A cinematic editorial exploring quiet moments in a traditional café setting.
Type: Conceptual Editorial
Location: Café Patisserie Clementine – Baden, Austria
Concept & Production: portraits by michael
Actress: Lena Gattinger
Make-up & Hair: Yuliya Belikova
The project explores a familiar yet often overlooked moment: taking time for yourself.
Rather than presenting a single portrait, the series was developed as a short cinematic sequence. Each image represents a small moment within a story, arriving at the café, waiting at the table, a quiet interaction with the waiter, and a reflective moment by the window.
Together, the images form a calm, understated narrative about slowing down and being present.
The café’s warm ambient lighting became the foundation of the final color palette. Instead of neutralizing the tones, the grading embraced them to create a warm and intimate atmosphere.
Key elements included:
The series was photographed in a traditional café in Baden, Austria.
The space itself played an important role in shaping the atmosphere of the project. The warm lighting, classic interior and quiet mood of the café provided a timeless setting that supported the cinematic tone of the series.
To create an authentic performance within the narrative, the main character was portrayed by an actress rather than a traditional model.
Hair and makeup were developed in collaboration with a stylist to support the understated, natural tone of the story. The goal was to create a look that felt natural within the environment of the café.
The final series consists of five images that together form a quiet narrative.
Rather than focusing on a single hero image, the project was designed as a sequence allowing the viewer to move through the story one moment at a time.