1950's After Dark
This third series is a bigger, bolder move. Set in Manhattan, New York, it plunges into the city’s luminous spectacle. Neon lights, theatre marquees and billboards transform the streets into a stage. I embody a film starlet on a night out, where illuminated architecture and urban signage claim their place at the heart of the image, amplifying its glamour and allure.
Image credits : Lawrens Buissereth
Lawrens' Airbnb services
The moodboard
The vision
This is the mood board I shared with Lawrens to define the visual identity of the shoot: bold black-and-white contrasts, the energy of New York, glowing neon lights, cinematic framing, and expressive poses.
One of my main references was the iconic photograph of Marilyn Monroe standing in front of the Grand Central Terminal poster. I was drawn to its spontaneous quality, as if the image had been captured on the spot while waiting for the next train.
I also wanted the series to alternate between two perspectives. The full-body photographs leave room for the city to become part of the narrative, portraying a woman wandering through the urban bustle like a fleeting stranger. In contrast, the close-up portraits create a quieter, more intimate encounter, revealing fragments of my personality through subtle expressions and gestures.
The soundtrack
The process
I found Lawrens through Airbnb Experiences – if you haven’t discovered it yet, I highly recommend it. It’s a wonderful way to experience a city through the eyes of locals while taking part in activities that go far beyond traditional sightseeing.
His portfolio caught my attention. There was a confidence in his work that perfectly matched the atmosphere I had in mind for this series. Before the shoot, I shared my mood board with him, and together we chose a selection of locations around Times Square that still carried traces of old Hollywood glamour.
The day of the shoot, we wandered through the city in search of the perfect settings. I was incredibly nervous. I even remember telling Lawrens that I wished I had taken a shot of alcohol beforehand for a little liquid courage. Standing in the middle of Times Square, surrounded by towering billboards and thousands of strangers, felt completely overwhelming at first.
Yet, after a few minutes, I realized something surprisingly comforting: nobody was really looking at me. In Times Square, everyone is taking pictures. I wasn’t standing out, if anything I was simply another person creating memories in one of the busiest places in the world.
A little later, we stumbled upon Belasco, a beautiful art deco theatre. The interior was breathtaking, and the staff kindly allowed us to take a few photographs inside. It quickly became one of my favourite moments of the day. This is where we captured my favourite image from the entire series : the one where I’m adjusting my shoe. It’s a rare picture where my natural elegance comes through they way I want it to.
We ended the day at Grand Central Terminal, one of the locations I had dreamt of photographing since the beginning of the project. Surrounded by commuters rushing to catch their trains, I imagined myself as a 1950s starlet crossing the station. We even managed to take a few pictures inside one of the elevators, where I finally felt relaxed enough to reveal a more playful, cheeky side of my personality.
After several hours of walking, shooting and exploring New York together, we rewarded ourselves with Shake Shack burgers and spent some time getting to know each other beyond the camera.
Looking back, this project represents much more than a photoshoot. It crystalises the moment I dared to bring one of my creative ideas to life. I’m deeply grateful to have found a photographer who made me feel comfortable, guided me with kindness, and knew exactly how to direct me.
This day remains one of my favourite memories of New York, not only because of the photographs we created, but because it marked the beginning of something much bigger. Looking back now, I see it as one of the first milestones on the path that eventually became lolo.unleashed.