Focus on JP Ocat
A Factory Studio Journal Entry
The first time I photographed JP Ocat, something shifted. It was one of those rare shoots where everything aligned—the concept, the light, the energy. It was transformative, especially for me. At the time, I was a struggling photographer, trying to make art with what little I had. That image became one of my favorite works. It reminded me that maybe I was good at this.
So when JP stepped back into The Factory Studio years later, it wasn’t just a reunion. It felt like a return to that spark. The energy was the same, but more grounded. JP is still one of the most humble and down-to-earth people I’ve worked with, and the joy of shooting him again was something I didn’t know I needed.
“The Universe”
JP Ocat, first session — calm, controlled, close to something cosmic
We didn't go in with a script. Just color, light, skin, and trust. JP held space like no one else. The kind of stillness that doesn’t wait for permission. He let the pigment cling to him like smoke. That image lived in my portfolio for years — not just as a photo. it was a shift. A before-and-after moment in my journey as a photographer.
Now: A Different Kind of Power
This time around, we were joined by Hale Demetrio—mother of the House of Drag Lords and one of my dearest friends. The chemistry between them was electric. There was power and softness. Tension and release. Together, they moved like mirrors, reflecting each other’s strength and vulnerability.
We built the set with black water, chains, and shadows. The looks were fierce. The moments, unfiltered. The images we created together weren’t just about fashion or beauty. They were about expression—about owning space and taking up light. They told stories without needing to say a word.
This shoot wasn’t about recreating the past. It was about honoring it, and pushing forward with more confidence, more clarity, and more truth. Shoots like this remind me why The Factory exists: to give space for images that matter—to the artists, to the audience, and to me.