Photographers,  Photography BHS

Making My Dreams Come True: Gina Barbara

April 16, 2025 /

The first time I saw Gina Barbara’s work on Twitter back in the day, I knew I wanted to shoot with her! Her polished pin-up looks are absolutely unmistakable. She always infuses her own photographic style while still showing the subject’s essence and what they actually look like. She also doesn’t shy away from creative or complicated ideas. Working with Gina has always felt like a real collaboration.

I think Gina was the second person I ever did a photo shoot with (after Lucky Drive Photos). I was still relatively new and didn’t quite know how everything would work. Gina really put my mind at ease, made me feel totally comfortable, and made me look great! She is a triple (Quadruple?? Quintuple??) threat. Not only did she do incredible photos and editing, she also did a great job with my hair and makeup, and had several amazing sets to use in her studio.

Delphine is wearing blush pink panache lingerie and talking on a vintage style phone. She is sitting in a blush pink velvet chair in front of a golden wall.
Delphine is wearing blush pink panache lingerie and facing away so you can see her peachy butt. She is sitting in a blush pink velvet chair in front of a golden wall.

In our first shoot together, I wore a pale pink Panache lingerie set with some BCBG nude snakeskin pumps. I told her I always wanted to do a classic pinup set with a phone, and she had just the thing.

Delphine, a brunette all natural escort from the SF Bay Area is wearing lingerie that is black, red, and nude colored. She is laying on a red rug and looking scintilatingly at the camera.
Delphine, a hairy armpit escort from the SF Bay Area is wearing lingerie that is black, red, and nude colored. She is also wearing red pleaser ankle boots. She is sitting on a red tuffet and has her arm lifted so you can see her armpit hair.

For the second look I wore a set from Scantilly by Curvy Kate, and a pair of red Pleaser boots. (Side story: back when I had an Instagram, some pic collector/sharer shared the pic on the left on his account and said I’m hot but I have a “butterface” lmao.)

At the time I did these shoots, I was really into pin-up style and I felt the photos really reflected the image I had in my mind of how I wanted to present myself.

Delphine, a brunette, is pictured with her friend Gemma Paradise, a redhead escort from NYC. They are both wearing starry pajamas and held in each other's embrace.

It wasn’t long before I wanted to do another shoot with Gina. Before I did another solo shoot with her, I did a group shoot with some friends. Here I am with my gorgeous friend and duo partner Gemma Paradise. She used to live in the Bay Area but has sadly (for me, happily for her!) moved to NYC.

Delphine is wearing a bedazzled p-100 mask, a clean suit in white, and black lingerie under. She has on pink rubber gloves. She has pink tulle over her giving the photo the look of religious iconography. The theme of the photo is a viral apocalypse pin-up.
Delphine is wearing a bedazzled p-100 mask and black lingerie. She has on pink rubber gloves. She is laying on a background of pink tulle and clear plastic. She has on platform military style boots. The theme of the photo is a viral apocalypse pin-up.
Delphine is wearing a bedazzled p-100 mask, a white hazmat suit, and black lingerie. She has on pink rubber gloves and a matching pink belt. She is standing in front of a background of pink tulle and clear plastic. She has on platform military style boots. The theme of the photo is a viral apocalypse pin-up.

My next solo shoot happened just when everything shut down in 2020. Inspired by what was going on, I thought of the idea of an apocalypse pin-up. I quickly bedazzled a P-100 mask, ordered a hazmat style suit and some accessories, and a few days later headed over to Gina’s studio. Gina had prepared an incredible set, with plastic sheeting to give it that viral apocalypse look, and pink tulle to keep it camp and pinup.

Delphine wears a blonde wig. Her arm is up so you can see her armpit hair. She has on a custom leather dress that is red. It has cutouts on the sides. She is wearing black Pleasers. The shoot is a cosplay of Caprica Six from Battlestar Galactica.
This is a photo of the character Caprica Six from Battlestar Galactica which Delphine used as a reference for her cosplay. It featuers the actress Tricia Helfer who is blonde. She is wearing a red dress over a moody industrial background.
Delphine wears a blonde wig. Her arm is up so you can see her armpit hair. She has on a custom leather dress that is red. It has cutouts on the sides. She is wearing black Pleasers. The shoot is a cosplay of Caprica Six from Battlestar Galactica.

