I’m going through a lot of changes in my life right now. I just passed a very traumatic kind of phase in my life, and I felt like this was a good moment to have a new chapter and a new outlook. I was a bit hesitant at the beginning when Melody suggested the shoot. I’d been in a very bad mood recently. I missed my kids and wasn’t able to see them, and I worried the pictures would reflect that.

But Melody said, “Let’s try. It’s an important moment, and it’s important to capture it.” So I came here with great expectations for Melody’s pictures. I’ve seen them before when she photographs tango dancers. She takes some amazing shots, and I noticed when she’s taking photographs, she does it in a very easy and relaxed way. It looks like she’s enjoying it.

But it was a totally different experience when I came here because I felt that it’s not just about the pictures. The experience itself is magical. She’s not someone who just sits there at a distance taking your pictures. She’s connecting to you, and it feels like there’s a sort of teamwork between you, and her, and Libby, the makeup artist and hairdresser. 

Even during the shoot, Melody was sitting and talking to me about my experience and sharing that with Libby, just to understand the kind of makeup I needed, and she did it in a very easy, friendly way that didn’t feel like work for her.

And the photo session itself was so much fun. The best part is that I completely disconnected from all the work, and the tension, and the stress that I was having. I had a great time, like with a genuine friend. When it was finished, I felt like, “Oh my God, I want to do this all over again.” I wanted to see the pictures, but even without seeing them, this has been an amazing experience. Just spending three hours with Melody is such a treat.