Dinner on the terrace at Zuma Doha on Al Maha Island.

On this assignment for Zuma I covered every venue on Al Maha Island, from lunch to late night. After sunset the terrace takes over: candles on the tables, the Doha skyline in the background and a table full of dishes made for sharing. With Ouss, Dasha and the models from Trinity Talent Qatar.

How I shoot an assignment like this

I don’t pose the models. Before we start, we talk through the vibe and the setting so everyone understands what we are creating. Then I let them interact with each other the way they naturally would, while I move around the table and capture what happens. The models need to be fairly self-going for this to work. If something needs adjusting, I step in and direct, but most of the time the best pictures come from what they do on their own. That’s how a staged dinner ends up looking like a real evening out.

Guest laughing at dinner on the terrace

Dinner table with the Doha skyline

Toast in front of the skyline

Guests laughing on the terrace

Toast by candlelight

Terrace dinner at Zuma Doha

Sharing dishes at the table

Candlelit terrace

Guest in thobe at dinner

Cheers close-up

Guest dining at night

Restaurants and hotels: the atmosphere is what guests come back for. Want that feeling in your photos? Get in touch.