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This is definitely one of my favorite shoots so far. When we first moved here to the US, I was amazed by how monumental the US Capitol was, being the iconic symbol of American democracy. I always told myself if I had the chance to do a photoshoot here, I would grab that opportunity in a heartbeat.

And then the email came… the editor of Bucknell University magazine contacted me for potential shoot, featuring former Secret Service agents. They wanted to photograph their alumni with a prominent DC background… and I immediately suggested we shoot them in front of the US Capitol.

In the next few days, I did a location recce around the Capitol, planned for the angles and direction of the sunlight based on the time of day, and closely monitored the weather forecast. I realized quickly the shoot was going to be a bit tricky – based on the client’s preferred timing (9am – 10am), the sunlight was going to be shining from behind the subjects, toward the camera. I needed to bring a strobe light powerful enough to compensate for the sunlight from behind and make sure their faces were properly exposed. Fortunately, my trusty workhorse – the Profoto B1 – was good enough for the situation. I’ve had the B1 for over a decade, and it never disappoints.

I also did some research and I learned that there are limited areas in the vicinity where commercial photography is allowed – so I secured a permit to photograph within the US Capitol grounds through the US Capitol Police Outdoor shoots can be tricky, so preparation and planning before the shoot is always crucial.

On the shoot date, me and my assistant came in an hour early to set up the lights and do test shots. Rob Canestrari, Darryl Volpicelli, and Ed Currie arrived one after the other and were more than ready for the shoot. They kept reminiscing about their university life, which helped keep them relaxed in front of the camera.

A couple of months after the shoot, I received a copy of the magazine. Now I’ve been in the photography business for over a decade and have produced images for billboards, posters, magazines, and annual reports… seeing your images on print like this never gets old. It’s almost euphoric.

Huge thank you to Emily and Katie from Bucknell University for having me for this shoot; to Rob, Darryl, and Ed for being rock stars; and to my brother-in-law, Bryan, for the awesome assist. Thank you all!