Behind the Lens: Capturing Bahari’s 2025 Independence Collection Honoring Bahamian Culture
BAHARI BAHAMAS’ INDEPENDENCE COLLECTION ‘25
Bahari has built a reputation for launching monumental campaigns that captivate the nation—sparking excitement and long lines of eager customers rushing to get their hands on the latest designs. Independence Day, one of the most celebrated holidays in The Bahamas, also marks the brand’s biggest and most anticipated collection of the year.
Each year, Bahari masterfully reimagines its Independence designs, drawing inspiration from iconic Bahamian symbols, historic events, and cherished scenes from our past. This year was no different—and when the brand approached me to photograph their new collection, I jumped at the opportunity.
I was genuinely impressed by the designs. They’re not only visually striking but carry a depth and cultural richness that make them even more powerful in person.
Behind the scenes, the energy was high from the moment we stepped onto set. Models were being styled with precision, garments carefully steamed and adjusted, and the creative team fine-tuned every detail to make sure the vision translated perfectly on camera. The heart of the set was a massive LED wall that projected moving images of Old Nassau, layered with AI-generated vintage Bahamian scenes. That mix of nostalgia and innovation made the backdrop feel alive—almost cinematic.
This was only my second time working with consistent studio lighting, but with each shot, I felt more in control. It gave me the freedom to focus more on expression and body language—how to direct and position the models in ways that felt natural yet powerful. There were moments of spontaneous magic—quick laughs between takes, adjustments in poses that ended up being the final selects, and even a few goosebumps seeing how beautifully everything was coming together in real time.
What Bahari created with this collection goes beyond clothing. It’s a reminder of who we are as a people, where we come from, and what we continue to celebrate.
A Romantic Couple's Photoshoot on a Stunning Island 📸
Steffon Cooper & Melissa Rolle
I met with Steffon and Melissa in October of 2023 at this intimate coffee bar on the western side of town. Melissa, who had initially reached out to me, wanted to take romantic, beautiful and editorial portraits with her beau, Steffon. So, in our early discussion, we went over a few concepts that would make them both happy. Melissa told me how long they had dated and that they had no images to speak for their relationship. She was focused on taking official photos to celebrate their love for one another.
During our meeting, I almost enforced that the photoshoot should be unique and different. I don't know what made me say it, but in explaining my creative process to the couple, I told them we needed to shoot somewhere different, not on the island (we all lived in New Providence) but on another island with a stunning backdrop. I almost jumped out of my seat when the thought hit me. I said, “Let's go to Exuma!"
The couple looked at each other, and while I thought the budget would not allow for such a production, they looked back at me and said, "Yes, that's an amazing idea!"
We worked together to figure out a date, styling and logistics for pulling this whole thing off. Luckily for Melissa, her cousin was one of the country's most talented stylists, so I didn't worry too much about that aspect. I had a few colleagues in Exuma who gave me insight on where to shoot and how to get there, and so, together with the couple, we made arrangements for a boat to take us to one of the sandbanks near Rolletown, Exuma.
This photo shoot had been postponed twice due to bad timing or bad weather, and by the time we finally got around the concrete time, it was 2024! January 16th was the new date, and everyone was sure this would be amazing due to all the previous setbacks. My assistant Tariq and I arranged to get there by plane, only a 30-minute ride, and we found an Airbnb only 3 minutes from the dock! The night before we shot, the team met up to go over the art direction for the shoot. Everyone chipped in and gave commentary to make the couple feel more confident going into the photoshoot.
Shoot day was nothing short of incredible. The weather was perfect, the water looked unreal, and the couple were perfectly styled. We found a sandbank when we left the marina and positioned the couple. I was shooting with natural light, so I had more time to focus on posing and positioning. The boat captain pulled us right up to the bank, and I even left him in some of my frames to show the context of where we were. Steffon and Melissa were amazing to photograph because they didn't pretend much to like each other. You could see that they genuinely enjoyed each other's space, and as a photographer, that helps when capturing portraits of two people together.
