Projects

PROJECT: M/Y KING BENJI. Photo & Film

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“Wow, now this is very cool”

These were the first words that jumped out when we stepped on board KING BENJI for the shoot back in December 2023.

Shooting in Istanbul in late December is not without its obvious risks, as was the time we had - two days - but with only one evening. So, we had to plan the shoot very carefully. This is why a full recce day was a major part of the shoots success, especially after we saw what we had to shoot :)

The design, inside and out, had our senses in overload because nearly everything was different to all the other yachts we had shot.

When you step onboard you are immediately greeted by the unique mix of bamboo, wooden floors, natural textures, and colourful wall coverings. The styling and details constantly change throughout. This was clearly a yacht where we needed to shoot every space with extra care and attention.

Luckily, we were helped by the huge windows that fill the interiors with plenty of light.

Once you get over the impact of the interior design you quickly come to realise the layout of this yacht is also unique. So, we also needed to think how best to capture and show the flow of the yacht more than most other yachts.

From the exterior your eyes are naturally drawn to the large aft deck but to us one of the best areas is inside. The galley has been brought up from a more traditional lower deck spot and placed smack bang into a guest eating area creating a truly unique and relaxed space. For us landlubbers we finally found a yacht that reflected how we live :). This area really deserved to be shown off well via both photo and video.

Another nice touch is a discreet feature that allows those lucky enough to be staying in the full beam owner’s suite, to exit either side on to their own deck area in complete privacy.

Oh, and if you ever get a chance to be onboard you have to check out the crows nest. Not just a poky space for two but a full relaxing area for you and all your mates to enjoy uninterrupted views while cruising. Yet another great new feature to shoot.

Having spent many days and nights onboard hundreds of yachts, it’s clear Dunya Yachts have nailed the build quality of KING BENJI as every element does justice to the designers creativity and the vision of the owner.

Enjoy the results.

Photos: Full Selection

Film: Full Highlights

Builder: Dunya Yachts

Exterior Designer: Gregory C Marshall Naval Architect Ltd

Interior Designer: Design Unlimited

PROJECT: Superyacht M/Y VICTORIOUS

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SUPERYACHT MY VICTORIOUS. Bodrum, Turkey

A beautiful end to a long 14 year journey.

If yachts could talk the 85m superyacht VICTORIOUS would have a tale to tell.  At times she must have wondered if anyone loved her, having been abandoned, moved, tinkered with, and moved again across three continents over 14 years.

Thankfully the journey was worth it with the finished yacht now a beautiful example of what dedicated and skilled craftsmen and woman can create.  The yacht can now stand proud whether it’s Cannes, Monaco, Bodrum or anywhere the owners want to go.

We were asked by the Turkish shipyard responsible for completing the yacht - AKYACHT - to create a collection of photos and films that were primarily tasked with showing off the lifestyle guests can enjoy.  With the yacht having been created with family life front and centre, it was no surprise that targeting families was uppermost in the client’s mind. But at the same time the results needed to appeal to an adults only crowd.

So, we worked with the client to develop a story that would concentrate on how the superyacht VICTORIOUS experience delivered three key components - adult fun, family fun and showcasing the yacht.  Trying to merge and tell two different stories in one shoot can be tricky because time and budget restrictions can often be a limiting factor. 

We learnt the owner of the yacht also owned the Formula One track in Istanbul along with a vast collection of stunning cars, he also had access to a helicopter - something not easy to come by in Turkey.  So, a plan was hatched to bring the cars and helicopter into the story by having an arrival scene split in to two - adults only by car and helicopter and family by tender.

The friends then all come together on VICTORIOUS to enjoy a mix of kids only, family only and adults only time.  Trying to choreograph a group, including small children, is not an easy task considering the short amount of time we have on shoots.  However, when you start with a yacht that offers so many experiences combined with the knowledge we have gained from 100’s of similar shoots the task is achievable.

To view more VICTORIOUS photos please go here.

All Images and Film are copyright to AKYACHT and Breed Media

• Builder: AKYACHT

• Interior Designer: H2 Yacht Design

• Exterior Designer: Michael Leach Design

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PROJECT: Superyacht MY OPARI

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OPARI.

Coming in at 95 metres, OPARI from Golden Yachts in Greece, eclipsed the yards previous largest build O’PTASIA by 10 metres.  Having also created photo and film content of O’PTASIA, just like the shipyard, we wanted to eclipse our own efforts. 

One thing that went in our favour was the location. Sure we had also shot OPTASIA in Greece but the great thing about Greece is the sheer number of new shooting spots all in close proximity.  Add in a client willing to move the boat and one big challenge was overcome.

Next up was an idea to shake it up a little by bringing in a Greek water ski champion and Red Bull Athlete.  This allowed us to add in a bit more creativity to the scenes including having him surf alongside the imposing steel hull of a 95m superyacht.  This decision also fed in to the strategy of appealing to a younger market.

For the film, we decided to take a risk with the music to not only bring the original creative strategy to life but to push it just that little bit further.  So by combining the music with the footage we were able to break between something fun and edgy and something luxurious and relaxing. 

Whilst films like this are designed to provoke a response and a desire to learn more, the editing style still gave us space to allow the film to breathe in key places so the design and interior spaces can be taken in.

Enjoy..

To view more OPARI photos please go here.

All Images and Film are copyright to Golden Yachts and Breed Media

• Builder: Golden Yachts

• Interior Designer: Studio Vafiadis

• Exterior Designer: Studio Vafiadis

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PROJECT: M/Y LANA

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LANA.

