I was commissioned by Geraldine Thompson, a clinical photographer for the NHS, to document how facial features respond to different lighting conditions. To fulfil this brief, I worked with three models in a studio environment, creating a controlled space where I could shape light with precision. Using a range of lighting techniques, I explored how highlights, shadows and contrast shift across different skin tones and facial structures.
As I photographed each model, I became more aware of how uniquely expressive every face can be—some revealed emotion through subtle movements, while others carried stronger, more defined expressions. These differences became central to the project. I used technical lighting styles such as butterfly, Rembrandt and loop to emphasise texture, depth and individuality, allowing each portrait to reveal something distinct about the person in front of the lens.
