Archive for the ‘architecture’ Category

I shoot resorts, lifestyle, interiors, exteriors, spas, food and dining, resort grounds and landscaping, destination weddings, and events. Happy clients have been passing new work to me, and I am so grateful to be able to do what I love. My photography has appeared in several national and international publications including Destination Weddings & Honeymoons Magazine, The Knot, Caribbean Trave + Life, and This Old House, just to name a few.

I love natural, clean photographs, with minimal digital processing. Though years ago I once had to superimpose a bowl of fruit on a bare table to create a more interesting image for a hardcover publication, early speed bumps like this made me learn long ago that it is essential to develop a visual theme and stage accordingly to generate the look you are going for.

When a new luxury resort is built, or an existing hotel changes hands and is upgraded, hiring a resort photographer is a must. Advertising agencies and marketing departments know that sub-par photography makes for lackluster brochures and ineffective advertising. For resort and architectural photography, my goal is always to create a photograph that communicates the most ideal representation of a space. A marketing consultant will look at what can be created to attract specific audience segments. Taking cues from a photojournalist perspective, I like to document the guest experience through lifestyle photography. Photographing a resort at the right time of year is also a must. It is most practical to arrive when the resort is not at full occupancy, and when the landscaping is at optimal bloom. From the big picture to the small details, I ensure my clients are aware that taking all the necessary time to produce stunning visual imagery is essential. While high impact resort photography is only one aspect of promoting a resort’s brand, it provides an enticing, visual display of a hotel or resort’s offerings both online and in print for your customers.

Here are some images from a recent shoot used in a marketing campaign for a leading luxury resort and spa.

caribbean luxury hotel and resort photographer

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i was hired to do some advertising architectural/resort photography for the luxury all-inclusive hotel and resort in negril, jamaica called moon dance cliffs. they are the sister resort to moon dance villas. here are a few of the photos selected for their website. i will be posting some of the destination wedding photos from a wedding at moondance villas in the near future.

all above photos are copyright © 2009-2010 and may not be used without permission.

here are some random snapshots i took while doing the resort shoot. awesome people, the best staff i have ever met, seriously. they even brought me fresh aloe for my sunburn! don’t forget sunscreen when you are doing resort photography or destination wedding photography!

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what i love about creating captivating imagery for the hospitality, resort & architecture industries, is that it often allows a photographer to travel. most recently, i had the opportunity to photograph for moon dance resorts at their moon dance cliffs hotel location in negril, jamaica. before the shoot, i consulted a lot with my cousin keshara who is a production manager for GE Projects. she had previously done a lot of international resort photography with barbara kraft, one of the leading hospitality photographers, having work featured in architectural digest and other notable publications. i was excited to head down to jamaica.

after a nearly a full day of travel, i was met by a polite, informative and very friendly driver and we embarked on long drive (no freeways) from montego bay to negril, winding along the coast, and weaving through colorful villages. i arrived at the resort just as the sun was going down. i had just enough energy in me to get a brief tour of the grounds before hitting the hay. around 5am i got my canon and hasselblad cameras ready and ran around resort snapping some test shots under the early morning light. i shot all day and by sundown, i was tired enough to go to bed early. the second day had the most favorable skies. while shooting at moon dance cliffs and villas, i experienced the most exceptional 5-star service and met some of the nicest people i have ever met in my life. in the upcoming weeks, i aim to share more images from jamaica, including a wedding i photographed at moon dance villas. below are some examples of luxury resort architectural photography.

