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.
I shot my first fragrance campaign!
There aren't any words that can express how excited I was when I got the call from Bahari.
“A fragrance?? I asked?
“You need an ad campaign?” I asked?
I was over the moon because ever since I became a full-time photographer I would drool over magazine ads displaying different fragrances and colognes and I would marvel at how awesome the photography was. So, to now have an opportunity to photograph my own was mind-blowing. I was happy that Bahari was continuing to push the envelope and produce more incredible products for fans of the brand.
With two incredible models as part of my arsenal, the team and I created images against a romantic and irresistible background. The lighting was perfect, hair and makeup were on point and the team, as always, worked seamlessly to get the job done. What was even better was the chemistry between our models. They were uber professional but followed direction to the letter. This was obviously not their first time working together and by jumping from frame to frame, that very same chemistry carried over every time.
I styled, photographed and directed both the still images and video needed for this campaign. Something I’m trying to do more of. Please enjoy.
WATCH THE BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO
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