Roadtrip to Scottsdale, Arizona

On April 13th, we left Newport Beach early in the morning and started the drive to Scottsdale, Arizona for a shoot with WMP. It was an easy six-hour drive, the kind that gives you just enough space to reset before stepping into a project. We sang songs, talked through ideas, made a few stops, and let the day unfold at its own pace.

We rented a cool Airbnb in Scottsdale, only about seven minutes from WMP Eyewear Studios, which made the whole trip feel easy and intentional. One of our stops along the way was for a quick Google meeting with a client I’ve been planning a shoot with since November for a new yoga brand called Librae. After the call, we took a few photos on my Nikon F100 film camera.

I always try to take photos on film during moments like this. Not because everything needs to be documented, but because some moments deserve to be remembered with more care. Film forces you to slow down. It reminds you that not everything needs to be rushed.

As Marcus Aurelius said, “The present moment is all you ever have.”

The next morning, I arrived early, as usual, to start setting up. For this project, I was also my own digital tech, which meant balancing the shoot itself with keeping an eye on the files, the details, and the flow of the day. The WMP team helped with styling and moving lights around as we worked through the direction from their moodboard.

This was a fun shoot, but also slightly challenging in the best way. The goal was to create imagery that still felt natural and effortless, but with enough controlled lighting to give it a little more drama and polish. That balance can be delicate. Too much light and it feels overproduced. Too little and you lose the shape and intention.

After a few tweaks, everything started to click. The lighting, the styling, the energy, the frames. The crew was excited with how the images were coming together, and by the end of the day, it felt like we had captured exactly what the project needed.

I’m excited to share the final images when they release this summer 2026. This one was a good reminder that some of the best work happens when preparation, trust, and a little patience all meet in the same room.