Award-winning portrait photographer Steve Craft photographed six designers for Phoenix Home and Garden’s issue, “Masters of the Southwest.” Steve worked with the magazine numerous times in the past. In fact, Wonderful Machine caught up with Steve last year to discuss his landscape, architecture, and portraiture photography of the Golden Keys housing community. This time, the assignment — for the February/March issue — led Steve to Phoenix’s Musical Instrument Museum.
When Photo Editor Len Loria reached out, Steve did not hesitate to accept the assignment. He described the cover of the issue as “one of the magazine’s most coveted,” as the issue was dedicated to the winners of the prestigious “Masters of the Southwest” award. The initial goal of the photoshoot was a double-page spread for the article, as well as individual portraits of the subjects, with their specialties ranging from interior design to estate garden design, and more.
Getting the cover was an added bonus – the cover isn’t decided until after all the shoots are submitted for that particular issue.
In the days leading up to the shoot, Steve scouted different locations for the group shot. MIM (Musical Instrument Museum) was the perfect space, as it provided a vast array of backgrounds to choose from. It also helped that the museum was on board, allowing a few private hours before the museum opened for the day.
Len Loria and Editor in Chief John Roark joined Steve and the subjects on set. They were accompanied by Museum Liaison Johann Warnholtz, who now happens to work at Phoenix Home and Garden.
One major concern was not to break anything as we took some photos inside the areas where the rare and one-of-a-kind instruments were displayed. We could only set up one light while in those areas.
One of Steve’s favorite parts of this project was getting to meet the designers, who were all familiar with one another. They created fun energy throughout the photoshoot as they caught up with each other in between takes.
Everyone was great and super into it which always helps.
Steve’s second favorite part? Getting the cover!
See more of Steve’s images on Instagram.
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