Each spring members from Rowland Publishing and the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa gather together to plan out the newest issue of Hilton Sandestin’s Addy award-winning Footprints in-room magazine. After the editorial content and shot list are locked, a two-day shooting trip is planned for late summer, to capture all the art needed for the publication.

The shooting team consists of Hilton Sandestin’s Director of Marketing, Nancy Stanley, Rowland Publishing’s staff photographer, Scott Holstein and as the lead designer of Footprints, I’m there to art direct the set-ups to ensure, along with Nancy, that we get exactly what we need for our publication.

We just wrapped our 2010 shooting trip last week. We had a packed two-days capturing everything from bamboo and hot stone therapy treatments, to a family’s sandy feet overlooking the ocean to flaming table-side service. And when you’re shooting in one of the region’s most beautiful locations it’s almost impossible to consider it work. The blue skies and emerald green water are constant distractions.

All the set-ups went great and Scott captured some truly amazing shots. We can’t wait to pull the wraps off our newest issue but March 2011 seems so far away but as always, it’ll be here before we know it. Thanks to Nancy, Val and everyone else at the Hilton Sandestin for another awesome shoot and we can’t wait for next year’s.