Playboy
Match Point
Usually, when I take photos, I like to create contrast between the model’s skin and the background to make the model stand out. Well, this time, I decided to switch things up.
It was part of a series of photoshoots I did for Playboy USA during the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020, and one of the featured models was Svenja van den Bogaart from the Netherlands.
When I saw her portfolio, I was fascinated by her lovely look, and I immediately thought of a tennis theme for our shoot. She has a delicate appearance, but her freckles and her fiery red hair give her a hint of daring.
I scouted tennis courts in Lisbon and had two options: a smooth blue hard court and a red clay court. At first, I thought the blue court would be a good match for Svenja’s red hair, but I quickly changed my mind and chose the red one.
I pictured a more harmonious, real-deal vibe shooting on that red clay with its dust – It reminded me of scenes from Roland Garros, where top professionals play. I thought it would be interesting to blend the different shades of red from Svenja’s skin and hair with that red clay ground.
The photoshoot took place on September 13. We all arrived at the location early in the morning – me, the model, and my team – all set to begin with makeup and hair. I told Raquel to work her magic and bring out Svenja’s freckles and natural beauty. She never disappoint.
We began the shoot around 10:30 am to make the most of the sunlight. I quickly realized that Svenja was a fantastic model, so I decided to let her creativity and natural charm shine through. She looked even more beautiful in her simple poses.
For props, I had a classic tennis racket, fresh outfits, visors, and gear provided by the tennis club. As a cool touch, a few days before the shoot, I painted the Playboy bunny logo on the racket to give it some extra personality.
Photographing Svenja was a breeze. She was a total pro, up for all my wild ideas, like lying on the dusty ground for drone shots. We thought that would be the last shot, but when I saw her stand up, covered in that red soil, I couldn’t resist saying, “Let’s keep on going!” I just couldn’t stop taking pictures of her!
The real fun began when it was time to clean up Svenja after all that mud. Gonçalo, our savior armed with a hose, came to the rescue, and together, we turned the soil into a dirty memory!
– Ana Dias
BTS photos by Gonçalo Jorge and Pedro Barradas
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Model: Svenja van den Bogaart; Photographer: Ana Dias; Producer: Gonçalo Jorge; Makeup & Hair: Raquel Batalha; Video: Filipe Figueiredo; Aerial Images: Pedro Barradas
Passion in Paradise
Right after New Year’s Eve 2020, I received an email from Playboy’s photography director, Anna Wilson. She began with: “Happy new year! I hope you are well! I wanted to reach out as we have a really groundbreaking and exciting shoot with one of our Q2 Playmates and we would love for you to shoot it. The Playmate is Marsha Elle and she will be our first Amputee Playmate in Playboy’s history.” Of course, my instant response was a big ‘YES!’ I felt deeply honored to be a part of this thrilling and historic project.
After checking out Marsha Elle’s Instagram pics, I was really captivated by her positive energy and lovely smile. Her vibes inspired me to start creating a moodboard for her shoot.
It became clear to me that Marsha would shine in a photoshoot at a breathtaking beach. Crystal-clear waters, warm sunlight, playful splashes, cool shadows, and soft white sands – this was the setting she needed to showcase her radiant dark skin and naturally exuberant spirit.
Since it was winter in the Northern Hemisphere, we decided to chase the sun elsewhere.
After some online chatting back and forth, we chose our spot: an amazing villa in Sian Ka’an, Mexico. This place is tucked away in an ecological reserve, surrounded by nothing but pure nature. And we had over 900 meters of our very own jungle, private beach and lagoon. It used to be a coconut plantation, which was incredibly cool.
The photoshoot took place over two days, on January 19th and 20th. We spent most of our time shooting amidst the beautiful white sand and under the swaying palm trees, capturing Marsha’s interactions with nature. She was not only beautiful but also incredibly brave and up for anything, even the tricky poses. Right from our first meeting, I knew we were going to create something special together. Her enthusiasm and passion were truly infectious.
One of the funniest memories from those days was when we were inside the water, in the sea, and Marsha’s leg prosthetic started to float! She quickly took it off and handed it to Evan to bring to the shore. Watching Evan sprint to the beach, slicing through the water, with Marsha’s leg up in the air was quite a scene. It’s a memory that never fails to bring a smile to my face every time I think about it.
Photographing Marsha was a genuinely amazing experience, and we even had time to take our first swim of the year in the Caribbean waters, gaze at the stars at night, explore a nearby cenote, and share plenty of smiles while savoring Mexican tequila or drinking corona beers.
– Ana Dias
BTS photos by Filipe Figueiredo, Roger van der Veer and Fareeza Ghani
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Model: Marsha Elle; Photographer: Ana Dias; Photography & Multimedia Director: Anna Wilson; Creative Director: Erica Loewy; Photography Assistant: Roger van der Veer; Styling: Jill Vincent; Makeup & Hair: Fareeza Ghani; Staff Photography and Video: Evan Woods; Photo Coordinator: Kristi Beck; Prodution Manager: Jeremy Crisafulli; Project Manager: Jillian Newman; Video: Filipe Figueiredo
TAGS
Playboy, Marsha Elle
Dream Girl
Solomia Maievska came into my life in a particular way. It all started when Katzi from Playboy Germany mentioned her. She told me that Solomia had auditioned for Playmate of the month. Katzi showed me some of her photos, and I got super curious. So, I checked her out on social media and started chatting with her on Instagram, and lo and behold, about a month later, we found ourselves doing a photoshoot together!
We did this photoshoot on October 12, 2022. It wasn’t quite summer anymore, and the weather wasn’t ideal for outdoor shoots. It was a bit chilly, so I thought, why not find a cool house with big glass windows and an infinity pool looking out over the ocean? That way, we could take photos both inside and, if Mother Nature was feeling cooperative, outside too.
I hadn’t met Solomia Maievska before, and I knew it was going to be her first nude photoshoot. I was a bit nervous at first because I usually work with experienced nude models. But Solomia had this amazing look – slim with a large bust and her face: a mix of mischievous, sweet, and a little badass, kind of like Cara Delevingne. So, I took a chance on her, and I’m so glad I did!
Mia turned out to be a dream model for any photographer. You wouldn’t even guess it was her first time posing naked. We wrapped up the whole shooting in just 5 hours because we arrived at the location late, and in October, the sun sets early. As we worked, the vibe was just right. The chemistry between us was fantastic, and Mia’s enthusiasm was infectious. Despite the initial nervousness, her confidence grew, and we shared plenty of laughs throughout the shoot.
It was one of those unforgettable experiences that remind me why I love what I do. Creating beautiful art with an incredibly unique model like Mia was an absolute blast, and I can’t wait to do it all over again. It was a day full of creativity, laughter, and a genuine connection.
– Ana Dias
BTS photos by Gonçalo Jorge
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Model: Solomia Maievska; Photographer: Ana Dias; Producer: Gonçalo Jorge; Makeup & Hair: Sara Portugal – Team Raquel Batalha; Video: Filipe Figueiredo
TAGS
Playboy, Solomia Maievska