Rain, a haunted set, and two cat actors—photographing the Hocus Pocus cottage for AirBnb was pure Salem magic.
Airbnb/ the Hocus Pocus house
REad More
When Airbnb transformed a historic Salem building into the Sanderson Sisters’ cottage, I had the chance to capture it—complete with flickering candlelight, a bubbling cauldron, and two cat actors who had no interest in hitting their marks.
What was originally planned as a two-day shoot quickly became a race against time. Relentless rain delayed pre-lighting, forcing me to photograph both the interiors and exteriors in a single, marathon day that stretched until 2 a.m. Working alongside the motion team, I relied on their cinematic lighting, supplementing with strobes where needed. The real treat? Having a full grip team at my disposal to fine-tune the lighting exactly how I wanted it. As a self-proclaimed lighting nerd, that was a dream come true.
But the real magic of this project wasn’t just in the set design—it was in the eerie little moments that made it feel like the Sanderson Sisters were still lurking. My camera flickered strangely at times, and we were, after all, shooting near a cemetery. Coincidence? Maybe. But in Salem, you never really know.
Even after the long hours and unexpected challenges, photographing this space felt like stepping straight into the world of Hocus Pocus—a dream job, with just the right amount of spookiness.
I had the opportunity to photograph a pivotal Sunday service at Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, led by Reverend Amos C. Brown—a towering figure in the civil rights movement and mentor to leaders like Kamala Harris. This service marked the launch of the church’s “100 Days of Prayer,” a powerful initiative inspired by Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, to encourage reflection and unity in the lead-up to the election.
Before stepping into the church, I prepared myself to honor the significance of the space. Third Baptist is filled with what I can only describe as “God light”—gentle, radiant beams that pour in from above, creating a sense of grace and connection. I leaned into that light to highlight the emotion in the room, from the congregation’s shared energy to Reverend Brown’s commanding presence.
My goal was to document not only the history and faith embedded in the church but also its vital role as a community hub for justice and action. It was a privilege to capture a moment where the past, present, and future of activism converge in a space that continues to inspire hope and purpose.
Heard on set: ‘Did that light just flicker on its own?’ … We were near a cemetery, so let’s just say we didn’t ask too many questions.
