THE VISION

This triple collab first began when I reached out to Almla Active about gifting socks for a separate pilates shoot I was photographing. Although we didn't end up collaborating for that shoot, we kept in touch until Almla had a new cocktail-inspired collection of their own and wanted me to capture content for their launch! This was their first time capturing professional photos so I wanted to make sure I made the experience as seamless as possible, especially because the founders (Rhea & Gabriella) have full-time jobs outside of their joint business. Gabby and I quickly hopped on a call and ran through the packages I offer as well as potential locations for the shoot, and I suggested my own creative ideas and inspiration!

THe PLanning

Our main focus while planning the shoot was finding models and securing a location. Rhea and Gabriella weren't familiar with any pilates models in the area, so I posted a model call on my Instagram story, offering photos and gifting in exchange for their time. We got so many inquiries, however, one stood out in particular - Kennedy! Kennedy proved to be the perfect fit because she owns a new pilates studio in Costa Mesa called Neaumixfit and was more than happy to let us shoot there... for free! Gabriella and Rhea were so excited about this because they got to save money and kill two birds with one stone - a huge win! I also started looking for and found an athletic clothing brand to dress the models in activewear. After that, I continued planning the date, time, and finding other models to ensure we could get this shoot done in time for their new release.

The Execution

Everything was going as planned until the athletic brand supplying the workout sets backed out last minute! I'd be lying if I said this didn't add stress to the process, but I wasn't going to let it stop the shoot. Determined to find a replacement, Gabby, Rhea and I started reaching out to numerous activewear brands and just as we'd hoped, one pulled through! Our models were now going to be clothed in sets from CEO Active who kindly gifted us three sets that came just in time. Now it was time to have fun! We all had a blast working together and the models were so professional and absolutely stunning! Ultimately, everything came together perfectly. The location provided the perfect look for the shoot and the athletic sets we were gifted and the ones we brought from home matched wonderfully with our intended look!

The outcome

This shoot was extremely valuable because of the huge learning experience it was for all of us. Sometimes it's a blessing in disguise when things don't go perfectly because it teaches you how to adapt. Through this experience, I was reminded that it's always important to have a backup plan for the crucial parts of the shoot- models, location, outfits, etc in case anything goes awry. These obstacles don't have to ruin everything, but they do require quick and creative problem-solving skills.


With Almla Active's release date approaching a week after the session, I knew I'd have to speed up the turnaround time for their photos. My typical two-week turnaround became a three-day turnaround. I put them at the top of my priority list because I wanted their first professional photo experience to be a positive one and it surely was! This collaboration was a triple win for Almla Active, Neaumixfit, and CEO Active. Almla received fresh photos of their new product for their release, Neaumixfit/Kennedy received modeling photos and marketing photos for her studio, and CEO Active received unique photos of their activewear! Not to mention the awesome content that I now have for my portfolio as well. Now all the brands have new connections in the athletic industry for future collaboration opportunities too! We all couldn't have been more happy with how the shoot turned out.

Brand Recognition