2023 Commercial Marketing Photography Highlights

In 2023, a large portion of my photography remained on delivering businesses top-tier commercial marketing and advertising photography, meticulously tailored to meet their campaign objectives.  In this blog post, I am excited to showcase some of my recent projects, specifically highlighting the vibrant aviation concessions programs at Washington Dulles International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Orlando International Airport.

High-quality photography stands as a vital cornerstone in the realm of any marketing program.  Maintaining a comprehensive and stylistically cohesive catalogue of compelling marketing assets is indispensable for swiftly and effortlessly assembling impactful campaigns.  My program-wide marketing libraries are meticulously curated to include a diverse mix of storefront & interior images catering to directory needs, alongside detail shots capturing product & menu highlights for retailer features or seasonal promotions.  Additionally, my marketing portfolios encompass staged talent action photography ideal for print, web, and social advertising campaigns, as well as event coverage with rapid turnaround for press releases, and versatile stock images for general use.

With over a decade of experience creating compelling photography in the commercial aviation marketing / PR industry, my specialized skillset empowers me to consistently provide my clients with high-quality and compelling deliverables that resonate with target audiences.

DCA

#FlyWashington Magazine - Summer, 2023 Edition.

#FlyWashington Magazine - Autumn, 2023 Edition.

Ben’s Chili Bowl

A full feature of Ben’s Chili Bowl’s 65th Anniversary can be viewed here.

#FlyWashington Magazine - Autumn, 2023 Edition.

IAD

MCO

In May, 2023, I travelled to Orlando to capture a marketing package of concessions in MCO's new Terminal C.  The comprehensive photoset, captured on a single shooting day, featured local flavors and encompassed images ranging from baseline storefront & interiors, to menu highlights, and acting talent on-site.

More work from this project can be viewed here.

MCO: Concession Marketing Photography for Master ConcessionAir

This past May I partnered with Master ConcessionAir to capture a marketing package of their newest retail and restaurant locations at Orlando International Airport’s new Terminal C.

MCO’s new Terminal C is a vibrant hub serving airlines including JetBlue, Emirates, Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, British Airways, and Icelandair, among others.  The terminal’s dining options encapsulate the essence of Central Florida through its diverse culinary and retail offerings.  Terminal C caters to a wide range of tastes, highlighting local gems like Barnie’s Coffee & Tea Co., Wine Bar George, and Sunshine Diner by Chef Art Smith.  The terminal provides a taste of the region's distinctive flavors with brands like Cask & Larder, Olde Hearth Bread Co., and Orlando Brewing Bar & Bites.

For these locations, I captured a cohesive set of exterior and interior images, as well as menu photography, and stock advertising images with talent on-site.  The entire marketing package was captured in a single shooting day.

While on site, I also captured some headshots of personnel for profile and promotional use.

Ben's Chili Bowl's 65th Anniversary at Reagan National

August 22, 2023 marked a milestone for one of DC’s most loved institutions: Ben’s Chili Bowl.  Three days later, the Ali family joined everyone at Ronald Reagan National Airport to celebrate Ben's Chili Bowl's 65th anniversary.  After words by the airport and Ali family, the party started with the soulful beat of "The Real DC: Go-Go & Ben's" by DJ Mello T, and the rhythmic vibes of Sirius Company.  While passengers and airport employees alike jammed out to the concert with some half-smokes, the Ali family met fans for pictures in front of their airport location.

Ben’s Chili Bowl also used the occasion to announce their partnership with Giant Foods, where patrons can now buy the famous half-smokes and chili to enjoy at home, and their newest upcoming airport location at Washington Dulles International Airport.  The legacy of Ben's Chili Bowl at Ronald Reagan National Airport is not merely about gastronomic delights; it's a living testament to the blend of community, culture, and the indomitable spirit that continues to define the heart of our nation's capital.

Emirates & United Airlines: Commercial Agreement Announcement - September 14th, 2022

On September 14th, 2022, Emirates and United Airlines gathered at Washington Dulles International Airport to announce their new network partnership agreement.  Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline and Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, both took the stage to speak about how the codesharing agreement expands both flag carrier airlines’ networks, and allows travelers to reach international destinations more easily.  Travelers flying on Emirates and United itineraries will be able to easily connect interlined flights in the US in Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Boston, Dallas, LA, Miami, JFK, Orlando, Seattle and Washington, DC; United has also opened a new flight route between Newark and Dubai, connecting passengers to more than 100 cities on connecting flights with Emirates and flydubai.

In covering this huge partnership announcement, my first task before guests began arriving was to capture a photo of Emirates and United cabin crews together with their twin Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.  This hero image was used as a headline photo of the event, and was captured, edited, delivered, and disseminated for immediate publication while on-site; as a result, it was also used for multiple publications’ headline images covering the story.

After I fulfilled the immediate PR needs, media and guests began arriving and enjoying reception before the main program began.  For many, this was their first large-scale aviation event post-pandemic, so there was an air of excitement not just because of the announcement, but also reuniting familiar faces and a sense of recovery.

Soon after, the Come Fly With Us event kicked off, with the hangar doors opening to reveal the twin Emirates and United Boeing 777-300ER aircraft positioned nose-to-nose just behind the stage to the awe of spectators.

Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline and Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, took to the stage to welcome guests.  After speaking about the new partnership, the pair joined together to push a flight throttle launching the Come Fly With Us intro video to conclude the event.

Afterwards, groups gathered to take pictures with the aircraft, while Sir Tim Clark and others gave media interviews.

Dulles Town Center - Commercial Marketing Package

If you follow me, you surely know that much of my work revolves around retail marketing, commercial advertisements, and corporate PR. This area of focus can include shopping centers, airports, entertainment, individual businesses, and other retail and concession programs.

In Fall of 2021, I captured a set of images for Dulles Town Center, a local shopping mall to update their marketing package and highlight recent changes to their property and retailers, as well as capture some new perspectives of the mall.

As with any project with such a large scope and physical footprint, this project took weeks of planning, and multiple site visits to capture all the required locations. Between changing seasons and differing lighting requirements, weather and time-of-day becomes an increasingly important factor for exterior hero images and large, naturally lit interior spaces.