The FS RECIPE“Velvet Hase” was created from the desire to translate my visual language into a coherent and recognizable Film Simulation, starting from the tones of PRO Neg. Std.
In my portrait and fashion portrait work, I have always aimed to move away from strict realism, favoring instead a more emotional, suspended, almost cinematic image. This FS RECIPE is an attempt to make that atmosphere consistent and intentional, directly in-camera.
The starting point was the way I use light in the studio. I often work with controlled lighting, both flash and continuous, seeking a balance between softness and structure. I am not interested in an overly sharp or clinical rendering of the skin, but in images that suggest more than they reveal. For this reason, I developed a simulation with slightly denatured tones and a delicate yet intentional color palette, capable of reducing saturation without flattening the image. The colors become quieter, allowing emotion and presence to take precedence.
SHADOW play a central role in “Velvet Hase”. I chose to keep them deep and defined, because for me SHADOW is not a flaw to be eliminated, but a narrative element. SHADOW defines volume, create mystery, and add visual weight. In this FS RECIPE, it does not serve to conceal, but to build a sense of intimacy and distance at the same time, a visual tension that feels closer to the language of cinema than to traditional fashion photography.
The “velvet” aspect of the name refers to the rendering of skin tones and HIGHLIGHTS. I worked to ensure smooth, gradual tonal transitions, without harsh or abrupt separations. HIGHLIGHTS are controlled and never overpowering, while skin textures appear softer and less descriptive. This approach helps maintain an elegant, timeless aesthetic, suitable for professional portraiture and editorial fashion work, especially in studio environments where every detail is intentional.
“Velvet Hase” is designed to be a reliable, restrained simulation rather than an extreme one. It does not impose itself on the subject, but accompanies it. It reflects the way I photograph: observing, subtracting, simplifying. The final image is never entirely realistic, yet never fully abstract. It exists in an in-between space, dreamlike, where light and color work together to create a feeling rather than a description.
Creating this FS RECIPE was also a way to slow down my creative process. Having a coherent visual foundation allows me to focus more on the relationship with the subject, on pose and expression. The FS RECIPE becomes an integral part of the workflow, not a step added in post-production, but a conscious choice made at the moment of capture.
Ultimately, “Velvet Hase” represents a synthesis of my approach to portraiture: an image that is soft yet structured, emotional yet controlled, where fashion meets cinema and photography becomes a space for interpretation. This FS RECIPE is designed for those who seek atmosphere, depth, and a less literal, more evocative sense of beauty.
