Photographing Vivian & Michael in Cuba
August 13th, 2010 | Engagements
It is a trip that we will never forget. Part of working outside of our comfort zone is dealing with the unknown. I’ve never shot in a communist country…well, China with its hybrid communism and free market system, does not count. So everything about Cuba is all new to me. I remember that Cliff Mautner talks about not approaching a shoot with pre-conceived notions. As much as I tried to do that, I couldn’t help but fantasize a little about Havana.
Had the scariest encounter with immigration at Havana. You walked up to the counter. There was a shut door on the end of it that only opened when the immigration officer let you through. So you had no idea what you are walking into. After I got through and picked up my bags, another immigration officer intercepted me and held my passport. After waiting for 30 minutes, his colleague finally found the time to interview me further. He relayed everything I said to him via a radio headset to his invisible superior. This went on for 15 minutes, which felt like eternity.
Havana didn’t roll out the red carpet to the tourist dollars from the free world. Our ordeal didn’t end here. Got to our hotel only to be told they had to transfer us to lower a grade hotel because of an electrical problem. The substitute hotel was located in a seedy looking area of Havana. We slept with our doors barricaded that night.
Things got better after we met up with Michael and Vivian the next day. Their travel and hotel arrangement worked out fine. Most importantly they were so in love and excited about the shoot. Michael is a real gentleman who always puts Vivian first. We roamed around Cuba with a 20-person bus which doubled as our production trailer, changing room, and equipment depot. We had great fun shooting in the streets of Havana, taking over the train junk yard, hanging round old American cars, and visiting the tobacco plantations of Pinar Del Rio. While we recceed a bit, much of the shoot was impromptu. Hats off the Michael and Vivian for being such great clients and troopers. We always get the best clients…ain’t that great?
Apart from cigars and baseball, Cubans love Chinese. “You Chino? (Are you Chinese?)” “Se Chino,” we replied. It’s one of the few places in the world where people of squinty eyes are given preferential treatment. Michael, Vivian, Lee Kuen, Jasmine & I didn’t mind that. Thank you China, for being nice to Cuba.
p/s Michael: thank you for educating me about cigars. You are so stylish that I had to make sure I didn’t over shoot you and neglect Vivian!
August 13th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Just awesome. Love the train yard and horse cart shots.
August 13th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
nice one! what an exotic location for photography session
August 13th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
awesome set!!! cuba must be interesting
August 13th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Love the photo which the guy is beside the train. Superb feeling!
August 13th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Lovely lovely shots
But my fav would be the jumping shot at the beach with the golden light 
August 13th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
The immigration sure had put you through some trouble. From all the great pictures taken, I guess it’s all worth it. plenty of great locations to shoot.
August 13th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Nice one Louis. I’m speechless when looking at these photos.
August 13th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
oh man! Cuba! coolness!
August 13th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
love love love it! is very different from what i saw from you computer last time!
you turned michael like a super male model here.
besides the scare at the beginning, it’s all worth the ‘risk’ to shoot there.
thumbs up for you!
August 13th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
I agree that Michael is one stylish gent! I love a lot of what he is wearing in these photos. My fave photos are the ones in the train yard (almost steampunk) and the one of Michael and Vivian in the door of the tobacco shack.
August 13th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Wow! Amazing location for a shoot! Cuba is such a hidden treasure amongst travelers. Not easy to get there. Good photos but I felt that the true essence of Cuba was not captured in these photo posted up. The only give away that these shots were taken in Cuba was the title and the one particular shot with the vintage car. May be there are better photos from this session? Keep them coming. Would love to see more of them.
August 13th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
excellent works .. fantastic location … great couple .. more pics can? can?
August 13th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
really really nice !!!
August 13th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Beautiful couple and an awesome location. All the photos rock Louis, but my fav has to be the one with the couple by the beach next to the crashing waves!
August 13th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Awesome. Great shots. I love it.
August 13th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Wow, these images are just stunning. Its like you were shooting two models!
August 13th, 2010 at 9:02 pm
Louis – once again, you have out done yourself!! What an amazing shoot in one of the last vestiges of culture, romance and raw character… I am so intrigued!! Cuba…amazing. The couple… amazing… You – always a hero.
August 13th, 2010 at 9:29 pm
Louis! You did an excellent job on this! I love the images with the bride going up the steps! I also love the image with the groom standing next to the old train! Love the lighting on that one…did you use the EzyBox for fill? Thanks! Keep inspiring me…
August 14th, 2010 at 1:43 am
I’m speachless
August 14th, 2010 at 6:43 am
Wow!!! This is a great of a pictures Louis, Cuba is a dream country and you can’t go wrong with this country, I mean the location is superb for almost anything, you are so lucky to be able to set your foot in Cuba and thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures here.
August 14th, 2010 at 9:34 am
Wow! Louis, this is awesome.. my personal favorite is the warm door shot, on the tobacco hut. Love it!
August 14th, 2010 at 10:33 am
Louis..Simply Stunning. Cuba is one of my wish list travel destination & you capture it in the most beautiful setting possible.
August 14th, 2010 at 11:42 am
Shots from tobacco hut & its plantation area are just simple stunning…..love it max
August 14th, 2010 at 11:57 am
Awesome work as always!
August 14th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Lovely photo..
August 14th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Awesome shoot, I love it!!!
August 15th, 2010 at 12:37 am
Awesome couple, venue and of course YOU!
August 15th, 2010 at 12:43 am
John: I think I used a triflash with three flashes. Softbox with single flash wouldn’t be powerful enough for a fill at 2pm.
August 15th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Excellent set !
August 16th, 2010 at 12:44 am
This is an inspiring series! Cuba, an out of the box location for a pre-wedding shoot! Congrats on a job well done!
August 17th, 2010 at 7:51 am
Love all your shots! It always inspiring me.. Thanks!
August 17th, 2010 at 9:28 am
wow something out of the box pre-wedding! cool! see you in Sept!
August 19th, 2010 at 1:02 am
These photo’s look amazing i am getting married in April 2011 in Varadero and my wife to be and i have still to sort out a photographer for the occasion. Can you please help with this? any suggestions? best place to contact me regarding this is my blog i have started about the occasion. Ta
August 19th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
VERY VERY NICE!!!
August 19th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
amazing shots,.. makes Cuba so classic with modern yet stylish people…
August 23rd, 2010 at 4:04 am
Excellent series! and the couple has impeccable, great sense of style too especially the groom!
August 24th, 2010 at 11:24 am
Another masterpiece..love the you you make them pose like a pro
August 31st, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Simply Stunning……. great job Louis.
October 7th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
All i could say the pictures are stunning!!!!!!! thanks for doing a great job for my lovely clientsas always!!