This photoshoot, created for a university photography project under the theme of Love, explores the tension between alienation and belonging within queer identity. While the narrative and interpretation come from Gani’s personal journey, my role was to bring that vision to life through set design, photography, and model direction.

Inspired by the aesthetic of Aidan Zamiri, I developed a setting that played with the idea of “boys being boys” while incorporating a subtle boy-band-like visual language. The shoot became a balance between intimacy and performance, blurring the lines between camaraderie and self-expression in a space where queerness and masculinity coexist.

From behind the camera, my focus was on crafting the technical elements: composing the shots, guiding the models, and designing the set to reflect Gani’s experience. One key visual motif was the use of light to highlight isolation within community. One figure subtly illuminated, embodying the feeling of standing apart even while surrounded by others.

This shoot was a collaboration of perspectives, Gani’s lived experience and my technical execution, coming together to tell a story of fear, discovery, and ultimately, love.