Behind the Scenes: Shooting for the Short Film Hint

Working on behind-the-scenes for the short film Hint was one of the most unique creative experiences I’ve had recently. I was brought on as the main BTS shooter, which meant my entire job was to disappear into the background and document everything unfolding around me. The production took place inside a massive mansion just outside of Chicago — a gated community with full security. Every time we entered or left, we had to sign in as part of the film crew. It sounds small, but honestly, having my name on that list felt surreal, almost like the feeling I get when photographing bigger concerts. It set the tone for how professional and exciting the next few days would be.
The set had an interesting rhythm. With the cast, things were laid-back and casual — hanging out, talking, and getting comfortable before each scene. But with the crew, it was all business. High energy. Constant movement. Lights being adjusted, gear being swapped, actors getting into character. My approach was simple: stay quiet, stay out of the way, and capture honest, unscripted moments. That “fly on the wall” mindset is one of the things I love most about creative photography, especially when I’m documenting real processes rather than staged shots.
I shot everything on my Sony A7III, sticking mostly to landscape framing to mimic cinematic movie stills. When it came time to edit, I leaned heavily into cinematic photo editing. For color images, I pushed warm shadows, softened highlights, and created a film-style look. For black and white shots, I tried to replicate the feeling of old Hollywood BTS photos — heavy grain, deep contrast, and subtle texture. It gave the images a timeless feel, which worked perfectly with the atmosphere of the mansion.
Even though I was only on set for three days because of my full-time job, the entire experience was memorable. Being surrounded by creatives, watching scenes come to life, and capturing those quiet in-between moments reminded me why I love photography so much. There’s something special about stepping into someone else’s world and freezing pieces of it.
Want to see more behind-the-scenes work? Check out the gallery on my site.

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