Close enough

Close Enough — An Intimate Workshop with Chéri

4 spots only · 18+ only · Union Square
Daylight Studio · Freek Dirkx Photography

Most photographers default to the full frame — body, background, context. This workshop takes that away.
The rule is simple: if you can see the whole person, you're too far back.
Every shot is a fragment. A detail. A secret the wider frame would have buried. Working with the human form, we slow down, move in close, and train our eyes on what's usually overlooked — the crease of an eyelid, the curve of a collarbone, the light catching a cheekbone, the sweep of a hip. This is portrait photography stripped to its essence — in every sense.

Working with our model Chéri, you'll explore:
Eyes & face — lashes, folds of skin, the catch of light in an iris

Hands — resting, tensed, curled. Hands tell more stories than faces

Neckline, collarbone & shoulder — shadow beneath the ear, the turn of the neck.

The body as landscape — the curve of a hip, the line of a spine, the hollow of a lower back

Skin texture — pores, freckles, fine hair, the way raking light reveals every surface

In-between moments — the breath before a pose, a glance away, stillness mid-thought

What You'll Learn

• How to slow down and see before you shoot
• That composition lives in the small things
• How proximity and the nude form change the emotional weight of an image
• That intimacy in photography is about attention — not exposure
• How to work respectfully and professionally with a nude model

We'll work with long lenses or a macro for compression and separation. Shallow depth of field (f/1.2–f/2.8), soft directional light — Rembrandt or window. No heavy flash setups. Just light, skin, and patience.

Between setups we review frames together — the differences in what each photographer sees will spark the best conversations of the day.

A Professional Environment
This workshop is conducted with full professionalism and mutual respect. Chéri is an experienced model comfortable with fine art nude work. Participants are expected to maintain a respectful, focused atmosphere at all times. This is a creative and educational space — not a commercial shoot.
By registering, you confirm you are 18 years of age or older.

One-on-One Sessions with Chéri are available after the workshop — book directly through Freek Dirkx Photography.

• Non-nude · $50 / hour
• Nude · $100 / hour

Private sessions follow the same professional standards as the workshop. A focused, respectful environment for photographers who want dedicated time to develop their vision.

📍 Union Square Daylight Studio, NYC
👥 Maximum 4 photographers — intentionally small
🔞 Adults only — 18+ strictly enforced
📷 Bring your camera, a portrait or macro lens, and a curious eye
💡 All levels welcome — this is about seeing, not gear

About Your Host
Freek Dirkx is an NYC-based photographer with years of professional experience in portraiture, events, and fine art. His workshops are hands-on, discussion-driven, and built around one idea: photographers learn by doing — not watching.
👉 Instagram: @freekdirkxphotographer