107m of shooting pleasure.

Sometimes everything seems to go just right and you come away from a shoot thinking…’mmm…that went really smooth :)’.  and the results are going to prove it.  LANA was one of those shoots.  Yes there were a few challenges along the way thanks to COVID, including a last minute location change to Malta and chasing down a suitable helicopter, but other than that it all came together as we had hoped.  And it needed to, because even though LANA had only just been delivered, this awesome 107m yacht from Benetti, was booked for charter straight after the shoot. So it was about to sail off into the land of ‘sorry unavailable’.  It was also set to be an important member of the Imperial Yachts charter arsenal so we needed to get it right and we needed to do it now. Enjoy the results and look out for the up coming magazine articles.

To view more LANA photos please go here.

MY LANA is available through Imperial Yachts

All Images and Film are copyright to: Imperial Yachts and Jeff Brown | Breed Media

MY LANA:

• Builder: Benetti 

• Naval Architect: Benetti 

• Exterior Designer: Benetti

• Interior Designer: Benetti

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PROJECT: Ngoni

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CLIENT: Various

BRIEF: The owners brief was ‘Build me a Beast’, a high-performance sailing yacht. This was then skilfully interpreted by the designer, the late Ed Dubois, and the builder Royal Huisman. Sails and uniform were supplied by North Sails. The result is Ngoni not only makes a statement in looks, but also in performance.  We needed to convey both of these attributes in the film and photos produced.

CHALLENGE: Shooting for a number of clients we needed to find a balance with their individual requests and the reality of only being able to shoot the yacht once. Coming in at a length of 58m another of the challenges was to create a sense of scale and performance. So, it was going to be important to include crew on deck while sailing at speed.

CREATIVE STRATEGY:

Photography: We captured the reflective surfaces in the hull, the symmetrical lines and glass of the superstructure to really showcase the ergonomic nature of the yacht.

Film: We needed to create a contrast between a luxurious yacht and a sailing beast. To do this the film begins by approaching the yacht in the calm of early morning and takes the viewer on a relaxed journey through the yacht. We then make a fast-paced transition across the water to the yacht under sail in all her glory. When the yacht is in full frame the crew come in to shot and the viewer gets a sense of her magnificence. A highlight being when a crew member scales the 71m mast to stand on the top creating a real sense that this yacht is not for the faint hearted.

OUTCOME:  550+photos, 1 Yacht film and edits including 2 social films and one for awards. 20+ articles have been published using the photos, including Robb Report, Elite Traveller and Forbes.com.

SPECIAL NOTE: Although the sailing yacht market has retracted in recent years, photos and films of sailing yachts generate a disproportionate amount of interest.  Our work for Ngoni was no exception with the films achieving more than 100,000 views.

 

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PROJECT: Khalilah - Be Legendary

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CLIENT: Camper & Nicholsons International

BRIEF: To create a film showcasing the unique superyacht lifestyle for an owner or a charter guest. To concentrate less on the actual yacht, and emphasise that life aboard is fun and relaxing. A place where guests can chill out in a unique environment. 

CHALLENGE: The biggest challenge was to achieve the brief with only one model. We also wanted to move away from the often static use of a single person onboard.

CREATIVE STRATEGY: To overcome the challenge we focused on two elements. One: the music. We chose a powerful track that is unconventional for this industry. It commands attention. Two: we had the model work with the camera as if she was looking at another guest, and enjoying the company. The viewers feel involved in the film, like they are present with her. This instantly helps engage the audience. 

OUTCOME: Film: A flirty and fun film that appeals to the lifestyle of being aboard a superyacht. For our client this film is a great success with over 100,000 views across four social media channels and the website within the first month. Photos: Over 300 lifestyle photos were produced for the client. These are being used throughout their communication strategy.  

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PROJECT: Yalikavak Marina

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ONE MARINA WITH SO MUCH TO SHOOT

CLIENT: Palmarina, Bodrum Turkey. (Recently changed to Yalikavak Marina)

BRIEF: The objective was to create video and photo content to help communicate the experience superyacht owners can enjoy while staying at the marina. To achieve this, we needed to show a couple experiencing the benefits of the marina’s location, guest amenities, and attractions. The results would be for use across digital, print and social media platforms.

CHALLENGE: This marina has a plethora of amenities. There are 620 berths, a beach hotel, a boutique hotel and eight restaurants and bars. There is also a mall with 102 shops, a museum and gallery, nightclub, morning health clubs a gym and a spa. Not only that, there is a lot to do in the surrounding area. So, the challenge was how to incorporate so many locations and elements into one shoot. It required a huge amount of pre-production planning including model selection, storyline development, and developing a shoot sequence. Palmarina had many guests and staff at each location so we had to ensure that we only had the right people in the shot and did not disturb the guests.

CREATIVE STRATEGY: We worked with the client to develop a story involving a romantic couple. The story was to showcase the marina’s resort lifestyle in an interesting and engaging way. There were so many elements to incorporate and we needed to be mindful of keeping the audience's attention. For this reason, we aimed to only give a taste of each location. The shots needed to convey the experience of Palmarina, be artistic and captivate the audience.

OUTCOME: Film: The film shows three days in Palmarina condensed into four minutes. The film is ideal for web and reception use. We also produced numerous short films for their social strategy.

Photos: The client received over 350 photos of the location and the couple enjoying the services provided.

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