Faces

Rediscovering Classic Lighting with New FacesThere’s something timeless about old methods of lighting. In an age where digital enhancements and ring lights dominate, I wanted to return to a technique I first experimented with years ago—

spotlight, Old Hollywood-style lighting

. It’s a dramatic approach that uses a single, focused beam to sculpt the subject’s features with sharp contrast, bringing both mystery and elegance into the frame. It’s the kind of light that once defined the glamour of the silver screen, and it still has the power to create stunning, unforgettable beauty images today.For this project, I had the pleasure of working with

Yadira Mahal

, a fresh face from Toronto whose presence immediately lights up the room. Yadira is new to modeling, but her energy, adaptability, and eagerness to explore creative directions made her an ideal collaborator. Together, we aimed to create images that weren’t just beautiful, but also evocative of the golden era of cinema—where light itself became the storyteller.The setup was deceptively simple: one strong spotlight angled just right to frame her face, paired with a subtle reflector to temper the shadows. By stripping away the modern “everything lit” approach, we embraced bold contrasts and sculpted depth—allowing her expressions, her movement, and her individuality to shine through. The results were stunning. Each frame captured a blend of nostalgia and modernity, reminding me why this method never truly goes out of style.What made this session particularly meaningful was the shared sense of purpose. Yadira and I are both carving out paths in the entertainment industry—her through modeling and performance, and myself through photography and visual storytelling. These images aren’t just portraits; they’re a record of two emerging artists at the beginning of a journey, each using our craft to move closer to where we want to be.As I look through the finished photographs, I see more than just beauty—I see potential, ambition, and the kind of artistry that comes when collaboration and vision align.