Unveiling Minitinah: Bold and Beautiful

Model @Minitinah

After nearly a decade in photography, this shoot with Cristina remains one of the most defining milestones in my career. I discovered her profile early on when I began transitioning into more sensual and intimate portrait work. At the time, I hesitated to reach out—I didn’t feel I was ready to shoot at that level.

Then, unexpectedly, Cristina reached out to me. She offered an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. That invitation marked a turning point—where everything I’d practiced was finally put to the test. And judging by the outcome, I’d say the timing was just right.

This set was shot a few years ago, and I still remember encouraging Cristina to fully relax and bring her natural energy into the frame. The more she embraced herself, the more powerful and authentic the images became. It’s one of those rare sessions where the collaboration, emotion, and technical elements all aligned perfectly.

Since then, we’ve continued working together, and she’s become a consistent part of my creative circle. Cristina isn’t just an incredible model—she’s someone who truly elevates every concept she touches. I’m looking forward to many more sessions ahead.

Camera Setup

  • Body: Canon 6D

  • Lenses: Sigma 35mm f/1.4, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8

  • Lighting: 36” Octobox with AlienBee B400, Speedlight with baby blue gel

This shoot with Cristina wasn’t technically difficult—it was more about building trust and reading the model’s energy. The real work came from understanding how to bring out her presence in front of the camera, not tweaking gear settings.

For the downstairs shots, I primarily used natural light, closely monitoring my highlights through the LCD to maintain clean exposure. When I did incorporate artificial lighting, I kept it minimal but effective: one softbox as the key light, paired with a second light in the background fitted with a baby blue gel.

That two-light setup added depth and subtle color separation, creating a soft, cinematic tone without overwhelming the subject. In post-production, I focused on tone control and color masking to emphasize mood and keep the visuals cohesive.

This session was all about balance—natural light, simple augmentation, and intuitive collaboration.

Pedro Rodriguez