Body paint, handmade horns and fog gave this Halloween shoot its starting point. I worked with body artist Valeria Tatyanina and model Violetta Grehova on a dark fantasy concept that was published in Marika Magazine's special Halloween edition.
Building the character
Valeria created the body painting and handcrafted horns. In the opening portrait, the painted pattern runs across Violetta's neck and torso, while the horns change the outline of her head. The design gives the character detail at close range and a distinct silhouette in the wider photographs.
Violetta's poses and expressions carry that character through the series. The artwork remains part of each portrait as the framing changes.
Fog and a two-light setup
I used two lights and a fog machine for the shoot. The fog gives the light something visible to pass through, while the shadows leave parts of the figure and setting less defined. The warm colour and dark background in the opening portrait help bring the painted texture forward.
The combination suited the Halloween idea: enough detail to read the body art, with areas of the image left in shadow. I have kept the original magazine pages here so you can see how those elements work across the photographs.
The team and the publication
Photography: Dmitry Bugaenko
Body art and handcrafted horns: Valeria Tatyanina
Model: Violetta Grehova
The pages above and below are from Marika Magazine's Halloween edition. They preserve the published images, layout and printed credits for the collaboration.
Planning a creative portrait
If you have an idea involving a character, makeup or body art, send me a few references and tell me what interests you about them. We can discuss the visual direction, who needs to be involved and what preparation the concept requires.
Explore my personal and creative portrait photography, or tell me about your idea. A concept can begin with one clear element—a texture, a shape or a way of lighting a face—and develop from there.
