Anna Khachaturova, Fashion Meets Fitness in Dubai | Editorial Fashion Photographer Breakdown

Jean Paquingan
16 hours ago
4 min read

Anna Khachaturova flew from London to Dubai to shoot with us in Summer 2024, a Fashion meets Fitness, on-location session that tracked her road to the WBFF stage and put her in full, sexy editorial mode. We’re a South Florida photographer team based in Boca Raton, but Dennis & Tessa travel to find the right talent. This session in Dubai was a lesson in geography, grit, and glamour, and it reads like a masterclass in model portfolio photoshoot work.

Woman in red swimsuit leans against rail on a beach. Sandy background, palm trees, and buildings visible. Relaxed and pensive mood.

Concept & Creative Brief

Shoot type: Fashion / Fitness editorial, a blend of portrait photographer precision and high-energy fitness lifestyle photography.
Purpose: Document Anna’s journey to the WBFF stage and give her portfolio and social channels visceral, high-end images she can use for branding, promotions, and stage presence.
Vibe: Sexy, confident, editorial, think gym-to-runway with sunlit, cinematic frames.

We planned the looks to move from sweat-and-serious to full-on fashion attitude. Anna had the look and the attitude we love; the whole story is in the eyes, so our direction leaned hard into powerful facial expressions and elongated lines.

Location, Logistics & the Dubai Challenge

Shooting swimwear and intimate fitness looks in Dubai isn’t like a Miami Beach photoshoot. Public beaches and rooftops have rules. You can’t just put a bikini on and wander any coastline; we had to lock a private resort pool and a secluded rooftop with controlled access.

Challenge: Finding appropriate swimwear locations in Dubai.
Solution: Pre-booked a private resort and a curtained rooftop area, coordinated with security, and scheduled golden-hour windows around controlled access.

Local restrictions forced us to be efficient. When the window opened, we went fast. That discipline translates to South Florida shoots, too: quick setups, decisive direction, and planning around permits are what set a polished commercial photographer apart from a mediocre one.

Woman in red swimsuit poses on a sandy beach, with arms on head. Lifeguard tower and yellow flag in the background under a clear sky.

Woman in a red swimsuit stands in calm, green sea, holding a rope. Eyes closed, relaxed mood. Yellow buoys float in background.

Woman in a red swimsuit poses relaxedly against a rope fence by a sandy beach with turquoise sea, eyes closed, under a clear sky.

Lighting, Gear & the Look

We wanted bold, punchy, editorial lighting, cinematic yet proper to skin tones. Gear list for this set:

Sony A1 with a mix of lenses, primarily the 24–70 GM and the 70–200 GM.
Profoto/Godox strobes, portable modifiers, and reflectors for fill.
Natural sun as rim-light and backlight; strobes to lock contrast and maintain detail in harsh midday or golden-hour punch.

Tactics used:

Harsh mid-day fixes: high-power backlight + soft fill on face to keep that glow without blown highlights.
Golden-hour cinematic frames: low-angle sun behind Anna, rim light through hair, + 1/3-stop negative on background to make the subject pop.
Fitness portraits: high-contrast single-strobe setups to sculpt muscle and emphasize texture.

These choices deliver the bold editorial punch our South Florida fashion photographer clients expect, bright, defined, and magazine-ready.

Woman in a striped swimsuit leans against a tiled wall, eyes closed, sunlight casting geometric shadows, creating a serene mood. Black and white.

Woman in a blue swimsuit poses on a sandy beach, eyes closed in relaxation. Sunlight casts shadows, creating a tranquil mood.

Behind-the-Scenes: Direction & Posing

Anna warmed up like a pro. We run a quick 5-minute warm-up routine: posture cues, breathing, micro-movements, and expression drills. Then:

Start with movement: walking, hair tosses, slow pivots to capture natural rhythm.
Move to stills: maintain strong posture lines, use the 70–200 to compress the perspective and intensify the gaze.
Final pass: close-up glamour with a 24–70 at f/2.8 for that shallow depth that still keeps muscles defined.

Our directing is specific and visual: “longer neck, push the collarbone, imagine the sun cutting across your face.” That kind of instruction is what makes models trust you and deliver repeatable results.

Woman in a white swimsuit leans against wooden posts at the beach, waves splashing. Calm and relaxed mood with natural tones.

