Natural Light Is Enough: Inside an InterContinental Hotel Shoot

On a recent Mott Visuals photography and video production for InterContinental Yokohama Pier 8 in Japan, we followed the story of a solo traveler experiencing the hotel. We worked almost entirely with natural light, planning around the spaces, the changing sun, and the atmosphere we wanted the photographs to convey. In this episode, I walk through the images and the decisions behind them, including why I chose to leave a model’s face in shadow when the view behind her was an important part of the story.

I also share how scouting and preparation helped us recognize opportunities outside our original shot list. Two photographs the client selected came from those moments: noticing a different angle while helping direct the video shoot, and returning to an exterior scene when the light finally worked. Along the way, I explain simple exercises for studying light at home and how to decide when natural light needs a little help. These are skills you can practice wherever you photograph, then bring into your own assignments.

For another look at working alongside a video crew, read Ghost Photographer: Five Minutes to Get the Shot. If you’d like help putting these lessons into practice, join the AskMOTT community or explore private photography coaching.

This episode is sponsored by Wotancraft.