This article is important to me as, for the first time, I was handling a studio by myself. On top of that, I played with gels (color filters), which was also new. I learnt a great deal, but it also convinced me I wanted to do more portraiture.

As usual, there’s no photoshopping in these shots. The backgrounds are all raw or obtained with lights.

This shooting was split in two parts, which I believe is sufficiently obvious from the pictures below not to need comments.

Thanks for so many reasons to J, for being an inspiration, an encouragement and a handsome fella, too, amongst many other things. He inspired this title, which is about going past the walls of shyness and doubt.