Lady Day – for Stageworks Theatre

Photographing the promotional images for Stageworks Theatre’s production of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill was a truly rewarding experience. Stageworks provided detailed reference imagery from Billie Holiday’s original shows and iconic album covers, which served as my primary source of inspiration. It was essential to replicate the moody, intimate atmosphere synonymous with Billie’s performances, so I carefully crafted lighting setups to echo the nostalgic warmth of her era.

Working closely with Desiree Montes, who portrays Billie Holiday, elevated the session tremendously. Desiree was phenomenal—she effortlessly embodied Billie’s spirit and captured her nuanced demeanor to perfection. Every gesture, expression, and glance felt authentic, as if Billie herself were in front of my lens.

The shoot was a creative collaboration, merging my vision for dramatic lighting and staging with Desiree’s deep understanding of Billie Holiday’s persona. The resulting images have become the face of Stageworks Theatre’s entire marketing campaign for this captivating production.

It’s gratifying to see these photos resonate beyond Stageworks’ own materials, prominently featured in publications like St. Pete Catalyst, Broadway World Tampa, and Creative Loafing Tampa.

It’s a powerful reminder of how photography can beautifully bridge performance and audience, inviting everyone to step back in time and experience Billie Holiday’s timeless artistry anew.