Holy was an ‘‘accident’’

Holy, New York City, 2025

This image came together very naturally during a fashion shoot. While we were talking between setups, the idea came up to create a mesmerizing beauty look that hinted at a third eye — something subtle, graphic, and emotional rather than literal.

Red is one of my favorite colors to work with in photography. I love how it can feel intense but still soft at the same time, especially when it has that velvet, deep crimson tone. We leaned into that texture and let the makeup do most of the storytelling, keeping the rest of the face clean and minimal.

We didn’t have much time. Once makeup was done, we had about ten minutes to reset the lighting and capture this before wrapping the shoot. No overthinking — just moving fast and trusting the moment.

What I love about this image is how simple it is, yet how much it holds. It feels quiet, strong, and slightly surreal. It wasn’t planned as a main image, but it ended up becoming one of my favorites from the day.

Sometimes the best photos are the ones that happen quickly, without pressure — just instinct.