I Wanted Raw, Honest Photographs — and Got Images That Surprised Even Me

• Feature article •

Five years ago…

One afternoon, while passing a few boring minutes on Facebook, a post caught my eye.

The photograph was the first thing I noticed.

It showed a woman's body from the waist down, lying on her stomach, hips raised, knees bent, with the strap of her underwear hooked over the heel of her shoe.

It was simply sexy.

A photographer was looking for a model to recreate the image.

I applied.

At the time, I had no idea how completely this world would pull me in.

I had never been inside a studio before.

The photographer was very direct and open.

We agreed on everything in advance, so I knew exactly what the plan was.

Still, I was extremely nervous.

A kind, cheerful team welcomed me.

Because it was my first shoot, we built things gradually.

First came photographs in ordinary clothes.

Then lingerie.

And finally we created the image we had originally imagined.

To my surprise, I felt completely comfortable.

I would never have thought I could relax in front of the camera so quickly.

I stayed in touch with the small team.

Soon another project followed — this time without clothes.

I wanted to surprise my partner at the time.

But I surprised myself too by discovering how little it bothered me to be naked in front of strangers.

Since then I have taken part in several lingerie and nude series.

Some were made in studios.

We have also created ideas outdoors.

I enjoyed it.

In fact, it became my hobby.

The moment I received the photographs, I knew I wanted to continue.

I loved the variety and creativity.

I met many people.

Some of them became friends.

It is important for me to mention the respect I have always received during these shoots.

Unfortunately, people sometimes imagine more behind this kind of modelling than is really there.

I have even been called promiscuous.

I see art in it.

And through it, I am trying to find my own path.

Not long ago, I came across an advertisement.

Anikó Bognár was looking for models for material that would soon become part of an exhibition.

I applied.

From the first moment, she was direct and open.

We had many conversations even before the work began, so trust developed quickly.

Then the day arrived.

At the studio, Anikó welcomed me warmly.

Beside her was her mentor, Norbert Bánhalmi.

I was extremely nervous.

I would have jumped straight into the task.

Norbi stopped me, told me to slow down and invited me to sit on the sofa.

The atmosphere of the studio pulled me in.

Low light.

Soft music.

Walls full of photographs.

Harmony.

It calmed me and excited me at the same time.

“I photograph the soul through the body,” Norbi said.

At the time, I did not really understand what he meant.

Anikó and I began working.

I enjoyed every moment.

The entire session felt free and natural.

I felt a very strong connection between us.

Within a short time, the photographs were ready.

One of them was selected for the exhibition.

That was when I understood.

Anikó had not merely photographed a body and a face.

She had captured the movement, the sigh, the desire I had felt in front of the camera.

Yes.

That was what Norbi had meant.

A few days passed.

It was hard to find words worthy of Norbi for the guestbook.

Eventually I managed to write a few lines.

He thanked me kindly.

That started another conversation.

For me, the exhibition photograph became the highlight of my hobby.

I discovered a completely new side of modelling.

And at the same time, a new world — with Norbi as my guide.

He senses people's inner worlds and the desires hidden inside them.

I wrote to him that curiosity was driving me.

How does he see me?

What would my soul look like in a photograph?

What would it feel like to see myself through his eyes?

Perhaps there are things inside me that even I do not know yet.

Then I thought:

If this opportunity had appeared, why shouldn't the series say something?

Let it carry a message.

And let it be a message people might notice precisely because Norbi's name was attached to it.

Let's stand up for women who are judged simply because they dare to undress in front of a camera.

For women who dare to show their beauty without allowing a photographer to exploit their bodies.

Because the body is not an object.

It is a tool of expression.

There are no words in these photographs.

The body speaks.

That is how the idea was born.

Let us create something provocative.

Something that could easily become vulgar — but in Norbi's hands would become art.

I entrusted him with my soul.

I was incredibly nervous.

My hands and legs were trembling.

The fear came from inside me.

I had convinced myself that this time I could not make a mistake.

I sat down on the sofa and looked around exactly as I had on my first visit.

This time, however, the harmony of the studio was not enough.

My anxiety remained.

We talked.

Norbi has a special ability.

He senses another person's inner state and almost invisibly opens the shell around it.

I lay naked on the sofa.

The half-light felt gentle on my eyes.

The soft music felt good in my ears.

Norbi asked me to close my eyes and take a deep breath.

Then release it slowly.

Again.

And again.

I could feel the tension gradually leaving my body.

I began to match the slower rhythm of the world around me.

My hand moved gently across my body.

And the camera began clicking.

He works with heart.

He gives something of his soul.

I had never experienced anything similar.

It felt like therapy for a restless, exhausted inner world.

When I look at the photographs, only I truly know that the final result became complete through Norbi's own emotional presence as well.

This is art.

And becoming part of it is an honour.

Only a body appears in the photograph.

But it contains life and soul.

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The shoot genuinely affected me like therapy.

I changed.

Around a month later, I contacted Norbi again…

Executive and C-level photography brings leadership personality, credibility and brand value together in a single visual system.

Part of the BANHALMI ecosystem

For the professional context and practical side of portrait photography, visit the BANHALMI professional website. Related art series, books and exhibitions are preserved in the BANHALMI ART archive.