Moving into a new space always brings a sense of anticipation—the process of learning how the light falls, getting to know every corner, and seeing possibilities take shape. For photographer João Hazin, his new studio marks the moment his work finally gets the space it deserves.
“This shoot came to fruition as I began to settle into my new studio. I’ve recently moved to the place that I had always sought in the city where I live. A studio that has less of a commercial vibe to it and is more homey, intimate, and natural: I can finally photograph people amidst my own thoughts, materialized into a physical space.”
His first shoot with Mikaeli, of Tráfego Models, took shape right there: zero overthinking, just letting the studio’s atmosphere set the tone for the imagery. The result is a series of images that feel remarkably soft, dreamy, and effortlessly beautiful.
“I reached out to Mikaeli, with whom I had already wanted to work for some time, and we started imagining what our session would look like. It was supposed to be just a test shoot for this new space, so we wanted to create images that exuded an organic, relaxed feeling of intimacy. Something in-between a catalog and an editorial shoot. The soft light created by the mango tree invades these big windows into the dimly lit room, really setting the tone of the space.”
And with this new place came something else too: the freedom, and perhaps also the responsibility, to create more closely from his own instincts.
“Ever since I’ve moved here, I have been feeling something I can only describe as the burden of creation. I now feel that I have a duty and the power to create the images that I want. I hope the pictures below meet your expectations, as I felt they did mine. Mikaeli is an incredibly talented model and a very dear person. I loved working with her, especially exploring her facial features under these lighting conditions. I hope we can work again in the future. Anyway, welcome to the studio!”
