2025 Photography Highlights

An annual round-up of travel and hotel photography assignments, hand-picked highlights from spring, summer, autumn, and winter, shared here on my website.

January 2024 — Teaching Photography Off the Beaten Track in Andalucía

January always brings a quiet joy — not just the soft, crisp winter light, but the renewed energy that the start of a new year inspires. It’s the perfect moment to step back into the heart of Andalucía and guide photographers through a bespoke, one-to-one travel photography experience. This month, we followed the winding roads through Ronda and the cluster of white villages that spill across the hillsides.

Travel photography is never only about camera settings. It is about being in the field: being present with the light, the weather, and the unpredictable rhythm of daily life. We chased gentle morning rays as they slipped behind ancient olive trees, navigated narrow lanes where time seems to stand still, and discovered the textures of Andalusian walls in every shifting shadow.

It is important to guide students through real-world shooting: composing within imperfect, often chaotic settings; embracing the nuance of natural light; and interacting with local people in a sincere, respectful way. Even gastronomy became part of the photographic journey — rustic kitchens, local dishes, and markets offering unexpected still-life compositions.

There is something deeply rewarding about slowing down and truly seeing these hidden corners of Andalucía. It is a region full of texture, soul, and stories — a photographer’s paradise and my home for the last three decades.

February 2025 — Travel Photography in the Alpujarras, Andalucía

February saw me high in the mountain villages of the Alpujarras, a region that feels suspended between earth and sky. The experience is always a sensory delight: cool mountain air that sharpens every colour, narrow streets washed with sunlight, and the bright red of dried chillies hanging proudly from doorways.

Villages such as Trevélez, Órgiva, and Bubión are steeped in tradition, and their people are anchored deeply to the land. There is an authenticity in the Alpujarras that gently slows your pace. You find yourself breathing differently, watching more carefully, waiting for the perfect interplay of light and shadow. It is a place that teaches patience — and rewards it beautifully.

February 2025 — The Grand, Brighton: Seaside Elegance and Victorian Charm

Later in the month, my travels took a dramatic turn from mountain villages to the sparkling English coastline. I visited The Grand in Brighton — a hotel wrapped in Victorian elegance and rich with history.

Its architecture is a dream for photographers: sweeping staircases, ornate detailing, dramatic window light, and corridors that seem to hum with stories from centuries past. Among the hotel’s many charming details, the bone china teacups stand out: each one delicately inscribed with a small message, like secret postcards from another era. These thoughtful touches, combined with the soft seaside light filtering through vast windows, create a setting that is both timeless and intimate.

The Grand offers a seamless blend of heritage, refinement, and that unmistakable Brighton energy.

February 2025 — Photoshoot of Restaurant & Lifestyle Spaces: Fairmont La Hacienda

This month also included a comprehensive photoshoot for Fairmont La Hacienda, a property where luxury, gastronomy, and Mediterranean light come together with remarkable harmony. The resort offers a wealth of gourmet experiences, each with its own visual personality.

We captured the irresistible breakfast buffet at El Faro (The Lighthouse), where morning light spills across fresh pastries, fruits, and ocean-inspired décor. From there, we moved to the refined Michelin-level dining of Dalmar, photographing the restaurant’s interior, private dining spaces, and the stunning views.

The relaxed, stylish atmosphere of Umbra, perfect for poolside dining, brought a completely different visual mood: sun-kissed colours, sparkling water reflections, and the chic, casual luxury that Fairmont does so well.

We also documented The Vista Lounge, a space that lives up to its name with sweeping views and warm, contemporary design. Each setting required a different visual approach — from detailed close-ups to wide architectural compositions — making the shoot dynamic, diverse, and immensely satisfying.

In February, Fairmont La Hacienda opened its doors to the world, and it was an honour that our photographs were featured in press releases both nationally and internationally.