All posts filed under: Storytelling

I’ve always had a strong sense of direction. That was the problem. What if after 7 long days trudging through the deep woods, you discovered the compass that had been guiding your every step was actually broken? You’d realize you were lost. It wasn’t until 7 years into my creative career that I discovered I was utterly and completely lost. I was operating with a broken compass. I had a strong sense of direction, it was just the wrong direction. If you are headed in the wrong direction, the sooner you stop and turn back, is actually when you begin to make real progress. It wasn’t until I picked up a camera and started taking self portraits did I begin to find the way. The most important lesson I’ve learned is this: what matters more than anything a photographer has in their kit is the heart from which they create. I was working in the movie industry pursuing the American Dream: appearing really busy and successful on Instagram and trying to be the envy of …

Tom Barreto is a Brazilian photographer and director whose work balances technical precision with emotional sensitivity. Born in Taubaté and now based in São Paulo, he has built a career spanning fashion, beauty, advertising, and personal projects, creating images defined by choreographed light, atmosphere, and a deep sense of humanity.  His portfolio includes campaigns for Dior Beauty, Fendi, Arezzo, and Bvlgari, alongside collaborations with artists such as IZA, Fernanda Torres, and Marina Ruy Barbosa. His work has appeared in global publications including Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, and Numéro Netherlands.   Tom’s practice goes beyond creating imagery. At its core is a philosophy rooted in observation: of people, of everyday life, and of the quiet tensions that exist beneath the surface. It’s this mindset that shapes how he approaches storytelling, navigates uncertainty, and maintains a consistent visual language across analog and digital workflows.  In our chat below, Tom reflects on why observation is a photographer’s most valuable material, how he trains his eye away from the camera, and what keeps him grounded when the industry feels unstable. He also shares insights into his creative process, the role of controlled chaos in his work, and how …

Francis Tama, visual creator and founder of post-production studio Casa Dusk, has a strong editorial eye and is the creative mind behind many fashion, beauty, and still-life photoshoots.  In spring, Francis took on the creative direction of Starlight, a fashion editorial for PAP Magazine. Featuring delicate contrasts between light and shadow, rich textures, and emotive color palettes, the editorial was built with intention: clean, calm, and focused.   What makes Starlight unique, is that it was created entirely remotely. Francis decided to collaborate with people he’d met while living abroad, after he’d connected deeply with them both personally and creatively. Starlight, conceptualized by Tama and Casa Dusk studio, was the result of a harmonious collaboration, a shared visual language and trust.   We asked Francis to tell us about the project’s concept, how Capture One made the remote creative direction possible, and the team’s collaborative process. Here’s what he shared.  Can you tell us a bit about the concept and story behind this shoot?  Starlight was born from the desire to explore softness, distance, and connection — …