Playboy
Hey, Miki!
This was one of the most special photo shoots in my career as a photographer. I’d been eager to work with Miki Hamano for a while. I had seen her in other projects, and her face was etched in my mind. She’s not only incredibly gorgeous and talented but there’s something special about her beauty that really gets to me.
So, you can imagine my excitement when Erica told me that Miki was going to be the Playmate of March, and I’d be the lucky one to photograph her. It felt like a dream come true! As for the moodboard, it didn’t take us long to envision an 80s-inspired Americana vibe, complete with a cool sports car reminiscent of Miami Vice, lollipops, and stylized pieces.
After a bunch of back-and-forths, we settled on the location – a luxurious modern villa in Malibu – and the car, the one I’d been secretly yearning for, a white Chevrolet Corvette!
The shooting was scheduled for October 29, 2018. On the 26th, Jorge and I were already on a flight from Lisbon to California, a mix of excitement and jitters filling the air. On the big day, I woke up early to prepare for the shoot. We stayed at a hotel in Hollywood, knowing we had to hit the road more than an hour early to beat the Monday traffic. We cruised while listening to David Bowie, my personal muse for keeping my creativity flowing.
I must admit; I was a bundle of nerves that morning. Part of it was the deep admiration I had for Miki, and the other part was my determination to make this editorial the best it could be. Luckily, I had Gonçalo, who was my “ground control,” providing moral support from the other side of the ocean, and Jorge, right there with me, pumping me up. All I had to do was what I do best – capturing the beauty of a stunning woman in a surreal setting.
And, well, it all came together perfectly. Miki exceeded all expectations, making my job a breeze and contributing to an absolutely amazing final result. The entire team was incredible, working tirelessly to ensure the shoot’s success. Plus, having the super talented videographer, Eric Longden, on board added an extra layer of awesomeness to the whole experience.
– Ana Dias
BTS photos by Jorge Teixeira
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Model: Miki Hamano; Photographer: Ana Dias; Photography Director: Anna Wilson; Art Director: Erica Loewy; Photography Assistant: Jorge Teixeira; Styling: Kelley Ash; Makeup & Hair: Bree Stanchfield; Staff Photography and Video: Evan Woods; Photo Coordinator: Sandra Evans; Video: Eric Longden
TAGS
Playboy, Miki Hamano
Easy Rider
Join me for a thrilling journey in the coolest desert! It all took place on June 10, 2022, and I’m excited to take you behind the scenes, where Kitrysha played the role of my retro-futuristic biker girl.
Picture this: It was the hottest day of the year, and that blazing sun had the white sands reflecting like crazy. Shooting in that kind of heat with no breeze was a real challenge! We were all sizzling, sweat pouring, but thank goodness we had loads of water to keep us hydrated throughout the photoshoot.
As for the theme, I wanted something cool, a bit futuristic, and totally in sync with Kitrysha’s personality. She’s got that sexy, playful vibe with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. So, a desert with sugar-like dunes was our backdrop, contrasting beautifully with Kit’s bronzed skin.
Now, let me talk about Kitrysha. She’s more than just a model to me; she’s a friend. Working with her is always an absolute blast. Her passion for what she does shines through as she always gives it her all, putting her heart and soul into every pose. Watching her do her thing is like watching a performance that never fails to leave us in awe.
Besides our usual team, our buddy Francisco, aka ‘Primo,’ was super kind about letting us borrow his Yamaha DT LC. It added a whole lot of excitement to our adventure!
So, that day turned into an unforgettable memory, filled with heat, heart, and the vrum-vrum of the Yamaha bike. It’s moments like these that make every bit of hard work totally worth it.
– Ana Dias
BTS photos by Gonçalo Jorge, Francisco Figueiredo and Duarte Gomes
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Model: Kitrysha; Photographer: Ana Dias; Producer: Gonçalo Jorge; Makeup & Hair: Olga Galkina – Team Raquel Batalha; Photography Assistants: Francisco Figueiredo, Duarte Gomes; Video: Filipe Figueiredo
Bird of Paradise
There’s a good chance you’ve heard of Julia Yaroshenko. This well-known nude model with fiery red hair, freckled golden skin and alluring green eyes has won admirers the world over. The petite Ukrainian-born beauty packs a definite punch, proving that good things sometimes come in small packages.
On location on the tropical island paradise of Bali, Indonesia, Julia’s free spirit takes in all her natural surroundings in this set from photographer Ana Dias for Playboy Netherlands. “Shooting nude is a very intimate process, you need to trust and surrender to the photographer. And when I see sincere admiration in the eyes of a photographer, I am ready to open up and give more. That’s exactly what I felt with Ana. I felt her experience and deep appreciation for the female figure. She and I were delighted and rejoiced to be creating beautiful art together and we couldn’t stop shooting. We shot for many hours non-stop. It was an amazingly harmonious dance between the model and the photographer,” she shared. The beautiful redhead feels that her work is very meaningful and that beauty is at the heart of it. “I like to think that by modeling nude I’m serving the world, I’m inspiring men and women with beauty,” she shares. We could not agree more.
When she’s not in front of the camera, Julia loves to meditate, travel or check items off her bucket list. “I would love to experience the tea ceremony in Japan,” she says. But that’s only one of Julia’s many goals to nourish her mind and soul. “I am also planning to skydive over Hawaii, make a pilgrimage in Nepal, live for a while practicing yoga in the Indian city of Rishikesh, take a Vipassana course at the New Zealand Goenka Center and live in a temple soaking up the wisdom of mystic gurus.”
It’s time to indulge in a transcendental fantasy with Playboy Playmate and cover girl Julia Yaroshenko, right here.
Published in Playboy Netherlands June 2023 Issue
Also published in Playboy Czech Republic August 2023 Issue; Playboy Germany January 2024 Issue
Buy the issue here
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Model: Julia Yaroshenko; Photographer: Ana Dias; Producer: Gonçalo Jorge; Video: Filipe Figueiredo
COVERS
BEHIND THE SCENES
