Abigail Bobo Gets Photos and Video with a Small Crew in Iceland for Airbnb

Not that she didn’t know this already, but Nashville-based photographer Abigail Bobo made an important discovery on assignment in Iceland for Airbnb. While shoots for big companies with a small crew can seem daunting, there are a lot of benefits to them — especially in our post-COVID world.

You can still get great content with a skeleton crew. In fact, it might actually be better.

This shoot for Airbnb in Iceland had no crew. It included hundreds of photo stills and video with audio and was shot outdoors in high winds over two days on half a dozen terrains.

The word “daunting” still comes to the mind’s fore when hearing about that setup and setting, but it’s possible to navigate all of it and still come out with winning assets. The key, of course, is preparation. But not just preparation in the sense that you have a broad outline of the game plan. Preparation in the sense that you know each and every minute detail possible before embarking.

Have your creative team pull together spec images that show not only the shot, but the style you want. Put it all in your creative deck but be more specific than normal. Think carefully about your shot list. What images do you need to fill which spots?

With a skeleton crew onsite, you have to get everything in place first. This means knowing your color scheme, how to dress the models, and any key things to highlight.

So, although not everyone can travel to a place like Iceland that works on a specific shoot, everyone’s voice should be heard beforehand. Video calls, Abigail notes, are part and parcel of success. That’s especially the case when photography is only part of the ask — the team needed video as well. Because Abigail didn’t skip any steps, she seamlessly executed what could’ve been an intimidating ask.

Having two to three group calls is key — imagine how many people weigh in on a regular shoot day. Now remember that they won’t be there on the day you’re shooting and make sure that whatever they would normally communicate is said before the shoot.

Consider what you’re trying to achieve, communicate, or display. Is it an emotion? Go back to your brand statement. In other words, let me inside your creative brain.

See more of Abigail’s work at abigailbobo.com.

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