Portrait Study - Jessica Oddie from the NZSO

Why This Direction?

Even before we spoke, I had a concept in mind. The violin, for me, has always felt like an ethereal instrument—its voice is emotional and unbound, much like Jessica’s presence. There’s a quiet magnetism to her. Without knowing her deeply, I already saw a palette: creams, golds, deep velvets, painterly textures, softness without fragility.

When we spoke, it was instant alignment. She described herself as drawn to elegant, soft, dreamy aesthetics. She was excited by the direction. That kind of confirmation gives me full freedom to lean into the vision.

Collaborating with Jessica

We didn’t over-plan. Jessica shared a few outfit options—a red velvet dress, a cream gown—and I chose based on the feeling we wanted each look to evoke. The red was powerful and regal. The cream was ethereal. Together, they formed a narrative.

She loved the moodboard. The painterly references, the softness, the glow. It wasn’t just something she liked visually—it was how she saw herself.

Five Looks, One Story

Throughout the shoot, I used Elinchrom lighting equipment paired with a Canon R5 camera and a Canon RF70–200mm F2.8 lens. My go-to settings for this style were f/5.6, ISO 400, and 1/100s — a combination that gives me the clarity and softness I need when working with cinematic light. The consistency of the Elinchrom system allows me to focus entirely on direction and mood, knowing my light quality will hold up shot after shot. I source all my lighting gear through Progear in Auckland, New Zealand — they’ve been a reliable supplier and a key part of making these shoots possible.

1. The Painterly Portrait

We started with a neutral grey canvas backdrop and directional soft light. I used my 175cm octabox camera left, paired with a black bounce on the right. This carved gentle shadows and gave the shot depth without losing softness.

I ran the final through Capture One’s Match Look tool, using a Felix Kunz portrait as a reference. That gave us muted blues and earthy undertones—classic, introspective, and refined.

2. Curtain Glow

For this setup, I hung sheer curtains from a crossbar and backlit them with two strip soft boxes. Two large white reflectors bounced soft fill back onto Jessica.

I added a Tiffin Black Pro mist 1/4 filter to the lens to bloom the highlights and reduce edge contrast. It’s like morning light in a dream: warm, comforting, slightly hazy.

This wasn’t just an aesthetic—it mirrored the tone of certain violin passages. Fluid, emotive, ambient.

3. Red Velvet Against Cream

This look used natural light pouring in through the studio window. Jessica wore her red velvet gown against my grey canvas, but in post I overlayed a cream-toned digital texture to create a harmony of tone.

This was a nod to traditional portraiture—think Rembrandt meets modern softness. Her poise in this shot was almost regal.

4. Diopter Blur Motion

I always want one experimental shot. For this, I used a split diopter filter while Jessica played, allowing me to create in-camera blur and motion.

She played slowly, and I captured both the stillness of her face and the motion of her bowing hand in the same frame. There’s metaphor in that—the artist steady in her craft while the music moves through her.

Shot against black, with the same soft side light as before, this became the emotional coda of the session.

5. Heavenly Wrap Light (Unscripted)

This was spontaneous. The big 175cm octabox went behind Jessica this time—blasting light toward camera. With two reflectors in front and a mist filter again on the lens, the light wrapped around her like a halo.

She looked otherworldly. It wasn’t planned, but it felt like we’d caught something divine. That’s the image people stop scrolling for.

Jessica told me afterward: “These are some of the best photos I’ve ever had.” That stayed with me. It reminded me that following intuition over a rigid plan can lead to something greater.

What These Portraits Reveal

Jessica is a serious, high-level musician in one of the world’s most highly regarded orchestras, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. But what I saw in her, and what I hope these photos show, is grace. Not just technical excellence—but softness, ease, and identity.

Musicians in orchestras are often seen as part of a collective. This series aims to individualise them. To pull them forward. Jessica came forward with power and peace.

Each portrait, I believe, shows a different part of who she is: regal, dreamy, structured, soulful, experimental. But the through-line is always light—soft, intentional, and honest.

If you enjoyed this session with Jessica Oddie, you might like to view the rest of the NZSO Portrait Series to see how each musician brings something unique to frame.

You can also read Ian Greenberg’s portrait session to see a very different take within the same series.

Interested in having portraits like these? Book your own musician portrait and let’s create something that speaks to your artistry.