Election Stress 2024

Men’s Health Magazine came to me with a conceptual shoot on managing anxiety for the Presidential election, featuring two new correspondents from The Daily Show. They wanted over a dozen scenarios with humor, dynamism, and variety.

Given the high stakes and need for many images, I simplified the process. We secured two shooting spaces to prep one set while shooting on the other. We used white seamless backgrounds and a consistent lighting approach.

I usually make every set up distinct and align the lighting to the aesthetic of a specific shot, but I knew we had to do a trade off here. We focused on framing, talent performances, and staying inventive. 

Troy Iwata and Josh Johnson came in eager, open, and ready for action, we certainly couldn’t have achieved the quality and quantity without them. They are ready to have fun, be daring, and even remove their shirts for a few shots.

Top Image: Troy and Josh chillin’ in a patriotic wading pool.

Second Image: My favorite picture from the session.

Bottom Image: Our shoot day included a mix of relaxed and stress-filled scenarios.