Stefano Delìa, one of The White Lotus set photographers, shares his views about the importance teamwork and having a good production team.

No matter what creative project you do, there is always an element of production that takes place.

At Herd Represented we have a team to take care of the production so that the creatives can be at their best for our clients.  That could be a simple one person project,  or a huge  international campaign across countless countries with a crew of many. We are an adaptable production company that makes it happen and gets it done.

Stefano Delìa is just as happy creating a simple project or part of the team behind the production company for The White Lotus.  As a new member of our team,  he has taken some time out of his busy schedule to talk to us about why having a producer and a team is important to him;

Is it better to work alone of part of a team?
Having a team in creative work is essential for me. During a shoot, there are so many aspects to keep under control, and doing it alone inevitably means sacrificing something: most of the time, it’s the creative act itself and how far you can push yourself artistically, because in the meantime you have to make sure all the technical parts and details are right.

Does having a dedicated producer help you focus more on your creative process and less on the administration or running a creative business?
Production is a fundamental aspect in cinema (the producer is often the first name in the opening credits!), and it always surprises me that people don’t think the same applies to a photoshoot. If a shoot is well produced, it means it’s well organized, which leads to a more relaxed and efficient work environment, higher quality results, and ultimately, that’s exactly what the client wants.

What was your favourite memory of working on set with the White Lotus production company?
Working on the set of White Lotus is always exciting. It’s like moving into a small city on the move, a busy anthill where everyone has a specific role, which is understood and respected by the others. The fact that we also go to stunning locations is a huge bonus!

What “value” do you think you bring to a client/brand in crafting your images?
I always say photography is a work of translation. “Photography” comes from the Greek and literally means “writing with light.” This implies two things: knowing how to use a language and, more importantly, having something to say. What I love to do is try to find something meaningful to say about the client’s reality and translate it into a visual language that aligns with the brand’s values.

How do you encourage your clients to go beyond the original brief?
Over the years, I’ve realized that everyone has a skill they truly excel at. It’s quite rare for someone who’s not directly involved in visual production to have that imaginative ability to pre-visualize a final result. Often, those requesting a photography service focus on how they want a photo to look aesthetically, rather than what values it should express. If the aesthetic aspect is left to the person creating the image, you often end up going much “further,” producing things that had never been imagined before. Artistic creation is a form of exploration — you have to venture into unfamiliar territory to discover something new and exciting.

Where do you find your inspiration to think outside the box?
To be creative, it’s essential to feed the mind with as many inputs as possible: books, exhibitions, concerts, shows, cinema, travel — anything with cultural value. Beyond that, I find it inspiring to engage with very different fields of work. Creativity is the result of conceptual connections, so the more things you know, the more you develop the ability to connect them.

Do clients that come to you give you the freedom to be yourself in creating their campaigns?
Yes, it does happen. And when it does, it’s always a beautiful experience — for me and for the client. We work together toward a final product, we exchange ideas and build a concept with a guiding vision, even if we don’t know exactly where it will lead us. There’s freedom and pleasure in discovering what comes out of it. And the client, in the right measure, becomes an integral part of the creative process because they provide the input I need to develop an image.