Often when I travel for hospitality and destination photoshoots, not only am I photographing the space itself but also crafting lifestyle images that help to tell the story of the space. In this project with Westin Bellevue, I was able to debut the brand new suite design, and also to photograph the experience of the property. We highlighted in-room amenities like top-notch room service (always fun to flex my food photography muscle!). Westin also has a partnership with Peloton where they will bring one into your room, which we also had to capture. Making commercial photography feel candid and warm is always my goal. I love when brands drift from traditional stock photography goals and incorporate an elevated lifestyle and storytelling perspective into their marketing. This shoot also incorporated some UGC-style images for social media usage.
And yes, it’s me in the shots! I’ve devised a self-portrait system so that I can quickly hop into the frame to bring some human interaction into spaces. It’s a little song and dance but it works! For projects that don’t have extensive budgets for models, I’m happy to stand in.
Thanks for having me, Westin team!