I had been granted a day and one night at the resort so I could produce some imagery for an article I had previously written on the resort designer, Mohamed Shafeeq. Working to such a tight time frame meant I had to have a very clear shoot list. After an initial scout of the entire resort, I sat down and worked out a game plan with the help of my resort contact. Arranging resort staff to model for various shots helps enormously in producing more dynamic and salable imagery.

While having a game plan and a schedule is important, I always look for anything photographic that may pass my way. Given the time and effort to get out to a place like Huvafen, it is important as a photographer to maximize my shooting time while on-location.

Below I have provided a sample of images from my 36-hours at Huvafen Fushi. If all goes to plan, some of these images should be appearing in a magazine article later in the year (I’ll keep you posted).

License any image by clicking on it.

See the full Huvafen Fushi Resort gallery at my stock library.

Embed and share on your own site, by clicking on the triangle in the bottom right hand corner.

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For now, two photos from the recently opened Shangri-La Resort, Maldives.

Shangri-La Presidential Suite, Maldives.

The old and the new. Resort staff motoring past a dhoni.

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I first visited Soneva Fushi on assignment for Serendib Magazine in 2007. It was during that first trip that I met many of the wonderful staff at Soneva Fushi and learnt first hand how the resort was changing the  way it runs things, all in the name of the environment.

This trip was for a commission with Bangkok Airways magazine. As the article hasn’t been written, or even published yet, I can’t talk about the subject matter. Instead, I thought it would be a good idea to provide a run down of my two days on the island, just to give readers an idea of how busy some of my resort visits are.

Day 1:

11.15 am: I meet good friend Ahmed Zahid at the Airport Jetty, for the 10-minute trip to the International airport. A photographer in his own right, Zahid offered to assist for me with the portrait shoots.

11.45 am: Picked up at the International airport and driven to the sea plane terminal, a 7-minute shuttle.

11.52 am: Escorted to the VIP lounge; complete paperwork; quick drink; then escorted to Twin Otter sea plane.

12.18 pm: Sea plane departs for Soneva Fushi, with a 10-minute stop at Soneva Gili Resort to pick up some passengers.

1.16 pm: Arrive at floating dock in a lagoon adjacent to Soneva Fushi. The water is an incredible turquoise blue. Just stunning!

1.21 pm: Transfer to a dhoni (traditional Maldivian boat) for the trip to the resort.

1.32 pm: Arrive at Soneva Fushi. Straight to lunch.

2.15 pm: Shown to villa. Settle in; repack equipment, then off to first interview and shoot.

2.30 pm: Interview, then portraits.

3.30 pm: Back to villa.

3.45 pm: Back to the main dock for boat trip with staff to the nearby sand bar for afternoon/evening cocktails.

4.05 pm: Arrive at one of the most spectacular sand bars I have seen in the Maldives. Photograph staff setting up.

5.15 pm: First guests begin to arrive from resort by speed boat.

7.30 pm: Leave the sand bar, returning to the resort.

7.45 pm: Sit down for dinner with the GM and other guests. The food at Soneva Fushi is superb!

9.00 pm: Finish dinner, then back to villa. Download the days photos; do a rough edit; check schedule for the morning. To bed at midnight.

Phew. A busy day. Great to be back out on the islands with Zahid again and to reconnect with some of the people I had previously spoken to at Soneva Fushi. Day 2 tomorrow.

A few favourite photos from the day.

Beautiful abstract reef patterns near Soneva Gili Resort Maldives.

Sea plane transfer with Soneva Fushi Resort, Maldives.

Approaching a sand bar, Maldives.

Soneva Fushi Resort staff setting up on a sand bar, Maldives.

Guests enjoying evening cocktails on a sand bar, Maldives.

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A couple of favourites from my short time there.

The infinity pool at Huvafen Fushi Resort, Maldives.

Ceiling inside Celsius Restaurant, Huvafen Fushi Resort, Maldives.

Laying out the towels, Huvafen Fushi Resort, Maldives.

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Just add you…

Infinity Pool at Lily Beach Resort, Maldives.

Pool side Lily Beach Resort, Maldives.

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