Santo Domingo Photoshoot

It’s about damn time I traveled! For the first time since COVID hit, we were finally able to make plans for a trip SOMEWHERE besides the supermarket. We planned for a photoshoot and had another model lined up in DR when we arrived.

I usually bring several lenses and lighting but this time I wanted to travel lighter. I decided to only take my Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II lens. My normal lenses are the Sigma Art 50mm f/1.4, Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II and Canon EF 85mm f/1.4 IS. The backpack can get pretty heavy with all that gear. I like to challenge myself and get the most out of as little as possible.

Besides my Canon EOS R and 24-70mm, I packed my eVolv 200 and round head, Matthews Mini Stand, and RoundFlash Collapsible Beauty Dish. This is a great portable kit that can tackle almost any shooting conditions. For editing, I left my laptop home and used my Samsung Tab S7+ and Lightroom Mobile. The additional benefit of using Lightroom Mobile is I can back up my photos to the cloud when I was at the hotel.

My two models were Marielva (surprised?) and Elecia. A local stylist, Enyer Diaz, was hired to help coordinate the shoot and he did an amazing job! Originally, the plan was to shoot in Zona Colonial, the first settlement in Santo Domingo, but due to scheduling we decided to shoot at the JW Marriott instead. The staff of the hotel were extremely accommodating and as long as we didn’t bother any guests, they gave us permission to shoot.

It was a hot day and many pina coladas were consumed. The JW Marriott has a nice outdoor area on the Lobby level (13th floor) which had a covered glass balcony, outdoor seating, and a pool area. We started the shoot on the glass balcony which provided some shade for us. This worked well with the lighting.

Next, we headed to the pool area. There was a nice I beam structure that had a nice aesthetic and a stepped deck to the pool. Lighting was harsh, being in the sunlight, but the eVolv 200 didn’t struggle to keep up once the settings were dialed in.

After the pool area, we moved inside. Primarily to cool off but also to change the scenery a bit. We started with Elecia near a big leather chair and then adjusted to move closer to the windows. That way, I was able to use the eVolv as my hair light with the key light being provided by the sun.

Back outside, the wall had a very nice pattern I wanted to incorporate into the shoot. I had Marielva lean on the wall and set the lighting to camera left. The results speak for themselves, very pleasing!

Marielva ended her shoot and we had Elecia stand in the same spot but from the opposite direction. Again, a pleasing area to shoot in (and covered, thankfully!).

The shoot ended with Elecia by the dining area with the pool in the background. The colors, background, and styling from Enyer Diaz created a great setting.

A great shoot with minimal gear! I’m glad it worked out better than I planned. Now I feel much more confident traveling with a lighter load. Most photographers know that it can be difficult choosing which gear to bring since you can’t just go back and grab something else.

A big thanks for Marielva and Elecia for doing fantastic and making my job easier! Also, big shout out to Enyer Diaz for making these ladies look lovely as well as providing some great input on setting up the shoot!