The Challenge: Produce 75 images for Kodak to be able to use interchangeably for their new M and Slice series cameras internationally (this word has great meaning when it comes to displaying images globally!). These images had to have a stylized look to them yet feel as if they could have been made with one of the cameras.

Of course we learned the demographics on the product and came up with several viable locations, situations, etc.. Did I tell you that we originally quoted the project to shoot for 5 or 6 days but due to budgetary constraints, we did it in Three! Yikes, when you do the math, that’s moving models, props, vehicles, talent, clients and a crew of 16 efficiently as possible! Oh, and we had a week to prep from soup to nuts! Model casting, location scouting, production coordination, etc.. etc…

A walk in the park when you have the right TEAM.

That’s really what I want to talk about, is the great Team I have and how much they all contribute to making a challenging shoot fun and rewarding.

Firstly, I have to give Kudos to the Creative Director that came to the shoot. She was great to work with and had a great way of explaining to the clients and to us what her needs were and how we might approach the solutions. I’m not kissing up here; she’s one of the most important cogs in the wheel. If the CD or AD on the shoot isn’t a great communicator, all your efforts go up in smoke… We were lucky!

Secondly, I work with an amazing Producer that has worked with me for a few years now and just knows what’s up! She casts, location scouts, orchestrates, comes up with ideas for shots, and still has a sense of humor if things get sticky on set. I’m lost without her (please don’t tell her though, she’ll raise her rates..). She can also be a bit of a drill sergeant when I’m taking too long to finesse a shot or trying too many variations. Believe me when I tell you, as an artist, I can really work those nuances that nobody but me sees….

Okay, so you think you like shopping….

Imagine what it must be like to dress a ton of models, in various outfits for various situations, including being on the beach and other situations where you would expect some skin showing, or some shoulder but can’t have it because of the global nature of the shoot! (see I told you, that word global means a hell of a lot when it comes to wardrobe!) In fact, when the CD first told me about it, she could hear me biting my tongue over the phone when I was thinking: Shooting on the beach- with their clothes on???? Yikes! TEAM TEAM TEAM. (At the end of the shoot when we stopped at the Delano for a midnight walk on the beach and a cocktail, the CD confided in me that she got a little taken back when I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of almost fully dressed girls at the beach and by the pool etc..) But we got over it- thanks to a great Wardrobe Stylist!

Watch the Kodak behind the scenes video here.