The couple had a second look, and we brainstormed on where to photograph them. The team agreed that we didn't want to shoot them out in the water again, so I suggested shooting them in a town near all the hustle and bustle of Georgetown's main settlement. I love locations like these because there is a lot of energy surrounding you. People, cars, dogs and birds are all moving around you. Georgetown gave me so many different spaces to capture Stef and Mel, and I loved that they stood out in stylish clothing against the town's backdrop. This shoot, if any indication of how the year will pan out, excited me, and I loved working with the couple to produce these images.
Please enjoy.
Photography & Art Direction: Scharad Lightbourne
Styling: Shan Oliver ( The Style Group)
MUA: Valincia Rolle
Hair: Tara Miller (Metamorphosis)
Stef’s Hair: Tilly Balinese
Grip: Tariq Cartwright
An aerial view of us on the sand bank with the couple.
📸 Capturing the new Bahari Kaftan Collection
Bahari Models: Loretta Butler-Turner, Christine Carey & Loleta Dixon
Photography plays a vital role in marketing and branding by telling compelling stories. In this article, I share insights into the creative process and the magic that happens when passion meets the lens, taking you behind the scenes of a recent photoshoot for Bahari Bahamas.
The first step in any successful campaign is planning and conceptualization. Collaborating with the creative team is essential to understanding the brand's identity, target audience, and the message they want to convey. Makeup, hair, and styling are all critical parts of the success of any photoshoot, and the Bahari team gets it right every time! Next, casting suitable models and styling them is essential. The models should embody the brand's essence, and the styling should reflect the latest trends and complement the brand's aesthetic.
No photo shoot is without its challenges, and adaptability is key. Being able to pivot and find solutions on the spot is part of the job. We realized that the models did not need precise poses. Once we allowed them to be free and “let loose,” photographing them became effortless.
Post-production is where the magic happens. Editing, retouching, and colour grading refine the images to align with the brand's visual identity.
In conclusion, photographing this new campaign was a journey of creativity, collaboration, and adaptability. The behind-the-scenes effort, passion, and dedication are the threads that weave together Bahari’s visual tapestry, making these pieces desirable!
MUA: Geah Smith
Styling: Lavonne Alexis
Art Direction/Photography: Scharad Lightbourne
Photo Assistant: Samiah Rutherford
Motion: Sherard Campbell
Old Master's Portraits with Olivia Dorsett
Olivia is the type of client who gives me 100% creative control when she comes to me with another opportunity to photograph her. This occasion was no different. She asked if I had anything new I wanted to try because she was “in the mood” for another portrait session. I told her I always wanted to recreate a portrait similar to that of the old portrait masters like Rembrandt, Caravaggio and Da Vinci.
I had to research the lighting extensively because I knew those painters used a specific style of light in their portraits. My setup was simple, where I only used a 2 light layout; a largely diffused modifier for fill and another large modifier for my key (leading) light.
Olivia trusted my vision, and I put together an incredible team once I knew the direction I was taking. I was very direct and specific. I knew what I wanted from makeup and hair, and even the colour dress and design of the gown I chose were intentional.
The table and background were already in the studio while we imported other props. The fruit we used was sourced locally, which was a challenge because, initially, finding the pomegranate was challenging! Once I completed the set, and we got our tethering setup, the shoot flowed seamlessly. The lighting was ideal for the direction of the shoot, and I was so happy that we had put so much time into our pre-production.
Olivia was a great muse. She knew her angles and followed my direction to the letter. Below is the hard work of a team of passionate people who came together to bring this vision to fruition.
Let me know what you think of our work in the comments below.
WATCH THE VIDEO
Photography: Scharad Lightbourne
Muse: Olivia Dorsett
MUA: Cody Rolle
Hair: Denise Francis
Designer: Ria Smith
Cinematography: Emmanuel Petit Homme
Assistant: Shavonne Strachan
Olde Town Lady: A Historic Collection of Modern Day Portraits.
OLDE TOWNE LADY is a series that brings the stories of different generations of Bahamian women out of the shadows and analyzes how they collectively contributed to the culture and traditions that are common and upheld in our Bahamian society today. We aim to theorize and construct the historical knowledge of Bahamian Women through Oral Histories and Creative Interpretations.
