Sustainability was at the core of this editorial, which made the desert the perfect location. The minimal environment naturally supports a more thoughtful approach — fewer distractions, fewer unnecessary elements, and more focus on storytelling.
We worked with a selection of forward-thinking fashion brands, bringing together textures and silhouettes that responded to the wind and movement of the landscape. The styling was designed to feel fluid and organic, almost like the garments were evolving with the terrain.
From a production perspective, shooting in the desert always comes with challenges — shifting winds, changing light, and unpredictable conditions. But that’s also what makes it exciting. Some of the best moments came from embracing those variables rather than trying to control them.
I recently shot Desert Tempest, a sustainable fashion editorial for Luxiders Magazine, and it’s one of those projects that really reminded me why I love working in the desert.
There’s something about the environment out there that strips everything back. No distractions. Just light, texture, movement, and the elements. It forces you to work differently — and that’s exactly what we leaned into for this shoot.
The concept behind Desert Tempest was simple: let the landscape lead. We wanted the fashion to feel like it belonged in the environment rather than sitting on top of it. Wind, sand, and natural light became part of the story, shaping each frame as we shot.
For me, editorial shoots like this are always about creating atmosphere. I’m less interested in perfectly controlled images and more focused on capturing something that feels real and cinematic.
With Desert Tempest, we kept things minimal. Natural light, open space, and movement did most of the work. The desert becomes a kind of natural studio — constantly changing and impossible to replicate.
It’s also why I enjoy working on sustainable fashion editorials. There’s a shared mindset around being intentional, whether that’s in the creative direction, the styling, or the production approach.
The Team Behind Desert Tempest
This was a strong collaborative effort with a brilliant team:
Photography & Direction — Ross Perkins
Model — Negar Mirzadeh
Producer — Manon Brouant
Styling — Shadi Shay
Make-up — Evgeniya Kurpitko
DOP — Alireza Yahoozadeh
Assistant — Sacha Maroud
BTS Film — Maria Lashmanova
Poem — Belvis Soler
Everyone brought something unique to the shoot, and that collaborative energy really comes through in the final images.
Published in Luxiders Magazine
Desert Tempest is now live on Luxiders Magazine, a platform known for highlighting sustainable fashion and thoughtful storytelling. It’s always great to see projects like this find a home with publications that value both creativity and sustainability.
If you're looking to create a fashion editorial, branded content, or campaign in the UAE or beyond, feel free to get in touch.
Luxury jewellery photography is about more than documenting a product — it’s about translating craftsmanship, brilliance, and emotion into a single frame. My recent work with Augustine Diamonds focused on creating a refined visual language that reflects the precision and elegance of each piece across their collection.
The Art of Photographing Diamonds
Photographing diamonds presents a unique technical and creative challenge. Unlike most subjects, diamonds interact with light in highly complex ways — reflecting, refracting, and dispersing it simultaneously.
For this project, the goal was to balance:
Absolute clarity of each stone
Controlled highlights without overexposure
Depth and dimensionality
A sense of luxury and restraint
Each image required careful lighting design to ensure the diamonds retained their brilliance without appearing harsh or artificial.
A Collaborative Creative Direction
This project was shaped by a strong collaborative vision. Art direction was led by Will at IMA Global, bringing a clear and refined creative framework to the shoot.
Makeup was handled by Sofia Iva, with a focus on clean, polished beauty that complemented the jewellery without distracting from it. Styling by Shadi Azad introduced a sense of understated elegance, ensuring every element within the frame supported the overall luxury aesthetic.
This collaborative approach allowed the visuals to feel cohesive, elevated, and aligned with the positioning of Augustine Diamonds as a premium brand.
A Minimal, Luxury-Driven Visual Approach
The visual direction for Augustine Diamonds was intentionally minimal. Clean compositions, neutral palettes, and precise styling allow the jewellery to take full focus.
Rather than relying on heavy props or elaborate setups, the approach centred on:
Subtle reflections
Soft gradients
Controlled shadows
Elegant negative space
This creates a timeless aesthetic aligned with high-end jewellery brands and ensures consistency across the full collection.
Lighting & Technical Execution
Lighting was the defining element of this shoot.
To achieve the desired look:
Multiple light sources were carefully shaped and diffused
Micro-adjustments were made to control reflections on each facet
Polarisation techniques were used where necessary to reduce glare
Each piece was individually refined to maintain consistency across the collection
Consistency Across a Full Collection
Photographing an entire jewellery range requires more than capturing individual pieces — it demands a cohesive system.
For Augustine Diamonds, the objective was to create a unified visual identity across:
Engagement rings
Diamond necklaces
Earrings and fine jewellery pieces
Consistency in lighting, composition, and colour ensures the collection feels seamless both online and in marketing materials.
As a Dubai-based commercial photographer, my focus is on creating imagery that meets international standards while resonating with a global audience.
Final Thoughts
The Augustine Diamonds project was an exercise in precision, restraint, and attention to detail — all essential elements in luxury jewellery photography.
By combining technical control with a refined aesthetic approach, the final imagery reflects not only the product itself but the craftsmanship and brand identity behind it.
If you're looking for a jewellery or product photographer in Dubai for your next campaign or collection, feel free to get in touch to discuss your project.
