On 28 September, I worked behind the scenes as a photographer for emerging artist Nactox and his crew during the filming of the music video for his latest rap single, Avenir. Having always wanted the opportunity to contribute to one of Jacques’ productions, I was excited to document the creative process and capture promotional behind-the-scenes content for the team.
The shoot took place at a park in La Perouse, which proved challenging to locate. Shortly after I arrived, heavy rain began to fall, creating difficult shooting conditions throughout the day. Despite the weather, I photographed the group in a variety of settings — around the car, inside the vehicle, and throughout the surrounding landscape — to capture the energy and atmosphere of the production.
This project was particularly valuable for me as it was only my second time photographing a large group using a professional Canon camera, and my first time using that specific model. Since my own camera battery was flat, I needed to quickly adapt to unfamiliar equipment while managing focus and camera settings in unpredictable conditions. As the rain intensified, water on the lens occasionally caused images to appear soft or blurred, presenting an additional technical challenge.
Throughout the shoot, Jacques provided direction regarding the style and composition he wanted from the photographs, which helped me better understand the importance of communication and collaboration during a professional production. Working with a large group also taught me the challenges of coordinating multiple people while maintaining focus and efficiency on set.
Overall, this was an enjoyable and rewarding experience that allowed me to strengthen both my technical photography skills and my ability to work within a fast-paced creative environment. I captured a range of strong behind-the-scenes images that will be used to promote the upcoming Avenir music video.