Francine Russell in “Olde Town Lady”
OLDE TOWNE LADY is a series that brings the stories of different generations of Bahamian women out of the shadows and analyzes how they collectively contributed to the culture and traditions that are common and upheld in our Bahamian society today. We aim to theorize and construct the historical knowledge of Bahamian Women through Oral Histories and Creative Interpretations.
These women existed in everyone’s family, but their narratives are often overlooked and under-valued. They carried out the underappreciated and undermined labor that was key to sustainable development and the well-being of the family and community. They also protected and transmitted the cultural and social heritage of The Bahamas, with hopes that their labor and stories were not in vain.
Francine is a Co-Principal of The Heritage Partners - a professional services agency specializing in Heritage branding, research, and management.
SHE’S ROYAL
However, to put on a more dignified or elegant appearance. slaves had to fend for themselves. A large part of the small sums of money earned through extra work or selling produce went in purchasing a pair of shoes and at least one set of decent clothing for dances, funerals, or church-going...for the women, a dress and petticoats of good East Indian cotton, a colourful handkerchief for head ties.
Islanders in the Stream: A History of the Bahamian People. Vol. 1, from Aboriginal Times to the End of Slavery. Athens, University Of Georgia Press, 1999.
CHURCH LEADER
Despite the predominance of men as priests and pastors, all churches provided opportunities for women to participate, enhance their respectability, and even lead. In the Anglican and Methodist churches alike, women outnumbered men as Sunday school teachers, and they were invaluable in organizing annual bazaars, fete, and other fund-raising functions.
Craton, Michael, and Gail Saunders. Islanders in the Stream: A History of the Bahamian People. University of Georgia Press, 1998.
BLACK WOMEN SUSTAIN COMMUNITIES
Far fewer women worked as plantation laborers, and most of the men became transients, living in barracks or strange villages during crop-time and being unable to form permanent or stable attachments while women provided the only permanence and stability for children.
Craton, Michael. “Changing Patterns of Slave Families in the British West Indies.” Journal of Interdisciplinary History, vol. 10, no. 1, 1979.
SHARING AND BARTERING
As in Africa, marketing played a large part in the lives of all black New Providence “villagers, and most of the vendors were women. Some sold vegetables and fruits from door to door, others from small stalls outside their yards, at the end of their lanes, or in Grant’s Town small formal market.
Craton, Michael, and Gail Saunders. Islanders in the Stream: A History of the Bahamian People. University of Georgia Press, 1998.
SUBSISTENCE FARMING
The slaves themselves (of whom three-quarters lived at Clifton) had twenty-two family allotments, totalling sixty acres, well planted in-ground provisions. Though much of the area on each farm was "white land" or swamp, and the slaves' provision grounds were not in the best locations, it was possible for a family to sustain itself through the labor of the women and children alone, and the more industrious families produced considerable surpluses for the market in Nassau. Islanders in the Stream: A History of the Bahamian People. Vol. 1, from Aboriginal Times to the End of Slavery. Athens, University Of Georgia Press, 1999.
FROM FIELDS TO FORTUNE
Similarly, the more fortunate and industrious slaves would boast a pitiful handful of extra possessions and marginal luxuries: scissors and dressmaking materials, some specialist tools, a glass or two, and some chinaware (some of it cracked or chipped and passed on from the master), a mirror, combs and trinkets, and a store of clay pipes (which were smoked by women and men alike when they could). Islanders in the Stream : A History of the Bahamian People. Vol. 1, from Aboriginal Times to the End of Slavery. Athens, University Of Georgia Press, 1999.
SEE THE FULL GALLERY
WATCH THE BTS VIDEO
SHOOT CREDITS
Model: Francine Russell
Photographer: Scharad Lightbourne
Stylist: Shan Oliver
Dress Designer: Theodore Sealy
MUA: Ruth Ash Rolle
Hair: Jamell Dawkins
Video: Tony Williams
Video Editor: Craig Walkine
BTS: Rayandra Nairn
Kid Model: Dane Marshall
Male Model: Ricardo Hepburn @DR3amMEdia
Contributors: Dru Hepburn / Maria Hall
Special Thanks
The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas
The Heritage Partners
UB Art Students