Given just one day to capture six set-ups adjusted to both vertical and horizontal formats, the shoot gave Nader the chance to practice his skill at running through airports. “It’s one of the busiest airports in the world and we had a lot to cover,” he says, “This was all during operating hours. We spent a lot of time waiting for people to walk by, then quickly making decisions, getting the shots and moving on.”
They also had to earn their way inside. Granted far more access than a normal shoot, the team still spent an hour and a half in security, putting a day’s worth of equipment through the rigors of painstaking gear checks. Nader and his crew performed two thorough location scouts prior to shoot day to make sure they’d be ultra-efficient when they finally made it into the terminals.
The shots are currently in place in displays throughout the airport, as well as on SFO’s website. When asked how he pulled it off, Nader cites “preparation, patience, quick decision making and a little bit of serendipity.”