Six Defenders, Giulio Sturla and a Magazine Cover
- Kathy Ousey
- Jun 29
- 2 min read
Every now and then, a job lands in our inbox that makes us think, "Yep. We're definitely saying yes to that".
This was one of those jobs.
In March this year, we were invited to shoot a unique Archibalds Land Rover customer experience on Banks Peninsula. A few weeks later, the event appeared across several pages of 03 Magazine, with one of our images selected for the cover!!
But the magazine cover isn't the real story.
The real story is how Archibalds brought the Land Rover Defender brand to life through an unforgettable customer experience.
The Adventure Begins
Guests set off from Christchurch with a convoy of six new Defenders, celebrated Lyttelton chef Giulio Sturla, and the promise of a day exploring Banks Peninsula.
What they weren't promised, was sunshine. Banks Peninsula greeted us the way it often does; by disappearing completely into mist.
Luckily, Giulio is every bit fabulous a storyteller as he is a chef! While the views were hiding, guests found themselves learning about wild potatoes, edible plants, berries and mushrooms growing in places they'd probably driven past dozens of times before.
This is why we love shooting events. Curiosity looks good on camera :)
Bringing the Defender Brand to Life
As the convoy wound deeper into Banks Peninsula, the day just kept getting better.
The Defenders weren't there to look pretty in photos (although they did a decent job of that too). They were there for winding roads, gravel tracks, steep descents and the sort of hidden corners of Canterbury that make you wonder why you don't get out there more often.
In other words, exactly what the Defender is built for.
Why Great Experiences Create Great Photography
We've shot hundreds of events across the motu and we see the same pattern again and again....
The best photography rarely comes from staging moments, but instead from creating experiences worth remembering in the first place.
By this point, nobody was thinking about cameras. They were too busy exploring, eating and having a great time. The magic was there, our job was to capture it.
From Banks Peninsula to the Cover of 03 Magazine
A few weeks later, we were stoked to see the event featured across several pages of 03 Magazine! Even more exciting? One of our images was selected for the cover!
Not because it's about us (mostly), but because it's a reminder of what can happen when a great brand, a memorable customer experience and great photography come together.
The best images don't just show what happened; they capture what a brand feels like. And long after the event is over, they continue telling that story.
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