Playboy
Mirage
In December 2015, when I was scouting for locations for a new shoot, my friend Sergey Bogaitsev from Russia suggested a destination: Israel! I had never traveled to Israel, but Sergey knew the region well. We had the desert, we had the blue-turquoise waters of the Dead Sea, it looked perfect… and indeed it was! The model chosen for the shoot was the divine blonde Dasha Snezhnaya, from Moscow. The result was an episode for my Playboy Abroad series and an editorial for the cover of the Romanian edition of Playboy.
On this trip I made several new friends: Sergey Lenin, the extrovert, funny and somewhat bad boy of nude photography from Russia, who spoke no other language but Russian, so we had to communicate by gestures; and Alex Vanzetti, a charming and talented photographer from Israel, who specializes in underwater fashion photography.
It was a shoot that my team and I really enjoyed doing, and a place where I will surely return.
– Ana Dias
BTS photos by Sergey Bogaitsev, Filipe Figueiredo, Alex Vanzetti and Sergey Lenin
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Model: Dasha Snezhnaya; Photographer: Ana Dias; Producer: Gonçalo Jorge; Makeup & Hair: Faina Pikus; Video: Filipe Figueiredo; Thanks to: Sergey Bogaitsev and Kseniya Lebed (Gelo Photostudio), Sergey Lenin, Alex Vanzetti
TAGS
Heat Rises
When I first heard from the Playboy team that I would be shooting Teela LaRoux for Playboy’s Gender & Sexuality Issue on a rooftop in downtown LA, I jumped in excitement! I just love her looks and her attitude, and to capture her in such a powerful urban landscape felt like a perfect match. So, after days and hours fine tuning the details of the upcoming shoot with Anna Wilson and Erica Loewy (the multimedia director and the creative director from Playboy, ie the creative brains), on April 5, 2019, the day of the shoot finally arrived and I was pumped!
Calm, focused, truly genuine and in complete control. That’s how Teela approached the shoot. The pictorial was titled ‘Heat Rises’ and the keywords for the shoot were ‘sweaty, sexy, city vibes’ but the weather on that rooftop in LA wasn’t exactly hot… but Teela, with all her badassery, didn’t even hesitate for a second. She went all in and pulled it off magnificently.
Photographing nudity is always a remarkable experience, because without clothes we show our inner self, there is no protection. We show a little bit of our soul. Teela had never photographed nude before, but she did it as powerfully, genuinely and generously as it can possible be done. She was a dream to work with. I love it when the model surprises me, when I don’t have to direct too much. That’s exactly what happened. I felt that Teela knows and loves her body, and can play with her posture and body language easily. She is strong, bold and intense very effortlessly. As soon as I pointed the camera at her, I immediately felt that connection. That click. You know immediately that you are going to have a great shoot… and you don’t want to stop shooting!
The pictorial was published in the Summer Issue of Playboy and Teela became July Playmate. Mission accomplished.
The shoot was also special because it was featured on an article in the New York Times, by Jessica Bennett and a photo of me shooting Teela even appeared on the front page of the newspaper. Cool!
– Ana Dias
BTS photos by Evan Woods
BTS photos by Stephanie Noritz for The New York Times
BTS photos by Raquel Batalha
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Model: Teela LaRoux; Photographer: Ana Dias; Executive Editor: Shane Michael Singh; Photography & Multimedia Director: Anna Wilson; Creative Director: Erica Loewy; Photography Assistant: Raquel Batalha; Styling: Kelley Ash; Makeup & Hair: Bree Stanchfield; Staff Photography and Video: Evan Woods; Photo Coordinator: Sandra Evans; Video: Boa Simon
IN THE PRESS
TAGS
Tan Lines
Get ready to meet Paulina Franco López, a 20-year-old Mexican beauty who now calls the sunny city of Valencia, Spain, her home. Known as ‘Pau’ to her friends, she recently achieved a significant milestone by becoming the cover of Playboy for the first time, with the photographer Ana Dias capturing her in a dazzling villa in Calpe, South Spain. The location featured a sparkling pool surrounded by palm trees, exuding Miami vibes that make you want to dive right in. Paulina had to chill with some ice-cold treats to beat the blazing Spanish sun. Her pics showed off her gorgeously tanned body and those tempting tan lines. “It was an amazing day because I had the opportunity to work with such a great photographer, and the results speak for themselves. I’m extremely proud,” she says.
With a massive online fan base in the millions, she’s a impressive presence inspiring many. Paulina’s ambitions know no bounds; she pushes limits, expands her influence, and embraces digital content creation, striving for success. “I’m game for more Playboy cover opportunities,” she smiles.
Beyond public exposure, Pau enjoys life’s simple moments. “I’m a cheerful person who loves socializing but also values tranquility and quality time with loved ones.”
When not in front of the camera, she loves hitting the gym, exploring the world, watching movies, and diving into video games.
Prepare to be captivated by the rising star of Playboy Mexico’s September 2020 issue, Paulina Franco López.
Published in Playboy September/October 2020 Issue
Buy the issue here
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Model: Paulina Franco López; Photographer: Ana Dias; Producer: Gonçalo Jorge; Makeup & Hair: Raquel Batalha
COVERS
BEHIND THE SCENES
