Ronald Cirullo
Ronald Cirullo Interview:
“Physical modifications on a woman’s body achieved in her life are the badges that she has won
and should be celebrated.” - Ronald
Ronald Cirullo, a photographer on a delectate mission to make any woman feel beautiful about
herself through his talent of fine art nude and boudoir photography, believes that the right
permutations of light and shadow can bring forward a flattering form of the female body. In this
interview, Ronald tells us about his journey, his processes and his displayed work along with
this interview:
Who all are a part of your core team?
I am the photographer and Judy is the wardrobe stylist, posing assistant and model (makeup in
this shoot was done by the model). We work as HMUAs in multiple states. Our primary MUA in
many of our shoots is Alvin Moyer IG @alvinmoyer2378 in Scottsdale, AZ.
What kind of photography styles do you specialize in?
We specialize in fine art glamour, fine art nude, and boudoir photography with the emphasis on
and careful use of light and shadows to bring out the complex beauty of the female form.
When, where and how did the passion for photography start?
It all started at the age of 6. I got my first Kodak Brownie film camera and took it to
Washington, DC on a family trip. I realized that it gave me the opportunity to capture pieces of
time that would never occur again, and this fascinated me.
How has your journey been?
a. The majority of my photographic life was focused on architecture and landscape. There
is great elegance in well-designed man-made structures and the intricacy of natural
environments is nothing short of majestic decors which make me want to capture the
marvels of it.
b. Several years ago, I discovered that boudoir and fine art nude photography were a way
of capturing unique moments in a woman’s life journey that would never be exactly the
same again. It also provides me the opportunity to see a reaction from the image’s
subject which of course does not happen with architectural photography and rarely with
nature photography unless you are photographing wildlife. Although landscape and
architectural photography provides stunning images, you can only change and
manipulate them minimally by choosing the right time of day and location to get the
desired light and shadows.
c. Boudoir and fine art nude photography allows you create multiple, unique and creative
images in real time which adds a tremendous level of energy to the session for the
client/model and me.
What were the major milestones and obstacles you have faced?
Milestones:
a. The development of high-quality digital camera was a milestone for many
photographers. Digital cameras and photo processing applications have allowed
more time for creativity and spend less time working on the chemistry of a dark
room. Although I am a chemist, the freedom to create freely has been a real joy.
b. Discovering the proper use of light and shadows to bring out the complexities
and beauty of the female form was a tremendous milestone. The right
combinations can create an incredible three-dimensional feeling instead of a flat
two-dimensional silhouette.
Obstacles:
a. The biggest obstacle is time. There has never been enough time to do all the
projects I have in my mind. It is difficult to limit projects.
What convinces you that a picture you have clicked is perfect?
I’m not sure that I have a concept of a “perfect image”. Every person views an image uniquely
depending on their place of origin, life experiences etc. For me, I consider an image to be high
quality if a viewer feels connected to a story told by the image; and by virtue of different
viewers’ interpretations, images can have multiple personal stories.
How do you play with reflections in your images?
a. I really love reflections. Reflections add an aspect of three dimensionality to the
two-dimensional images. Sometimes the reflection gives the sense of seeing a
different side of the subject’s personality especially when two sides of the face
can be seen.
b. Depending on the angles used, you can also create a sense of anonymity which
many of our clients gravitate to when they venture into some fine art nude
images.
You are working on a concept to get mature women to embrace their beauty through
boudoir photography, could you tell our readers a little more about it?
As many women advance with age, they start losing out on their self-confidence, particularly
when their body is concerned. They may have visible signs of childbirth, surgery, skin
discolorations or their weight is not where they would like it. We try to show them that these
are badges of a life that have been lived and should be celebrated. They are frequently
surprised to find that individuals of significance to them, see them very differently and things
they themselves are concerned with are not noticed by others. They are overjoyed when we
work with posing, light, shadows and fabrics to create beautiful images that let their personality
show through.
Which project has been one of the most memorable one?
I did a “bridal boudoir” session with a woman who had been married for 43 years. She was still
able to wear her original wedding gown and veil. We did the full gamut of images from full
wedding attire to elegant nudes. She was very emotional during the session and when she saw
her images. She had a very few pictures taken at her wedding due to the cost to the young
couple. It was very emotional for me as the photographer as well.
What is your go-to equipment for a photoshoot?
The Sony A7iii is my go-to camera. I also use a Panasonic DC-G9 as a travel camera and a backup
to my Sony. It is light and gives great detailed images when the I can keep the ISO in the 400-
800 range.
I enjoy natural light photography but controlling the light is the most important part of what I
do. I want ultimate control of the light falling on my subject so I use multiple Godox studio and
portable strobes with a mixture of modifiers.
How do you prepare yourself for an outdoor or indoor shoot?
a. With all of my projects, I start with the theme of the shoot and then research
environments and sets which will provide the feel I am looking to create. We did a
Victorian themed shoot a while back and were able to find a house in Nebraska that was
decorated completely with Victorian furniture, lamps, linens etc. It was a great shoot.
b. When photographing clients, I explore their goals for the session and weave them into
the design of the session.
What are your key techniques to make a model feel comfortable during the shoot?
There is always a precession based virtual planning meeting to start building the relationship
which lays the foundation to having fun, laughing and relaxing during the shoot. Although
everyone takes each shoot very seriously, I find the best images come when we are having fun.
About the submission you have made to Edith Magazine:
a. What was the theme of the project and what did you wish to portray?
The theme of Lace and Leisure is really about quiet intimacy.
b. How were the pre-productions and planning carried out?
We had the idea of a simple progression of intimate images which might come at
the end of a day. Many of the images express quiet contemplation.
c. Where did the photoshoot take place and which equipment and techniques
were used to achieve the desired results?
The shoot took place in a marble walled bath and an ante area to the bath. The
marble created a nice texture in contrast to the model’s skin. The space was very
compact with right angles and a glass wall partition. The lighting set up was very
simple with a speedlight bounced off of the white ceiling to provide a uniform fill
as it bounced off of the white marble. A single umbrella soft box with a diffuser
was used to create dimensionality to the model’s features.
d. You believe in images having a story, what story did these images have?
The images tell the story of the end of a woman’s day and the quiet
contemplation that occurs prior to retiring. There is a hint of a voyeur touch to
some of the images adding to the sense of intimacy.
Telling descriptive stories about personalities through his portraits and capturing enchanting
versions of women who have begun to lose out on their self-confidence, Ronald Cirullo is
indeed a photographer who not only preaches to embrace ones natural beauty but also uses his
talents to create captivating images of his subjects.
Written by Sonz
Photographer: Ronald Cirullo
@elegantcurvesandshadows
http://elegantcurvesandshadows.com
Makeup Artist: Alvin Moyer
@alvinmoyer2378
Model: Heidi Lynn
@heyheidiho3