Nestled into the lush hills overlooking Kamala Beach, Villa Tantawan immediately struck me as one of those rare places where luxury and nature coexist perfectly. From the moment I arrived, I could see why it's such a sought-after destination. The villas are surrounded by tropical greenery, elevated above the coastline, and designed to make the most of both the landscape and the incredible views.
I'm always looking for locations that offer more than just beautiful architecture. The best properties tell a story, create a mood, and allow you to capture genuine moments that feel authentic. My recent lifestyle photography shoot at Villa Tantawan in Kamala, Phuket, was exactly that kind of experience.
For this shoot, I worked with model Marta Vorobiova to create a collection of lifestyle imagery that showcased not only the villas themselves but also the feeling of staying there. Rather than focusing solely on the architecture, I wanted to capture the experience—the slow mornings, the connection to nature, the privacy, and the sense of escape that makes a place memorable.
One of my favourite aspects of the property was how naturally the villas blend into their surroundings. Everywhere I looked there were layers of tropical foliage, towering palms, and beautifully landscaped gardens that provided endless opportunities for storytelling. Whether Marta was walking through the grounds, enjoying a quiet moment among the plants, or relaxing by the pool, every scene felt effortless and genuine.
The natural light throughout the property was also fantastic to work with. Early mornings brought soft, warm light filtering through the trees, while the golden afternoon sun illuminated the villas' timber finishes and outdoor living spaces beautifully. It felt like every corner of the property offered a new composition waiting to be discovered.
What made the experience even more memorable was the stay itself. The team at Villa Tantawan were absolutely wonderful throughout our visit. From check-in to departure, they made us feel completely at home. Their hospitality was warm, genuine, and incredibly attentive without ever feeling intrusive.
Unfortunately, during the trip I picked up a bout of food poisoning from outside the resort, which left me feeling pretty rough for a couple of days. It was certainly not how I had planned to spend part of the shoot, but the staff at Villa Tantawan couldn't have been more helpful. They regularly checked in on me, offered assistance whenever needed, and genuinely cared about making sure I was comfortable while recovering. It's often during unexpected situations like these that you discover the true quality of a property's hospitality, and the team really went above and beyond.
Despite the setback, we were able to complete a fantastic shoot, and I'm incredibly pleased with the images we created. The combination of stunning tropical surroundings, thoughtful villa design, and the relaxed atmosphere made Villa Tantawan an ideal location for lifestyle photography.
Looking back, what stands out most isn't just the beautiful scenery or the incredible views across Kamala Beach—it's the feeling of the place. Villa Tantawan manages to create a sense of calm and comfort that is difficult to replicate, and I think that comes across in the photographs.
For anyone visiting Phuket, whether you're looking for a luxury getaway or simply a place to unwind surrounded by nature, Villa Tantawan is a destination I'd happily recommend. And from a photographer's perspective, it's a location that offers endless inspiration.
A huge thank you to the entire Villa Tantawan team for their incredible hospitality throughout our stay.
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.
