Part 2: Crafting Precision and Collaboration in the Details

Part 2: Crafting Precision and Collaboration in the Details

My first hero shot used around 40 images in the final blend. Do I always need that many? No. But over-shooting costs nothing, and being thorough means never missing a key visual component. You never know when some minor detail becomes central to the story the client wants to tell… so the ability to respond to an audible is key.  That image is now one of my strongest from the set, and I’m proud of how well it tells the designers story.

The rest of the shoot followed this same, natural rhythm that I had started with the first image. As the director on set, it’s up to me to set the pacing and the tone of the shoot… and I like an easy going set, but one where everyone is involved, and knows our goals. We encountered minor hiccups, like a lighting glitch in the glassware cabinet. The designer’s assistant, Tasha, came up with a smart fix: use her iPhone flashlight inside the case to backlight the glass. Simple. Effective. It’s that kind of collaboration that makes good shoots great.

Throughout the plane, I remained flexible and receptive. For example, Fraser suggested a striking low-angle shot from just outside the bedroom. It broke my usual conventions, but it worked. I learn from moments like that. Having trusted collaborators with a different eye helps me break patterns and level up.

I especially enjoy working with interior designers. They see what I miss. Where I focus on light, verticals, and exposure, they’re tuned into shape, form, and emotional balance. Together, we make better images. I defer to their vision in the same way I hope they trust mine. When they rearrange pillows or fine-tune symmetry, I observe and adapt.

This mutual respect is why I love doing what I do. Photography is not just about light and lenses—it’s about people. It’s about seeing and helping them show the world their craft.

By the time we finished the aft lav, crew rest area and galley, I had shot more than 600 frames across the 22 core compositions and half a dozen extra captures. It sounds like overkill, but it’s really just due diligence. This is high-stakes visual storytelling.

And the payoff? Happy client. Happy designer. And lunch with a good friend. Most importantly, a set of images that reflect not only the aircraft’s luxury but also the thoughtful design behind it.

This wasn’t just a gig—it was a collaboration. Not every day do you get to call up a photographer the caliber of Fraser Almeida, step into his turf, and have him assist you on a shoot! But jokes aside, what drives me is simple: making the best image I possibly can. Every session is a puzzle—accounting for the variables, adapting to the surprises, solving the problems—and pushing myself to create something that goes beyond anything I’ve shot before.

As I always say in my videos, “May your next image be your best image.” That’s more than a tagline. It’s how I work. It’s what fuels the passion and keeps me showing up with purpose every time I walk onto a tarmac, step into a cabin, or pick up my camera.

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