Commissioned photography for Holcim — project summary
Holcim commissioned a documentary-style campaign that highlights people at work with a lifestyle approach. The goal was to portray authentic, work-focused scenes while introducing warm, contemporary lifestyle elements to make the images relatable and suitable for corporate communications and large-format display.
Preparation
Briefing and creative direction: Defined visual tone, color palette (not represented here for copyright reasons), wardrobe suggestions, and shot list in collaboration with Holcim’s managing team. Agreed on the balance between documentary authenticity and lifestyle refinement.
Scouting and logistics: Surveyed sites across production and construction locations to identify strong visual backdrops, safe shooting positions, and optimal natural-light windows. Coordinated site access, safety gear, and permits with on-site supervisors.
People and scheduling: Worked with supervisors to schedule workers for portrait and action shoots, ensuring minimal disruption to operations. Prepared release forms and briefed subjects on the shoot’s purpose and practical details.
Equipment planning: Selected camera bodies (some shots were made using 120 roll film camera), lenses, and portable lighting rigs tailored for on-location portraiture and documentary sequences. Prepared backup batteries, memory cards and protective gear for the industrial environment.
Production
Documentary capture: Shot candid and contextual images of people performing their jobs to preserve authenticity—process shots, teamwork moments, and environmental portraits that communicate skill and purpose.
Lifestyle direction: Introduced subtle lifestyle elements—natural posing, relaxed expressions, and contemporary framing—to make images approachable for corporate storytelling without staging unrealistic scenes.
Portrait sessions: For close portraits, deployed portative (portable) lighting setups to balance ambient industrial light, control contrast, and highlight facial detail. These setups allowed consistent quality across varied locations while remaining fast and minimally intrusive.
Safety and efficiency: Maintained adherence to site safety protocols and worked efficiently to respect operational schedules. Adjusted setups quickly to changing light and workflow conditions.
On-site review: Performed immediate image checks and quick edits on location with Holcim representatives to confirm exposure, color, and expression, ensuring we captured the necessary variety for Holcim’s usage needs.
Final delivery
Post-production: Applied color grading that retained natural skin tones and material texture while introducing subtle warmth to support the lifestyle direction. Performed retouching to remove distractions, correct exposure, and ensure consistency across the campaign.
File formats and sizes: Delivered high-resolution files suited for print and digital channels. Supplied web-optimized versions and ready-to-print files with appropriate bleed and color profiles.
Large-format prints: Produced selected works as wall prints in sizes up to 1 meter by 50 centimeters, ensuring resolution, sharpness, and color fidelity were preserved in large-scale output.
Presentation and handover: Provided a structured image catalog with usage recommendations and metadata. Delivered final files and print-ready artworks to Holcim, accompanied by usage guidance for consistent application across internal and external communications.
Outcome: The campaign delivered a cohesive set of documentary-style images with a lifestyle sensibility that communicate craftsmanship, teamwork, and human stories at Holcim. Portable lighting and careful preparation ensured high-quality portraits and consistent visuals across diverse, industrial environments, including large-format prints for display.
