Rikki & The Girl
photography: Sophie Hemels
www.sophiehemels.com
Model: Soesja Leugs
Assistent: Mikel van den Boogaard
Special thanks to The Hoxton Hotel Amsterdam & Love Stories Intimates
It’s not often that you find a bird as light and beautiful as this girl I met one day in December. The sun was out and the wind was cold. Oh so cold and it made Amsterdam oh so lovely.
I had gotten her name from a booker to shoot her for a new project. With only a quick glance on Facebook, unaware of her even more mesmerizing beauty in real life, I headed east, biking to her home with my camera strapped around me. Once I got there I immediately booked her for a second shoot that week and this is the result. Meet Soesja Leugs.
Her effortless 70s Birkin-resemblance, combined with honest interest and a head full of creativity, warmed up our room in The Hoxton. It was yet another sunny day and I knew from the moment we arrived that we would make magic. The underwear was borrowed from my favorite brand Love Stories, based in Amsterdam, and without any make-up or hair adjustments we were ready to go.
The day flew by in a rush, coffee/cigarette breaks in winter’s warm sun, Soesja tightly holding my best friend Rikki the shark close to her, chatting about photography, love and life. What felt like an hour turned out to be five hours and soon my battery was empty, my memory full.
With the setting winter light, lights slowly coming to life on the streets, we wrapped up for the day. After Soesja and my assistent left, I stayed for another half an hour tidying up the place, my whole system filled with contentment. It’s not often that you find a bird as light and beautiful as this girl, Soesja. It’s not often that I walk home after a shoot knowing, without a doubt, that we nailed it. And this time, as I walked those lovely lit streets, Rikki strapped under my arm, I did. And damn, doesn’t it look good?
photography: Sophie Hemels (Francis Morris Morrison)
www.sophiehemels.com – @francismorrismorrison
Model: Soesja Leugs @soesja_leugs
Assistent: Mikel van den Boogaard
Special thanks to The Hoxton Hotel Amsterdam & Love Stories Intimates
