For the past 8 months, Lousiville, Kentucky-based photographer Clay Cook has been working heavily with A&E Networks, on multiple reality TV shows for one of their divisions, Lifetime Network. After photographing a cast member of the Lifetime show So Sharp, Clay was connected with the photo editor and set things in motion for a more momentous project with another division of A&E.
He received an email from the team behind one of the History Channel‘s signature shows, Swamp People. The show follows the lives of Louisiana natives who hunt and harvest animals for a living, notably alligators. The team wanted to shoot some on-air concept photos along with portraits for the upcoming season’s marketing materials.
Having watched the show for many seasons, Clay was personally invested in the campaign. After mulling ideas with the Swamp People team, everyone settled on an environmental portrait campaign. Clay got assistance from the executive producers at Wonderful Machine to get an estimate in order, one that was approved and landed him the gig. With a tight deadline and a unique set of circumstances, Clay got right into the thick of things.
In entertainment photography, a lot is based upon improvisation in the moment rather than in pre-preproduction. However, we made sure to line out a complete shot list of the cast of Swamp People as well as a target goal for the number of final deliverables.
The level of improvisation required didn’t bode too well for the photographer. Clay and his team had to work in tandem with the show’s production crew in Pierre Part, Louisiana where the season would be filmed. The portraits had to be shot close to where the crew would be filming the on-air concept, limiting the number of location options.
We had to photograph the cast very close to where they were capturing the on-air concept. It was basically a big backyard. The first hour, we scouted for the best and most versatile space, where we could move and flex our creative muscles. We eventually landed on a swampy spot located just off a trail.
The usual troublemaker was also present, the weather. Clay and his team arrived to see an expansive blanket of fog, when then gave way to an even stronger period of sunshine. Neither scenario would fit with the look required for the portraits, but like always, the weather gods agreed on a compromise, providing some cloud cover to create the perfect overcast day for the shots. But just to be safe, the team used a mobile setup with a single light just in case Mother Nature threw another tantrum.
While the production crew filmed the marketing concept, which was based on a scene in “Godfather,” I pulled each cast member away one-by-one to our location close to the swamp. This small walk gave me the opportunity to build a small bridge and relationship before they stepped in front of the camera. The cast was so welcoming and comfortable, which made my job very easy.
Talking to the cast and getting to know them was the highlight of the assignment for Clay. After all, he’s been a fan of the show for years. In that short walk from the filming location to the swamp, he would shift from discussing the alligator industry and Kentucky bourbon to arm wrestling and Louisiana’s history with the cast.
His genuine passion and interest in the show came through in Clay’s work. The History Channel has used his images in the new season’s marketing collateral and Clay’s certain that some of the photos will be in his portfolio well into the future.
I hope for more opportunities to work with the team at Swamp People. It was a fantastic experience. I’m not entirely sure how the show will play out with the decline of the alligator industry, but I’m looking forward to watching until the very end of the series. The cast and production deserve every bit of success the series has had.
Additional Credits:
Client: History Channel, Swamp People
First Assistant: Hunter Zieske
Second Assistant: Louis Tinsley
See more of Clay’s work on his website.
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