I’ve been dreaming of doing a shoot with two models on a tennis court for what feels like forever. There’s something about the aesthetic of this sport that I absolutely love: the retro colors of a clay court, the outfits, the accessories. But it took me ages to actually make it happen. Literally years. Either I was wrapped up in other projects or something unexpected would come up, and since this shoot had to be done in August when the courts are quieter, the timing never worked out.
But when summer 2024 rolled around, I told myself: It’s now or never. I wanted this shoot to tell a subtle, beautiful story, moving away from the bold, “sexy bombshell” vibes. So, I set out to find two models who embodied grace, beauty, and delicacy.
Since it wasn’t a solo shoot, finding the right duo required more research. After days of brainstorming with Gonçalo, we finally landed on two stunning models: Anastasia Murr and Bogdana Voloshyna. Both had that fragile elegance and delicate features I was looking for. When they both confirmed they were free for August 9th, 2024, I was beyond excited!
On the day of the shoot, we arrived at the tennis court around 9:00 a.m. and kicked things off with makeup and hair on-site. I asked Carla to keep the look natural but warm, really playing up the models’ natural beauty.
We started shooting around 11:00 a.m. The weather wasn’t on our side at first, the sun didn’t want to come out, and when it finally did, it felt like we were in a sauna!
But the chemistry between the models? Instant. Even though they had never met before, they clicked from the start, moving together in front of the camera like they’d been doing this for years. Every shot felt effortless. No awkward moments, no forced poses, just pure, natural flow. Watching them pose was incredible. Their movements, the way they looked at each other, the grace they carried, it was like the tennis court became their stage. You’d never guess it was their first time shooting on one.
By the end of the day, I knew we had something special. After all the planning, the results were everything I hoped for and more. It all came together perfectly.
– Ana Dias
BTS photos by Gonçalo Jorge
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Models: Anastasia Murr, Bogdana Voloshyna; Photographer: Ana Dias; Producer: Gonçalo Jorge; Makeup & Hair: Carla Tkachov – Team Raquel Batalha; Assistant: David Sousa; Video: Filipe Figueiredo
