A photographer has revealed what happened when she found an unexpected muse inside a coffee shop, and she couldn't resist doing an impromptu photoshoot.
While Rosie Rainbow Lugg has been traveling round Asia, she's rarely been without her trusty camera. She's captured images of the stunning scenery and the once in a lifetime experiences that she's had along the way.
But it was back in October that Lugg, 22, experienced one of her most inspired moments at a coffee shop in Vietnam. She noticed a woman sitting by herself journaling, and she told Newsweek that she "knew it would make for beautiful photos."
Initially, Lugg, of London, United Kingdom, was nervous to approach the woman, named Veri, and ask if she could take her picture. But thankfully, she trusted her instincts and lo and behold, Veri was more than happy to take part.
"She looked so friendly and sweet, so I wasn't nervous for her reaction or for her to say no because she would have every right to," Lugg said. "But it's the pressure of delivering and making sure she's comfortable the whole time that makes me nervous.
She added: "The last thing I'd want to do is disturb the vibe of the coffee shop and make anyone uncomfortable.
"I'd fallen in love with the interior of the cozy, cottage-core coffee shop. When I spotted Veri and saw how well she matched the aesthetic, I thought she had the most fairy-like energy," she continued.
Lugg asked her muse to act natural and continue what she'd been doing, which allowed her to spend a few minutes taking photos in the coffee shop. She wanted to keep the photoshoot quick as she didn't want to take up too much of Veri's time or disturb any other diners.
The finished results left Lugg delighted, telling Newsweek that she was "very pleased" with how the pictures turned out. Perhaps even more importantly, Veri loved them too and she's even connected with Lugg on social media since this happened.
"I'd been working on a new editing preset which has a filmy vibe, and I knew the photos would work great with that. I find that the memory of taking the photographs plays such a big part in how I feel about them, and I absolutely love this memory, so the photos are very special," Lugg said.
She continued: "I asked Veri a few questions about herself before taking the photos because knowing a little bit about your subject helps capture who they are and gives the photographs more of a narrative. We had chance to chat more afterwards, and we follow each other on social media now too."
Following the special encounter, Lugg shared some behind the scenes footage on TikTok (@rambosphotos) revealing how she approached Veri and got the pictures. The post went viral with over 1.4 million views and more than 116,300 likes, as TikTokers loved seeing how naturally it all came together.
Of course, plenty of people were desperate to see the finished product, so Lugg shared a follow-up video on TikTok showing a selection of her favorite photos.
She never imagined that her video would amass so much attention, but she's been delighted by the online response. Indeed, she hopes it will inspire others to pick up a camera and put their own photography skills to the test, as they never know what they might capture.
Lugg told Newsweek: "Sharing these interactions shows the beauty and fun that comes with photography. I like to share behind the scenes moments to show that it's something anyone can do, and to encourage anyone to try it and push past their comfort zone.
"I received lots of messages from people saying my video inspired them to try photography or new creative ideas. The thought that I could inspire others to create something or talk to someone makes me so unbelievably happy. That's the reason why I post on social media," she continued.
With over 200 comments on the viral video, TikTok users were full of praise for the kindness that was displayed in this interaction between two strangers.
One comment reads: "This is like from a scene in a book I would love to read. So sweet."
Another person wrote: "This whole video is so ridiculously beautiful."
While one TikToker added: "This is why girlhood is the best."
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English (US) ·