During 2020 I had a couple outdoor shoots with Gina. Working on creative projects really helped to keep my spirits up during that time. One of my 2020 binge watches was Battlestar Galactica, and I thought Caprica Six was just so hot. I wanted to do a cosplay of her. I couldn’t find the perfect dress, so I had my friend, Rich Love Leather, make me a play on the red dress she wore. Then, with Gina, we actually shot this in her garage since outdoor shoots were feeling much safer at that time. By that point, I had finally learned to do my own makeup, and I didn’t have to do my hair because I was wearing a blonde wig.

Delphine, a brunette escort with armpit hair, is laying on a cement stair wearing burgundy and black lingerie. There are some roses near her head.
Delphine, a brunette white woman, is wearing red polka dot pinup style lingerie. She has on heart sunglasses and she is peeking over the edge of them with her blue eyes. She has her arm raised so you can see her armpit hair.

We did another outdoor shoot in the summer of 2020 at a local cemetery and at Golden Gate Park. I wore adorable handmade lingerie from Buttress and Snatch.

Delphine is wearing a red slip and a red haired wig. She is dressed like Gililan Anderson's Swamp Thing Rolling Stones Cover. She is being attacked by a "swamp thing" but in a campy theatrical way.
The image from Gillian Anderson's rolling stone cover that was a reference for Delphine's shoot. Gillian is wearing a red slip and is being grasped by the "Swamp Thing" monster.
Delphine is wearing a red slip and a red haired wig. She is dressed like Gililan Anderson's Swamp Thing Rolling Stones Cover. She is being attacked by a "swamp thing" but in a campy theatrical way.

Then, I had a wild idea. I believe it was Arielle Ivy who suggested on Twitter that someone should do a cosplay of Gillian Anderson’s “Swamp Thing” Rolling Stones cover. I had already done an Agent Scully cosplay, and, like many girls who grew up in the 90s Gillian Anderson may have been a part of my bisexual awakening. I already had the wig, and I hired Lauren Corden from Fig & Clover Salon in Oakland to style it. She did a great job!! I got a gilly suit and swamp thing mask/gloves for a friend to wear and once again headed over to Gina’s place.

Delphine is dressed as a golden statue. She is reclining on the ground fully covered in golden body paint, wearing a gold bikini, and a golden shawn draped around her.
Delphine is dressed as a golden statue. She is reclining on the ground fully covered in golden body paint, wearing a gold bikini, and a golden shawn draped around her. She is staring at the camera and her blue eyes are piercing the gaze of the camera.

One of the last shoots I did with Gina was one of my favorites. Gina had moved from SF to Vegas. However, I had a dream that Gina was shooting me as a golden statue. As soon as I texted her about my dream, she wanted to make it happen. So, I flew out and with the help of a couple makeup artists and a few hours to get ready…we did!

Delphine is wearing a pin up dress in blue floral and a white hat with a veil. She has on white traveling gloves. She has a white suitcase filled to the brim with dildos and sex toys despite her innocent smile.
Delphine is wearing a red tank top with black and white gingham shorts in a pinup style. She is posing in a rose garden with her armpit up so you can see her pit hair. She has a smile and. her blue eyes are shining.

The last shoot I did with Gina was when she came to visit Oakland to do some shoots at the Rose Garden. I wasn’t 100% comfortable doing something too sexy or nude in such a public place, so I thought of two clothed pin-up looks. One, an innocent traveler with some naughty things in her suitcase, and two, a pin-up out for a walk among the roses.

I haven’t shot with Gina for a couple years because she has moved away and I have moved away a bit from the pin-up look. But I am sure I will get inspiration for an idea that only she can pull of sometime soon, and I can’t wait to make some photo magic with her again.

You May Also Like

Delphine in a red lacy top and moody lighting. She is staring seductively at the camera. Her blue eyes are glittering in a ray of sunlight.

Couples Bookings: Why A Threesome With an Escort is a Great Idea

December 19, 2024
Delphine in a too-small sports bra that says Juicy on it, pink velour track pants, and white pleaser heels. She is wearing pink metal rim sunglasses and is posing on a red floor in front of a brick wall. This photo is by Shannon Brooke.

One Of My Favorite Photographers: Shannon Brooke

December 12, 2024
Delphine with shoulder length curled hair in a purple lingerie set. You can see the top of her thigh high stockings. She is leaning against a brick wall.

Lingerie Brands I Like That Actually Carry My Size

February 5, 2025