Partnering with a Brand I Love

One of my goals as a photographer has always been to work with brands I genuinely love. When I started my men’s style account (RIP to that), it was just a fun way to explore my own style and document what I was wearing. Since I’m a photographer, of course I wanted the photos to be worthy of a brand’s attention.

And that’s exactly what happened.

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My First Partnership with Beckett Simonon

In the short stint that I was running that account, I had the absolute pleasure of partnering with Beckett Simonon, which is a luxury shoe brand/maker. Honestly, the partnership felt too good to be true. But when the shoes arrived at my doorstep, my photographer heart was giddy.

Before you read on, know that Beckett Simonon didn’t pay me to write any review or to talk about them in any way at all. These are my genuine thoughts. When I received their Dowler Black Boots in Full-Grain Leather, my jaw literally dropped. I knew these were the nicest boots I’d ever own. The craftsmanship on these boots is truly astounding.

I remember opening up the package and being in awe of all the details. Each pair comes with a handwritten note from the actual shoemaker! Right out of the box, I could tell this is a brand that cares about every detail, including showcasing their artisans.

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Photographing the Boots in Marfa, TX

I had the hardest time figuring out how I wanted to photograph these boots. I didn’t want your typical product photography (i.e. flat studio backgrounds or sterile setup). I wanted to bring them into natural light and highlight their craftsmanship in an environment that felt real.

Around the same time, we had a trip planned to Marfa, Texas. I’m sure I could’ve produced similar images without traveling all the way to west Texas, but knowing that’s where these were taken makes me personally appreciate the photos even more. The sun was beginning to set, producing that perfect golden hour glow. I couldn’t have asked for better lighting or a better all-around vibe for these shots.

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Final Thoughts

I’ve held onto these images for quite a while now, even though I loved them from the moment I took them. Seeing them again makes me wish I had done so much more with my partnership with Beckett Simonon. But I’m hopeful for more collaborations like this in the future.

I didn’t fall in love with photography because of brand work, but I know I want to continue working with brands that value craftsmanship, detail, and storytelling just as much as I do.

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Shot on Fuji X-T30 + Fuji XF 18-55

At the time, I was getting more into the Fuji ecosystem, and these photos were taken on my Fuji X-T30 paired with the Fuji XF 18-55 f/2.8-4. I used Fuji’s Classic Chrome film simulation, which gave the images that slightly muted, cinematic tone I love. This combo made it easy to capture the textures and subtle details in the leather, exactly how I saw them in person.