Behind the Scenes: A Full-Scale Production at Hilton Casa Marina, Key West
Video + Photography Direction | Production | Post Oversight
Producing high-end hospitality content takes more than just showing up with a camera — it’s about understanding the brand, building the right team, and solving problems in real time. That’s exactly what we brought to Hilton’s Casa Marina in Key West.
Their goal was clear: expand brand presence in the Key West market by capturing the full guest experience across video and stills. We delivered — but not without a few serious challenges along the way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8w-He89ckM
Full Week. Full Crew. Full Experience.
We spent a full week on property. And it rained almost every day.
With cloud cover rolling in each morning, the golden hour shots we had planned were hard to come by. Fortunately, our crew came off recent commercial work for Telemundo and brought that same top-tier energy. No hesitation. No “we can’t do it.” Just professional, efficient, smooth execution.
We built in a weather contingency day, and that decision paid off. That one clear-sky morning gave us the hero drone shots and sunny b-roll that tied the story together visually.
What We Delivered
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Two cinematic long-format videos (2-minute and 60-second)
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Two social media cuts tailored for vertical/mobile use
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Dozens of still images covering both architectural and lifestyle content
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A full brand story told through vibrant, clean visuals with a linear narrative flow
Cameras, Constraints, and Creative Choices
We had planned to shoot everything on the Sony FX9 stabalized with the Tita Armorman support system, but when the weather pushed us off schedule, we pivoted — picking up essential gimbal shots with the Canon R5. For aerial work, the Mavic 2 Pro Cine was indispensable, especially for establishing shots and filler content. We even broke out a GoPro for key water moments.
A full dual-cinema setup wasn’t in the budget, so we had to get creative. That’s the thing with productions like this: you do what it takes to get the shot, even if that means shifting camera systems mid-production. Our lighting truck helped balance the inconsistent skies and gave us control when nature didn’t.
Post-Production & Final Polish
We partnered with a trusted post-production team in LA to bring it all together. I stayed directly involved throughout the edit, offering creative direction and feedback on grading and pacing. For Casa Marina, we kept it cinematic and natural.
Not a Budget Production — A Business Driver
Let’s be clear: this type of production isn’t cheap. It’s a full team, multiple cameras, lighting support, aerial coverage, and hands-on post. But the result is an elevated visual experience that aligns with your brand and drives bookings.
I direct, produce, and photograph every project, bringing consistency across both stills and video. Whether you need full-length brand films or fast-hitting social content, the deliverables are built to perform.
