A Chance Encounter in Bangkok

This is Michelle, the face of the Heart to Hands collection.

What might not be obvious is that, prior to this shoot, Michelle had never modeled before.

She’s a software developer who had moved from Canada to Bangkok in search of change. Somehow, our paths crossed at a random cafe on a Thursday afternoon, and that brief encounter led us here.

She was the first person I noticed. Her features, bold yet carrying a certain softness, immediately caught my eye. The kind of contrast that naturally finds its way into my work and the forms I’m drawn to.

First thing I asked, “Any chance you’re a model?”

She laughed and said no.

That didn’t change anything. If anything, it felt right. I think there’s a sense of vulnerability in showing up as you are, rather than how a role expects you to be. In so many ways, it was what the collection embodies: an expression of vulnerability. 

“Would you like to model?”.

And here we are. 

These are the kinds of moments that make this journey feel genuinely fulfilling. The unexpected encounters, the people met along the way, and the memories that become part of the work itself. Beyond the final images or any collection, it’s these experiences that stay with me and serve as a reminder that beautiful things happen when you remain open to possibilities.