Good day, Steemians! It’s a cold, snowy Minnesotan afternoon. I’m here at 
It was 2015 and Gia Genevieve was just on the cover of Playboy. Through mutual friends, she and I had gotten in touch and discussed shooting together. Gia’s Playboy feature was shot by the one and only, Ellen Von Unwerth. To follow that shoot up was daunting, but affirming that I did in fact belong in the company of the best photographers in the industry. Not that I really felt that way about myself, but at the very least, Gia did.
Throughout the heights of her rising career […which is still gaining momentum, most recently announcing her own burlesque act with Dita Von Teese], we continued to shoot together when I was in NYC. I’ve posted photos I’ve shot with Gia here on Steemit ages ago, but I wanted to share a few that’ve never been seen.
Our first shoot together was in her home in Brooklyn. We shot outside in the chilly December air. Gia was bundled up in a Kiss Me Deadly robe. The backdrop of lush, green ivy against her vintage hairstyle, fair skin and red lips was like photographing Marilyn Monroe incarnate. Such a pleasure and gift to work with such a remarkable model.
Afterwards, we moved to her bedroom. Warm lights against pink walls. Stuffed animals and a giant glittery heart on the backboard. Secrets in Lace sponsored the lingerie for this shoot. It was one of the most memorable experiences in my career-long struggle to make great photos without the use of lighting equipment, flashes or strobes.
The remaining photos are from our second shoot, also in Brooklyn. Gia put together the wardrobe, and did her own hair and make-up; a real testament to her talents as a model. We shot on the rooftop of a friend’s apartment overlooking Brooklyn. It was just starting to rain, and the overcast sky offered perfect lighting without blowing out her skin. We moved to SlapBack vintage boutique and RockNRolla bar, right next door. There we wrapped up a pinup look and a dark, masquerade mask as Gia crawled along the red leather seats of the booth.
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