The Vision
When Danya, the owner of Bya Beach, first reached out, she was ready to elevate her brand in a way she hadn’t before. While she had done a few smaller shoots in the past, this was about stepping into a more refined, high-level production that truly reflected the direction of the brand. The focus was twofold: launching a new collection - featuring rich chocolate brown one-pieces and bikinis - and reimagining her existing blue collection with a fresh perspective. The overall vision leaned into effortless, sun-soaked moments that felt natural yet elevated. Think girls by the pool, relaxed and confident, capturing that balance between candid fun and intentional styling. We wanted the imagery to feel warm, inviting, and authentic to the Bya Beach lifestyle - less about perfection, more about presence. The goal was to create content that would not only refresh her Instagram and website, but also tell a cohesive story of the brand moving forward.
The planning
I took the lead on model scouting and casting, which is one of my favorite parts of the process. We ended up with four incredible models, a mix of agency-represented and fresh faces, which brought a really dynamic energy to the shoot. For the location, I sourced a variety of Peerspace options and ultimately selected a space that gave us a clean, elevated pool and patio setting - perfect for the look we were going for. Everything was shot on both digital and film, which added a really fun layer to the day and gave us a mix of polished and nostalgic imagery. Danya brought along a content creator and a few assistants, which made the entire shoot feel collaborative and seamless. I was tethering throughout the session so she could see images in real time and give feedback, which helped us stay aligned and move efficiently. The direction was all about balance - capturing the girls in relaxed, playful moments while also incorporating more styled, intentional shots. From lounging poolside to playing card games and soaking up the sun, we focused on creating scenes that felt genuine and easy, never overly posed but still visually elevated. We shot for a few hours, moving through looks and setups while keeping the energy light and fun the entire time.
The execution
This shoot came together in the best way - creative, collaborative, and completely aligned with the vision from start to finish. The energy on set made all the difference, and it truly felt like everyone was working toward the same goal. The final images captured exactly what we set out to create: a mix of effortless, candid moments and elevated swimwear content that feels both modern and timeless. The collections translated beautifully on camera, and the combination of digital and film added depth to the overall gallery.
I was so excited about how everything turned out that I went straight home after the shoot and edited a round of digital sneak peeks to send over. It’s always a good sign when you can’t wait to dive into the images. Overall, it felt like such a strong collaboration, and one that really brought the Bya Beach vision to life. Fingers crossed this is just the beginning of working together!
The Outcome
This shoot was pure fun — seamless, creative, and full of good vibes. It’s always such a positive environment working with this crew. Everything just flowed: no stress, no chaos, just efficient and intentional shooting with a clear vision in mind. The resulting gallery tells a full story: from strolling downtown with bags and sunglasses, to lounging in the cars with magazines, to letting go barefoot in the surf. The colors were everything — soft but striking — and the shots captured exactly what we had hoped for: that effortless, cool-girl road trip moment. As a fun side note: our recent shoots have all had a "transportation" theme — from sailboats to vintage cars. Maybe bikes are next on the list!
Brand Recognition
