A few years two back, we photographed a huge group of Whole Foods Market employees in their Cupertino branch at Stevens Creek Blvd. Boy, it was a challenge especially the shot was backlighted and we had to raise to 5 stories high to take that shot for over 350 employees! The good part is that since the store was not opened to the public yet, we can photograph outside the store without having to disrupt the flow of business.

However, this year is different. Whole Foods Market raised the stakes on me on multiple fronts! Switching out hundreds of employees during business hours require significant coordination and they can only do it in the late evening.

Not only do we have to content with horrible light, we had to work in the the loading dock. This time, a rickety ladder became my only source of support that I hold on to my dear life. Beneath me, a large garbage container filled with organic fish, meat, vegetable and eggs, ready to sniff my non-organic diet. Yes, it probably wouldn’t surprise you that I have only 15 minutes. You really don’t want to photograph a large group in more than 5 minutes anyway as people do get restless. And you’d think a photographer’s work is glamourous.

Now, did you think we are done? Would corporate want a photo of their employees in a loading dock? Here’s the final shot after hours and hours of photoshop, removing the rails at the bottom and the background. Groan, I hate fingers…

Photographing large families (20-30 people) and doing group shots usually make a photographer cringe. What about photographing Whole Foods Market’s 350 (yes, you read that right, three-hundred and fifty) staff members ?!

I had a fun time shooting the entire team of Whole Foods Market, the one just moved and opened in a huge new store in Cupertino. They have a total of over 350 employees. What a crowd! We had to do the shoot under the shadow of the building where the light is best and right under the rising sun. Lighting such a large group can be extremely challenging if the clients’ schedule isn’t very flexible. You are pretty much at the mercy of the location and the sun.

I then shot the team, each department staff in their area, seafood, produce, meats, senior staff, etc. etc. All 9 departments. It was fun, everyone collaborated well and the shots are marvellous. The group shot is now hanging within the store.

- Michael Soo