How One Hotel Photoshoot Changed My Career in Commercial Photography

Back in 2016, I was bouncing around Southeast Asia as a photojournalist, mostly on assignments for The New York Times. My work was gritty, raw, and often chaotic—documenting real life with minimal time, minimal resources, and maximum pressure. I was that sweaty photographer sprinting through back alleys, slipping into temples, chasing light and stories, and dodging deadlines. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was honest, and it helped shape me as a storyteller.

Then one day, my inbox lit up with an offer from Condé Nast Traveler. It wasn’t a gritty documentary assignment. It was a hotel shoot. Fancy, air-conditioned, well-fed kind of fancy. It was so far from the world I came from, but I leaned in. Hotels with Michelin-starred chefs, stunning interiors, postcard-worthy architecture—I was intrigued. And let’s be honest, it was nice not having to sweat through another power outage in the jungle.

Over time, I began developing a real appreciation for luxury hotel photography. But I never lost sight of what made my editorial work unique: natural light, real emotion, and unscripted moments. So when I got the call to photograph the InterContinental Danang, I brought all of that with me. What followed became the most important shoot of my commercial photography career.

A Wes Anderson-Style Resort & A Massive Leap of Faith

The InterContinental Danang isn’t your typical resort. It was designed by Bill Bensley, a visionary architect whose whimsical, maximalist designs dominate much of Southeast Asia’s luxury hospitality scene. Think tropical Wes Anderson vibes with bold colors, quirky corners, and endless visual inspiration. I had one day to capture it all for Condé Nast.

That day turned into a relationship. The marketing team loved the images. They used one on the cover. That caught the attention of the corporate office. Then an ad agency got involved, and suddenly I was being asked to handle a full-blown lifestyle campaign—with models, a shot list, and serious pressure.

I had no full production team at the time. Just me and my assistant Knop (pronounced “Nop,” spelled “Ngoc”), a silver reflector, and a whole lot of creative ambition. She had zero photography experience, but she was a trusted fixer and a calming presence. We were winging it—but we had vision.

Natural Light Over Everything

The agency expected the usual: lighting setups, full crews, over-directed poses. I pushed hard for a different approach. I wanted to shoot the entire campaign using natural light. I knew the resort was built to be photographed. I knew how to scout for light. Most importantly, I believed that the authenticity of natural light photography would stand out in a market flooded with overly staged, artificial imagery.

There were moments when I was nervous. Big-budget shoots tend to attract big opinions, and not everyone was thrilled with how hands-off I wanted the agency to be. But I stayed polite, professional, and focused. I directed the models like a storyteller, not like a technician. I asked them to interact, to play, to feel. I let the scenes breathe. And I leaned on my editorial instincts—framing, timing, emotion—to capture what I believe commercial photography should feel like: honest.

The Turning Point

That shoot turned into a domino effect. The client trusted me more with every frame. The agency begrudgingly stepped back. The images delivered something different, something more alive than what they were used to. And when I finally saw the campaign come together, I knew I had crossed over from being just a photographer to being a visual problem solver—someone who could lead, execute, and inspire confidence.

Soon after, we were asked to handle video production for the same resort. Then came more shoots across Asia. We built a production team. We created Mott Visuals. And we became a preferred vendor for IHG Hotels & Resorts.

Lessons for Photographers Making the Leap

If you’re a photographer looking to make the jump from editorial or documentary work into commercial photography—especially in the hospitality industry—here’s my advice:

• Leverage your storytelling roots. Authenticity is rare in commercial work. If you have it, protect it.

• Trust natural light. It’s not a crutch. It’s a creative asset.

• Stay firm but polite. Advocate for your vision, especially when it’s unconventional.

• Be resourceful. You don’t need a massive team to make powerful work.

• Build relationships. The client who hired you today might bring you work for the next decade.

This wasn’t just my first big hotel photoshoot. It was the project that shaped everything that came after. It gave me confidence, clarity, and the foundation to build a full-fledged commercial photography business rooted in storytelling.

And I’m still that sweaty photographer—just with better hotels, a bit more experience, and a lot more Diet Coke awareness (don’t ask).

Want to see the work that came out of that shoot?
👉 Visit my commercial portfolio at MottVisuals.com

Looking to improve your photography or break into hotel work?
🎓 Join my 1-on-1 classes or upcoming Vietnam workshop



Watch my full episode below.