Tourism and Hospitality Campaign | The Palm Beaches
Our first shot of the ‘Between the Sessions’ series featuring a group of diners enjoying surf and turf at Meat Market in Boca Raton, FL.
Late last year, The Zimmerman Agency brought my team and I onboard to photograph the 'Between the Sessions Collection'— a tourism campaign featuring hospitality and lifestyle photography for The Palm Beaches— the official tourism marketing organization for Palm Beach County. On this multi-day photoshoot, we set out to showcase Palm Beach County as the ultimate blend of business and leisure—where iconic resorts, stunning outdoor spaces, world-class dining, shopping, and unforgettable experiences create the perfect setting for meetings and events. From brainstorming over a surf-and-turf dinner at Meat Market in Boca Raton to networking at a poolside pink retreat at Amrit Oceanside Resort in Riviera Beach, we captured the magic of work-meets-play in paradise.
Because this would be a large production with numerous locations, talent, and crew, I knew I’d need to partner up with a great producer. Enter Andrew Souders of Wonderful Machine. Andrew was tasked with keeping us organized, on budget, and on schedule as we moved from location to location at a breakneck speed and he did a excellent job.
Since we had a tight schedule and many of the locations were outdoors, I scouted all of the places before the shoot to determine the best angles and to ensure optimal time-of-day scheduling for each location. After I had scouted each of the seven locations with my lighting assistant (and professional stand-in), Dragi, Andrew and I carefully outlined a plan for the three-day shoot.
In addition to having a great producer on board, we needed standout talent to bring this shoot to life. Each of the three shoot days called for five principal cast members, along with five background extras to help fill out the scenes. Danielle Atwood of Talent Florida collaborated closely with the Zimmerman Agency and the client to cast the ideal mix of people for each day—each bringing the right energy, presence, and look to match the vision.
Beyond casting, Danielle partnered with her daughter, Jacqueline Atwood-White, to lead wardrobe and prop styling. Together, they curated a visual style that elevated the entire shoot—effortlessly blending timeless resort wear with fresh, modern touches that perfectly captured the spirit of the Palm Beaches. Their seamless on-set collaboration and meticulous attention to detail—from statement accessories to color palettes that complemented each location—brought a polished, cohesive feel to every frame.
Group outing at the National Polo Center, where guests are able to chat with and interact with polo team players
Day 1 took us to some incredible locations, including the stylish Meat Market in Boca Raton and the iconic National Polo Center in Wellington. One of the highlights of the day was photographing a Team USA polo player alongside his stunning polo pony—a true embodiment of the Palm Beach lifestyle. Since the setting called for a mix of flash and ambient light, we took time to carefully acclimate the horse to the flashes and the presence of multiple people interacting with him. With a calm, patient approach, we were able to capture beautiful, dynamic moments without compromising the comfort of the animal or the authenticity of the scene.
Behind the scenes of the crew beginning to set up for our shot on the field at the National Polo Center (left) and Lindsey and Sonya chatting with our star Team USA player and his polo pony (right).
We wrapped up the day with a scenic catamaran cruise from downtown West Palm Beach—though this setup proved to be the most challenging. One of our key objectives was to capture the catamaran with the West Palm Beach skyline in the background. To achieve this, I planned to shoot from one catamaran while the talent was on another. However, strong winds and a powerful current made it nearly impossible to keep both boats aligned in the perfect spot for more than a few seconds at a time. Despite the challenge, we managed to get the shot before pivoting to a more adaptable setup using just one catamaran.
A catamaran ride with a view of the iconic West Palm Beach skyline
Behind the Scenes as the crew stands on one catamaran to get the perfect shot of the other with the beautiful West Palm Beach skyline in the background.
Setting sail from downtown West Palm Beach, with a gorgeous view of the Flagler Museum on Palm Beach Island.
Day 2….
A circuit car dropping off convention attendees at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.
Day 2 began at the Palm Beach Convention Center in downtown West Palm Beach, where we captured a mix of indoor and outdoor scenes. The venue’s grand architecture—with its dramatic columns, soaring windows, and a cantilevered mezzanine that extends over the lower level—offered a dynamic and visually rich environment. The massive windows flooded the space with sweeping natural light, creating beautiful contrast and dimension that elevated the shot. Just outside, we incorporated a Circuit car—an eco-friendly and fun way to get around—which added a playful, local flair to the scene and complemented the energy of downtown.
Meeting attendees network and enjoy drinking and appetizers during a break.
Ladies chatting and enjoying cocktails poolside at a pink retreat.
Later in the day, we transitioned to Amrit Ocean Resort in Riviera Beach for a series of poolside and oceanfront setups. While the focus here shifted to the natural beauty of the coastline, the resort’s clean architectural lines and tranquil ambiance helped frame the talent in a relaxed, sun-soaked setting. We began with a golden hour shoot featuring a chic, poolside pink retreat for the ladies—playful, vibrant, and glowing in the warm early evening light. As the sun dipped lower and dusk settled in, we moved to the beach for a silent disco setup. To amplify the fun, party vibe, lighting assistants, Dragi and Juandito used multiple flash units with color gels, layering vibrant pops of light into the scene and giving it a dynamic, after-hours energy that matched the music and movement.
Silent disco on the beach.
Day 3 kicked off at the picturesque White Trail Club in Jupiter, Florida. This location gave us the opportunity to incorporate more animal talent into the shoot—including two baby goats and a miniature pony, all of whom stole the show in their own way. Luckily, they were surprisingly cooperative (with a little patience and a few treats), and we were able to capture some playful, lighthearted images that brought a charming, unexpected twist to the day’s visuals.
The group interacting with baby goats and a miniature pony at the White Trail Club in Jupiter, FL.
And lastly, we wrapped the three-day shoot with a final dusk setup—this time at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in downtown West Palm Beach. As the city lights began to glow and the sky deepened into twilight, the sleek architecture and cultural significance of the venue provided a dramatic and fitting backdrop to close out the production. For this setup, we again used gelled lights to mimic the warm tones of the streetlights and to enhance the dramatic uplighting on the surrounding palm trees, adding depth, color, and atmosphere to the final images. It was the perfect way to end the shoot—elevated, vibrant, and full of energy.
Final shot at the Kravis Center in downtown West Palm Beach, FL
A huge thank you to The Zimmerman Agency for bringing me on board and to the amazing team who helped bring this vision to life!
Client: The Palm Beaches
Photographer: Sonya Revell
Producer: Andrew Souders of Wonderful Machine
Video: The Zimmerman Agency
Digi Tech: Lock Denis
Light Assistant: Dragi Stankovic
Lighting Assistant: Juandito Hernandez
Wardrobe + Prop Styling Team: Atwood Styling
Hair and Makeup Team: Talent Florida
Talent: Talent Florida
Retouching: David Nadeau at Rhymes with Pixel