Alright, so I figured I’d share a bit about how I went about grabbing those Hermès Bellevue photos the other day. It wasn’t some big planned project, more like I was in the area and thought, “why not?” I’ve been meaning to capture that particular spot for a while now, and the light seemed decent enough.
Getting Prepped and Heading Out
Didn’t do a whole lot of prep, to be honest. I just grabbed my usual camera, nothing too fancy, the one I always use for these kinds of walkabout shoots. Checked the battery, made sure the memory card was empty – you know, the basics. I find that overthinking these things just kills the spontaneity. So, I just hopped in the car and drove over to the Bellevue location. Traffic was its usual charming self, but I got there eventually.
When I arrived, I first just took a walk around the block. I always do this. You gotta get a feel for the place, see how the light is hitting different angles, what the foot traffic is like. The Bellevue store has that classic, clean look, and I wanted to capture that without a million people walking in front of the lens. Patience is key, I tell ya.
The Actual Photo Session
I started with some exterior shots. The window displays are usually pretty interesting, and Hermès doesn’t disappoint there. Spent a good ten minutes just on the windows, trying different compositions. Crouching down, stepping back, the usual dance. The reflections were a bit of a pain, but I managed to use them to my advantage in a couple of shots by angling myself just right.
Then, I decided to venture inside. Now, taking photos inside these high-end places can be tricky. You don’t want to be obvious or disruptive. I usually keep my camera pretty low-key. I wasn’t aiming for grand, sweeping shots of the entire interior. Instead, I focused on:
- Details in the craftsmanship of the displays.
- The way light interacted with some of the textures.
- Little vignettes that told a story.
I took a few snaps, very discreetly. The staff were polite, didn’t seem to mind me too much, or maybe they’re just used to it. I find if you’re respectful and not making a big deal, people generally leave you alone. The lighting inside was, of course, perfect for showcasing their goods, but that sometimes means it’s a bit challenging for photography – lots of spotlights and shadows. I had to bump up my ISO a little more than I like, but it was either that or blurry shots.
I didn’t stay too long inside. Got what I thought were a few decent captures of the ambiance and some specific elements that caught my eye. The goal wasn’t to document every single thing, but to get a sense of the place, its elegance, you know? Sometimes less is more.
Wrapping Up
After about an hour, all in all, I felt I had what I needed. Packed up my camera and headed off. Later that evening, I downloaded the photos. A few duds, as always, but a good handful that I was pretty happy with. They captured that Bellevue vibe I was looking for. It’s always a learning experience, every time I go out to shoot. You pick up little things, figure out what works and what doesn’t. And that’s pretty much how I got those Hermès Bellevue photos. Just a regular afternoon, a bit of patience, and an eye for detail.
