Photographer James Villeneuve lets your sensuality show


By DREW Rowsome
26 Jun 2019

"For me, I would say sensual is like the start of a date," says photographer James Villeneuve whose business, Newcity Photography, bears the tagline 'Let Your Sensuality Show.' "It's filled with curiosity and emotions. It leaves us wanting more. Erotic is more passionate and sexual. I guess I would say it's all a matter of perspective. I do erotic shots when asked, but I like sensual shots the most. Porn is so easy to find these days, but finding something classy, sexy and romantic is harder and that's why I stand out."

Villenueve's photographs are, besides sensual, playful and mysterious with a generous use of props, shadows, bare skin and costuming. "Costumes are fun!", says Villeneuve. "They make people feel more at ease, like it's not really them who are modelling. When people are naked in front of a backdrop and shining lights, they sometimes feel shy. I have to tell them how to pose and hold themselves. When in a costume, they become that character. It's actually amazing. Sometimes we get crazy fun shots, and the models require little instructions."

Sensuality just seemed to find Villeneuve. "I started as a photo editor. One year, a friend asked me why I didn't expand my photo editing skills into photography and edit my own images. He convinced me that it was a fun way to meet people and develop my skills. He offered to be my first model and to simply make a day of it, shooting. We took lots of shots from fashion to risque shots, even a few nudes. It was a fun day and I edited some shots for him. He posted them on social media, a shot of him wearing nothing, lying in a field of cannabis. Apparently people thought it was sexy without being too much and loved it."

A career was launched. "Not long after, a stunning stranger messaged me asking me how much I would charge to do the same style for him. I was surprised but I did it for fun, thinking how interesting that an attractive man wants me to take sexy shots of him. I slowly made a reputation in this city of not only a sensual style of photography, but also for being professional and discreet with the shots I took. Without a single advertisement, my little hobby became a side business." 

Villeneuve's approach and basic attitude have a lot to do with that success. "Sensuality is something enchanting to me, rather than erotic or romantic. We all have that side in us, the one we don't often let others see. The one that's confident and strong. You'd be surprised how many people who are physically beautiful actually have less confidence that one would expect. I try to let everyone see the beauty they have. The beauty I see when I look at them. And for a moment, they do. When that is captured, the photo is beautiful. I also just try to have fun. Some models have actually become amazing friends."

It all has to do with the model being comfortable in front of the camera. "First, I always say they can bring a friend with them, especially the first time. I always tell them that if they do, that friend becomes my intern and must hold a light reflector. Why turn down free help?," laughs Villeneuve. "We talk for a bit, to break the ice, and I ask them what they expect. I also show them a more detailed portfolio so that they can see what I've done and could replicate if they wanted to. I show them the way I want them to pose, why I want them to pose a certain way, and then we start."

Because the majority of Villeneuve's portraits are commissioned, he is meeting many of the models cold and he must help them reveal their heat. "It all comes down to trust and being comfortable with your body," he says. "If a model trusts me and my idea, then the shot will be amazing. If they don't trust me or really doesn't like their body, then it's apparent. It doesn't hurt if they are cute too. And I'm very collaborative with my teams. It's fun when either I have an idea, or the models do. Often, I get pulled out of my comfort zone to try something."

And sometimes he pushes himself out of his comfort zone. "The cosplay photos started when I got in touch with Niq van der Aa, a professional cosplayer in Ottawa. He had a genderbend ensemble based on The Little Mermaid, my favourite movie. He was beautiful and the cosplay outfit he created was amazing, however his photo of it was horrid. I took a chance and offered him a deal: I would redo the shot in a more professional manner and, if he liked it, he could use the shot at conventions. As compensation, I would get to keep the merman tail rather than get paid any money. If he didn't like it, then the shots would simply be deleted before being sent to him, and we'd go our separate ways."

van der Aa was skeptical but, "With nothing really to lose if it didn't work out, he asked some people about me and found out I was actually an experienced photographer with a good reputation." And the deal was struck. "He agreed and although I was excited, I was also nervous. I had just promised a man a shot that I had never attempted before. I drew up a few ideas and plans. We did an outdoor session of the genderbend mermaid as well as an indoor shot of Marvel's Loki. He adored both and now we work together all the time. I try to add a bit of sensuality and fun to those shots rather than the typical 'look at me in the pose from the movie.' It really helps that Niq is such a talented man who believes in my vision every time we create something together."

Villeneuve has also branched out with commercial work. "I was hired a while back to do scenery shots of Ottawa and some macro photography. I even had one of my green bee shots enlarged and hung it in my home. I keep that profile and skill very separate as it's so different. It's a very different process as I can't tell the subject what I want, I have to be more patient. I even had to have my husband drive me around town and help me with my equipment at 1am to get a perfect city landscape at night. Editing city landscapes is very different from editing a personal portrait, enhancing architectural features is not the same as removing acne from a person. It's something I have pride in, it's just very different."

Villeneuve has also begun successfully exploring a slightly different sensuality. "I had only photographed men because I knew what was sexy and what was too much. It was what brought me success and I enjoyed it," he says. "I was always asked to photograph women, but I didn't think I could compete against all the other experienced photographers who specialized in women." But, with some help, he pushed out of his comfort zone. "I had a friend who gave me a few dresses from a prom store and was lucky enough that my reputation allowed me to work with a few female models even though I wasn't experienced yet. In no time at all, I ended up with closets filled with dresses given to me by stores, fashion designers saying they could make a commercial, and jewelry stores giving me some bling to have my prints with their merchandise in their stores. Being published in several magazines didn't hurt my reputation either."

The differences between the sexes are superficial according to Villeneuve who quips, "With women, it's completely different and so is the style that I've adapted for them. It's very different because men wear very little while women have a lot more clothing, lashes, makeup . . ." Except when they don't. Villeneuve says his most challenging photographic moment "was the first time a girl asked me to do a topless session. Thank goodness she was a good friend of mine. It was uncomfortable at first but wine helped."

While sensuality reigns in Villeneuve's portfolio, there is very little explicit nudity. "That's a conscious decision," he says. "When it comes to nudes, I prefer having the model decide whether they want those published or sold. There's a few exceptions. I've sold some nudes but I won't post them on my site. Instagram also doesn't allow it, so I place emojis to cover some bits. That being said, if the client posts them online, all the better. One of my favourite of my photos is of a nude Santa and angel." 

He enjoys shooting nudes if the client/model wants it. "Most of the time, as long as we discuss what they want, I've very open into trying to assist. My only rule is that I be the sole photographer present." There is one other caveat, Villeneuve and his husband recently became parents. "My kids come first so I do most sessions after they go to bed. They've met a few of my regulars as I have become friends with a few models. My youngest is fascinated with cosplayers. The kids are also models of mine. What kid wouldn't love the fact that Dad has thrones and costumes in his office? Halloween is never dull in this house."

When asked what his fantasy shoot would be, Villeneuve surprises. "Every time I have an idea I want to shoot, I just shout it out and I get to do it. I want to try an angel at the falls and I only have to ask. I want to do a male Sailor Moon - don't judge me on that one - and I get to do it several times with different models. I want to do a naked Santa, and I have men saying they would love to. It's actually fun, my only limitation is geography. No sexy deserts around Ottawa. I guess my only fantasy that would be amazing would be to shoot someone famous I was attracted to. Anyone know Chris Evans?"

If a reader wants a portrait done, "They can contact me via Instagram at newcityphotography1 or my website newcityphotography.ca," says Villeneuve. "And if someone wants to purchase a print, they can select one from Instagram or choose a model and I can show them a few examples. If they want to purchase a book, I create one usually every year. They are welcome to contact me."