Capturing the beauty of a project as large and sensitive as a casino requires an architectural photographer with an understanding of how to work within crowds, under pressure, and within strain limitations. As an architecture photographer with over eight years of my experience based in Seattle, I had the privilege of working on a recent project for the Tulalip Casino resort, located in Marysville, Washington.
The project entailed capturing two additions, the new Salish Sun restaurant, and a sports booking hall for DraftKings designed by Bremerton-based Rice Fergus Miller. The shoot was a last-second call-up with just weeks to prepare. My team and I had to capture the photos in the middle of the night to ensure the privacy of patrons, working from 12 AM to 6 AM for three consecutive nights. The tight schedule meant that we had to edit and deliver the photos within a week for the resort to use in a press release.
To ensure that everything ran smoothly, we had to keep all players at the same table, understand the complexity of the project, and keep everyone focused under the pressure of time constraints. We worked hard, staying in the casino for four days, with our team meeting at midnight each night to plan and discuss the shoot's logistics. We worked closely with a few casino staff who helped when needed, keeping things casual and fun to maintain the team's morale through the long nights.
Behind the scenes image by Jamie Hysell
The shoot's success can be attributed to the strenuous conditions we had to work under, becoming chums by the second and third night, cracking jokes, and keeping the team happy while making sure to produce excellent work within the given restraints. The slot machines, with their bright colors and sounds, were great foreground pieces that drew viewers' eyes to the subject, while the mixture of vibrant colors in a minimalist approach helped to highlight the project's beauty.
The editing process occurred in two stages. First, I reviewed the images late at night in my resort room throughout the week to select the best shots in advance. Then, over the weekend, I spent time editing the chosen photos in the studio to ensure timely delivery. The final images were the result of our hard work, and some of my favorite shots of 2022 came from that particular photo shoot. Despite the challenges and fatigue we encountered, we managed to deliver the photos on time, making the project a resounding success.
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