Malaga to Dubai to Miami

This wasn't two trips. This was one long run — Malaga to Dubai, then a 16-and-a-half-hour flight straight to Miami. Two clients, two cities, one suitcase with a portable studio in it. That's the life right now, and honestly, I wouldn't change it.

Collectors Gallery

Dubai was all about Collectors Gallery. This was my first shoot with them — I'd met them at Dubai Watch Week a couple of months earlier, showed them what I could do, and now here I was, running their Instagram and building their visual identity. Three months in, and we're already seeing real results.

Rolex Day-Date in white gold with blue diamond dial — Collectors Gallery Dubai

Rolex Day-Date with lapis lazuli dial in white gold on wrist

Patek Philippe Nautilus full pavé gold with rubies on wrist — striped blue and white shirt sleeve

Same Patek Philippe Nautilus held in hand — full diamond and gold bracelet detail

Inventory laid out, lights up, into the work.

Friday

Round Two

I was genuinely impressed by their inventory. I've seen a lot of watches through the years, but what they have — you'll see it in the photos. Serious pieces. I brought my portable studio, set up in their space, and just went to work. That's basically what I do: I fly in, I set up, I shoot, and I try to build something that helps them take the next step on social media.

Empty restaurant table by floor-to-ceiling windows in Dubai — soft afternoon light, skyline outside

Black string lights with round bulbs strung across a clear Dubai sky at dusk

MacBook on a hotel desk in Dubai — image-editing software open with a gold watch on screen, curtains drawn

Vintage gold rectangular dress watch on wrist with a linen sleeve — champagne dial, Roman numerals

Four silver and steel watches arranged in an orange-lined display case on travertine — Collectors Gallery presentation

Back at it Saturday. More pieces through the table.

Saturday morning

Saturday Afternoon

Round three in the afternoon. More pieces through the lens before the day wraps.

Rolex Day-Date in yellow gold with pavé diamond dial and rainbow gemstone bezel on wrist, blue striped suit sleeve

Same rainbow-bezel Day-Date from another angle — gold case, pavé dial, light grey suit sleeve

Portable photo studio set up on a wooden table — softbox lights, camera, a watch staged on white paper

Last wrist shots at CG, studio packing up before the next session.

Saturday afternoon

Atlantis & Milos

In the evening Ramon — one of the owners — took me to Milos at Atlantis The Royal on the Palm. Michelin Guide selected, seafood, incredible setting. Worth every minute. I always enjoy being in Dubai — it's got a top-level energy to everything.

Sand-coloured Mercedes G-Wagon parked at Atlantis the Palm — Dubai plate, geometric mashrabiya wall behind

Inside Atlantis the Royal at night — ornate chandelier above a long reflecting pool

Atlantis the Royal exterior at night — neon-lit terrace, reflective pool, Dubai sky behind

G-Wagon pulled up at Atlantis. Inside for Greek seafood with Ramon.

Saturday evening

Into Miami

Sixteen and a half hours later, Miami. Warm air, slow pace.

Miami Beach lifeguard tower 69 — turquoise and green against blue sky

Cigar in hand on a sunny Miami sidewalk — white sneakers and striped linen

Rolex GMT-Master II Rootbeer two-tone on wrist with denim

Sixteen hours later, Miami. Warm air, slow pace.

Monday

At Menta

I also stopped by Menta Watches — Adam and Jordan's "Man Cave" in Miami Beach. I'd met them at Dubai Watch Week and we clicked immediately. The team has serious taste, and the watches they had — an AP Royal Oak with a white Mother of Pearl dial that I genuinely couldn't stop looking at, plus a Patek that's going to turn heads when it comes out. Good to see how another content team operates — we learn from each other.

Silver rectangular Reverso-style dress watch on wrist with grey leather strap, blue suit sleeve

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak in yellow gold with diamond bezel and Mother of Pearl dial on wrist

Same AP Royal Oak Mother of Pearl from another angle — gold case, diamonds, soft daylight

Adam and Jordan's man cave. The white Mother of Pearl I couldn't stop looking at.

Monday night

Watch Trading Co

Miami was the second half. I work with Watch Trading Co on all their content — social media, shoots, everything. Always good to be back with the team.

Rolex GMT-Master held in hand above a tray of watches — workshop blue accents in the background

Rolex Daytona with white dial and steel bracelet on wrist over light grey trousers

Back with the WTC team. Inventory on the table, first day on the content.

Tuesday

The Cullinan

The owner had just picked up a new Rolls Royce Cullinan with custom Watch Trading Co interior. Had to shoot that too, obviously.

Inside a Rolls-Royce Cullinan with custom canary yellow leather interior — view of steering wheel, twin digital dashboard, and Rolex Daytona on the driver's wrist — video

Laptop on a Watch Trading Co workspace — editing software open with watch photo on screen

Rolex Datejust with white dial and Jubilee bracelet on wrist — grey jacket, outdoor light

Four Rolex GMT-Master II watches held in a hand — Pepsi, Sprite, Batman, two-tone Root Beer bezels

Cullinan with canary interior. Editing into the night, the GMT lineup waiting.

Wednesday

Miami Close

But honestly? Nothing on this trip beat a sunrise on Miami Beach. That one just hits different. I love the Latin energy of this city — the Mexican food from all the South American guys working there, the live music restaurants, the whole vibe. Not a single taxi driver speaks English, it's all Spanish, and there's something about that which just makes you smile. That's the Miami pull.