Woman in a striped swimsuit stands against large wooden pillars as waves splash around her, creating a dynamic, serene scene.

Woman in a striped white swimsuit kneels on a sandy beach by the ocean. Waves splash behind her. She appears contemplative.

Woman in a striped swimsuit kneels on the sandy beach, eyes closed, with ocean waves in the background. Bright and sunny day.

A woman in a striped swimsuit sits on sandy beach, leaning against wooden pilings. The scene is sunlit and relaxed, with blurred greenery.

Woman in striped swimsuit stands by wooden rope fence on a sandy beach, eyes closed, with turquoise sea in the background under clear sky.

Woman in a striped swimsuit poses by wooden poles on a sunny beach, with waves in the background. Calm and confident mood.

Young woman in a striped swimsuit sits on sandy ground, looking intently at the camera. Wooden posts are in the background. Natural light.

Woman in a white swimsuit sits against wooden posts on a sandy beach, with a relaxed expression. Sunny setting with beige tones.

Key Moments from the Shoot

Anna’s “boardwalk stare”: one frame where her eyes did everything, attitude, vulnerability, and focus. We knew that one would be poster-worthy.
The rooftop sequence: a three-shot series that transitions from fitness intensity to full fashion mode, perfect for social reels and campaign headers.
Swimwear sunset: careful framing and a single-strobe rim made skin tones luminous while staying tasteful for Dubai’s sensitivities.

She was a joy to photograph, with pro-level focus, quick to take creative risks, and the kind of client you'd fly halfway around the world to meet again.

A woman with wet hair holds dried grasses, wearing a red top. She stands outdoors with a serene expression, blurry architectural background.

Young woman with wet hair wearing a shiny red top, standing on a sandy beach. She has a serious expression and is adorned with jewelry.

Woman in red swimsuit poses with arms raised on a sandy beach. Wet hair, serious expression, and waves in the background.

Woman with long hair and blue eyes in a blue top, standing on a sunny beach. Palm tree shadows on her face, conveying a serene mood.

A woman in a blue bikini sits cross-legged on sandy beach, touching her hair, with a palm tree in the background. Bright, relaxed atmosphere.

Woman in a blue dress stands on a sunny beach, eyes closed, arms crossed. Palm shadows cast on her skin. Calm, serene mood.

Why This Matters for Models, Influencers & Brands

A professional session like this is more than pretty pictures. It’s strategic content that:

Builds an arresting model portfolio photoshoot for agents and pageant directors.
Supplies consistent imagery for social advertising, brand partnerships, and press.
Shows stage readiness for competitions such as WBFF, with defined lines and confidence.

If you’re searching for a professional photographer for models and influencers who understands both the gym and the runway, this is the level you want. This elevated, brand-driven approach performs on platforms and in contracts.

See more of our fashion photography at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/fashion

Explore our Miami swimwear shoots at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/swimwear

View more commercial work at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/commercial

Woman in a red swimsuit relaxes on a sandy beach, basking in the sun. Background features turquoise sea and rope fencing.

South Florida Clients, Why Book Us

Dennis & Tessa bring editorial lighting, on-set choreography, and a wardrobe-to-camera sensibility that rivals the best Miami fashion photographer teams. We’re experts in portrait, headshot, glamour, and lifestyle & fitness photography, whether you need a Boca Raton photoshoot location scout, a Miami swimwear photographer, or a Fort Lauderdale or West Palm Beach photographer who directs like a creative director.

Portfolio needs? We deliver model portfolio photoshoot sequences.

Brand campaigns? We create consistent commercial photography and product-ready imagery.

Events or launches? We translate energy into editorial stills and video.

Find the right fit for your next shoot:

Portrait work: https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/portrait
Headshots: https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/headshot-photography
Glamour: https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/glamour
Lifestyle & Fitness: https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/lifestyle-fitness
Event coverage: https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/event
Food & Beverage: https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/food-beverage

Book your South Florida photoshoot at https://www.dstnctartmedia.com/contact.

Let’s make images that stop scrolls, win stages, and land campaigns. If you’re a model, pageant competitor, fitness coach, influencer, or brand in South Florida, Boca Raton, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach, we’re ready to bring that same international-caliber energy to your next project.