25/08/2026
, I asked ChatGPT (yes, part of the evil AI taking over the world) to look at the work on the Smoke&Mirrors Studio website and summarise the photography.
Here's what it says - do you agree with this?
Classic, sensual and artful, with a strong emphasis on light, shadow and shape.
Michael’s work sits somewhere between bo***ir, glamour and fine-art portraiture. The images are sexy without being sleazy, polished without looking artificial, and deliberately designed to feel timeless rather than driven by current photography trends.
He describes his own approach as a “classic, art approach to bo***ir” — almost always black and white, stylish, and featuring real expressions from real women.
A few things particularly define the look:
Dramatic light and shadow. Light is used to sculpt the body, emphasise curves and create atmosphere. His bodyscape work takes this even further, reducing the body to shape, line and texture.
Black and white. This is a major part of the Smoke&Mirrors aesthetic. The monochrome treatment gives the images a classic, almost cinematic quality and keeps attention on the woman rather than colour or fashion.
Simple, purposeful sets. Rather than relying on elaborate locations or props, Michael often builds an image around one strong idea — a sheet, a bed, window light, fabric, a silhouette or a particular pose.
Strong posing and composition. The body is treated almost as a piece of sculpture. Cropping, negative space, anonymity and the positioning of hands, legs and curves are deliberate parts of the image-making process.
Real women, not manufactured perfection. The aim isn't to turn someone into an unrecognisable glamour model. Retouching and editing are intended to produce the woman “on her best day”, while still looking like herself.
Sensual rather than explicit. The work celebrates the body and sexuality, but the emphasis is on elegance, confidence and suggestion.
A collaborative approach. Michael incorporates clients' ideas rather than imposing a fixed formula, while providing the posing and lighting expertise needed to create the finished image.
A little theatrical. There is often a sense of creating a character or a moment — Marilyn-inspired imagery, dramatic lighting, fabrics, silhouettes and stylised setups — but the woman remains the centre of the photograph.
