Stand before the camera, completely exposed

TAOWe didn't have very detailed discussions before the shoot. I was prepared for topless, but I never imagined it would be full nudity.



SawatariI wanted to capture everything about TAO, so naturally, nudity was part of my vision. The shoot took place over three days, three sessions. I wanted to finalize it after three shoots. We shot twice with her in white clothing, but I felt it was too superficial. So, before the third day, I told her, 'Stand before the camera, completely exposed.'



TAOAfter two shoots on the last weekend of July, I went to check the photos, and Mr. Sawatari said he wanted to shoot again. I really had to think about it...



SawatariIndeed, a fashion model wouldn't normally need to go this far.

TAOWhat would you have done if I had said, 'I can't do it anymore' before the third day?



SawatariIf you had said that, I would have finished with the first two days' worth. No one else could have shot it by then. But it was TAO who said, 'I don't mind being nude.'

I felt so frustrated at the thought I might not be able to do it

TAOWhen I was having dinner with Mr. Sawatari before, I must have said that I didn't have any reservations about nudity due to my profession. I'm comfortable showing my breasts in fashion shows and shoots. But that was as the 'model' I was playing, and for this shoot, it was about 'myself,' so I started to feel resistant. Yet, I thought of myself as someone who could do it, so the thought that I might not be able to was frustrating, and I was conflicted.



SawatariAfter wrestling with that, came the third day. You were completely different in front of the camera for the third session. Many of the photos in the photobook are from the third day. Your intensity was different. You stood before the camera with a certain resolve.

TAOBefore the third day, I couldn't imagine how far I could go in front of Mr. Sawatari's camera. I even involved Sonia Park, a mutual acquaintance, and caused trouble for her. But when she said, 'If you can't do it, just say so,' it made me even more determined not to say 'I can't' or 'it's impossible.'



SawatariFrom a photographer's perspective, this was nothing but a valuable experience.



TAOBut on the third day, there were such emotional fluctuations within the day; there were times I was very relaxed, and times I even felt anger towards Mr. Sawatari (laughs).



SawatariEven that angry expression is good (laughs). It's better when emotions show.



TAOLooking at it positively, I learned a great deal.


TAO Official Blog

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