The Set Up: In the studio with Lou Jasmine and the Nikon Z5II

“I’ve never used the Z5II before, but the menu system and operating system are almost exactly the same as the Z6III, which makes it really easy to pick up and photograph with,” says the Nikon Creator, who for this assignment created three distinct set-ups, each defined by its own character and vibe. “I always think about what these images will look like as a collection,” she says. “What story do they tell? Leading up to today, I spent a lot of time getting each set-up really clear in my mind, and in the model’s, the team’s and the brand’s minds, too, especially the why. Why am I choosing this lighting? What does it represent? Why this colour backdrop? Why this prop?”

Beginning with her first set-up, ‘Drama Queen’, a bold, high-impact look set against a striking red backdrop, Lou opts for a NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S for versatility, before switching to a NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S macro lens to capture finer details while continuing to play with composition. “When a model is wearing jewellery, I think about whether the model is the main character or whether the jewellery is the main character. That often informs my composition,” she explains. “I love negative space, and combining closeups with negative space is something I find really interesting.” Lou notes that this approach can present challenges when photographing jewellery on a model. “Autofocus naturally goes to the eye, when sometimes you want it on the jewellery and sometimes you do want it on the eye. So I find myself jumping between the two. The 3D Tracking autofocus is really fast, and I’ve been really impressed with it so far.”

From there, Lou moves on to ‘Baddie’, a set-up inspired by Persian culture and the idea of excess. Using an NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S, Lou builds the look around Middle Eastern influences and high energy, cool city vibes, with a neutral backdrop and a Persian-style carpet helping to anchor the scene. “I think people sometimes overcomplicate photography, but often you can look at what you already have at home,” she says. “Adding just one small prop, like a rug or a plant, can completely change a set and instantly give you the vibe you’re looking for.”

For this second set-up, Lou pushes her creative approach further, incorporating a fractal prism to catch glinting highlights in the jewellery. “I think it’s interesting to play with light in different ways,” she explains. “Lighting isn’t just about natural daylight or studio lights, it’s also about how you can break up light and introduce movement into an image that might otherwise feel very still.”

The third and final set-up, ‘Home Bunny’, centres on themes of healing, feminine wisdom and being comfortable in your own skin, brought to life through soft styling, plants and a warm terracotta backdrop. “Communication with the person I’m photographing is always key,” says Lou. “I always ask, how can I make someone feel celebrated, feel good about themselves, feel strong and powerful?”

Despite the contrast between each set-up, Lou continually brings the work back to cohesion. With the Z5II offering the same access to Nikon Imaging Cloud as her Z6III, she’s able to upload images and download her favourite recipes to refine her final look. “I can upload my images and download recipes, which is really useful,” she says. “I always come back to thinking about the collection as a whole. What will these images look like together? What story do they tell?”