Bellagio 4 Cigar Aficionado

There’s just something about Cigar’s that make me smile, the smell, the smoke, the style, the look, and the feel in your hands. Years ago I remember visiting the cigar bar that was opened up in Boulder CO after a smoking ban was placed on the city, playing pool, puffing cigars, and drinking, they all seemed to go hand and hand in my early days. Fast forward to a couple months ago I got a call from my agent (Aurora Select) asking if I would be interested in an assignment with Cigar Aficionado, I jumped at the chance. The goal was to work with and photograph some of the members that make up the VIP services team of the Bellagio. Shoot day came and it was dumping rain in the valley, I was excited to try make the shoot happen as I was aiming for a look and feel only a cloudy sky could provide, well the rain kept falling and we made a last minute plan to shoot the next day. Day 2, the sky was looking good up until 30 minutes before our subjects were on set, sun, full blasting desert sun, no worries once we shuffled around the lighting and prepared to work with the sun instead of against it. Subjects arrived and 15 minutes later we made the picture that is now the opening spread to the story on the Bellagio. We also spent some time shooting the Director of Wine in the back of the house wine cellar along with a personal butler in the VIP Villas, the assignment was a lot of fun to work on and the marketing staff for the MGM properties were a true joy to work with.