Faith — LA Monochrome (Throwback Set) (Patreon)

This one’s a throwback with Faith from a spot out in LA, and it’s a good example of how much a location can change just based on how you choose to see it. Most of this set lives on that balcony level, but what really makes it interesting to me is when I started shifting perspective—shooting down through the atrium, using that open space to layer the frame. Instead of just being on the same plane the whole time, you get this separation… foreground, subject, background all stacking in a way that feels way more intentional.

That top-down angle especially changes everything. It takes something that could feel like a simple balcony shoot and gives it depth. You’re not just looking at her, you’re kind of discovering the scene through the structure of the house itself.

Lighting-wise, this was right in that brutal middle part of the day. Not golden hour, not soft, just straight overhead sun—usually the time you’d avoid if you can. But this is exactly why I lean into monochrome in situations like this. That harsh light creates strong contrast, and instead of fighting it, you let it define the image. The shadows from the railings, the hard highlights on the wood, the way it shapes her body—it all becomes part of the composition.

There’s something about that kind of light in black and white that just works. It simplifies everything. You’re not thinking about color, you’re thinking about form, shape, and contrast.

This set is really just a reminder that not every shoot has to rely on perfect timing. Sometimes it’s about adapting—finding new angles, using the environment differently, and leaning into whatever light you’re given instead of trying to force something else.