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i was in duxbury, ma this weekend photographing a wedding and snapped this photo with my iPhone. i was talking to someone on the train about photography, and they asked what other kinds of photography other than weddings i shoot and i told them that my blog has become sort of a teaser section for wedding clients but that i would try to remember to post other types of shoots on here and passed them one of my cards. well, here are a few photos of some other projects that i should share. i will try to describe a bit of it.

first and foremost, though a lot of my shoots are local, many of them take me to interesting places, even allowing me to sit in the front sea of a cessna airplane!

the above architectural photography is of a home on nantucket island. for those who don’t know, nantucket island is east of the popular tourist destination of martha’s vineyard. on martha’s vineyard, i photographed this nice queen anne style summer cottage (below), which is owned by a software publisher by the name of peter norton, who created norton utilities and norton anti-virus.the above house has been published in a regional annual magazine issue by cape cod life publications. although i photograph a lot of historic preservation and restoration architectural photography, i also photograph modern architecture. massachusetts institute of technology commissioned steven holl architects to design a residence hall at the university. simmons hall as it is called, resembles an abstract sponge. i heard first hand that due to the cement and steel used throughout the building, mobile phone reception is virtually impossible. while many people hate it’s design, i would like to think equally as many people enjoy it. i personally think its at least a visually striking building if nothing else. the image below of the building was used by the Kunstakademiets Arkitektskole in a publication.i also went to barcelona to photograph the pavilion by mies van der rohe. it has an interesting story behind it and should really be called the german pavilion in barcelona.as you can see from the above images, i get to see a lot of nice buildings, homes, and other structures. though new buildings and restored homes that are often considered masterpieces are pleasant to look at, i find myself wanting to photograph the not-so-beautiful. here is a photo of one of the many post-katrina abandoned homes in new orleans, louisiana.as you can see, photography takes me many places. after tomorrow, i head to jamaica for more photo shoots and i will share photos when i get back to reality…

I was recently hired by Míele USA for a freelance project. Miele is a high-end appliances manufacturer based in Germany that I gained familiarity with though photographing residential architecture for years. Every so often, leading manufacturers make small changes in both the product design and the way they show the product, and I was called upon to document these changes for the company. It was interesting to see the wide range of commercial and residential appliacnes that could be custom fitted for the client or architect.

perhaps the most notable tradition of all in regards to a new orleans wedding is the second line parade. just about all weddings in new orleans have some form of a second line.  everyone including the bride, groom and wedding guests dance in a line through the french quarter, led by a second line brass band.  if you would like to hear what a second line band sounds like, click here.

the bride generally carries a parasol, or “second line umbrella” as guests twirl handkerchiefs. the french quarter is a festive location filled with great energy throughout the year. the parades usually lead the guests from the church to the reception location.

new orleans’ famous st. louis cathedral in jackson square is the oldest catholic cathedral in continual use in the US. its a great piece of architecture inside and out, day or night.

if you are ever in new orleans, you will undoubtedly notice the unique architecture showing the city’s multicultural heritage. you’ll see everything from creole cottages, to the more iconographic balconies of the french quarter.

whenever i find myself in new orleans, i always stop at the 24-hour cafe du monde, the french market cafe for some beignets.

if you head outside the french quarter (and i strongly recommend doing so) down st. charles and on to prytania, you will see magnificent historic mansions, many of which are popular locations for weddings.

there are still many areas of the city that have yet to be restored after hurricane katrina.

when i am in town, i can’t help but notice how friendly everyone is, and the cheerful mood that encompasses the city, even after everything the city has gone through. on my left hand, i have tattoo of the fleur de lis, the symbol of new olreans and it reminds me how great the city truly is.

I was selected to photograph a wedding at the University Club of Chicago (UCCO) this past weekend. It was definitely a day to remember – from documenting preparations in the bridal suite and billiards room, to capturing all the moments during the sunlit ceremony in Cathederal Hall, to the surprise bagpiper, and Ken Arlen and his orchestra covering music during the reception.

university club of chicago

January 28, 2009

i’m a sucker for great architecture, both modern and historic. when i stepped inside this gem of a building, i saw fine details which immediately reminded me of the magnificent spaces i photographed for years. in preparation for an upcoming event, i toured the facility with a client and the Club’s catering manager. I always find it rare to feel coziness within grand rooms, but this place makes it happen.

details at the university club of chicago by heather parker

i spent a few days on nantucket photographing some residential projects. it was unseasonably warm. the houses were tidy so the shoots went smooth.

Photo by Heather Parker

there were wildflowers everywhere, lots of asian-make scooters, and i caught a glimpse of a lighthouse being moved. on the way home i sat in the front of the plane and had some great views.

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