Behind the Scenes: Bringing Detroit to Life Through Local Eyes

When AFAR asked me to photo edit their "Travel to Be Moved" custom content program for Visit Detroit, I was excited to dive in. Instead of a typical destination guide, we were showcasing Detroit through the eyes of three locals who actually live and work there.

The Vision

The project featured three Detroit personalities:

Tiff Massey, an artist with a solo exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Javier Bardauil, a James Beard Award-nominated chef who moved from Buenos Aires to open his restaurants in Detroit
Ty Farris, a rapper and record label owner who's been part of Detroit's music scene for nearly 30 years

We created six articles total: three profiles and three itinerary pieces that would help travelers experience Detroit like locals do.

The Photography Challenge

As photo editor, I coordinated shoots with photographer Sylvia Jarrus across Detroit, covering locations like Tiff's studio and the Detroit Institute of Arts, Javier's restaurants Barda and Puma, and music venues like El Club and Mom's Spaghetti where Ty's story comes to life.

The Technical Side

Working within AFAR's and Visit Detroit’s brand guidelines meant every image needed to be bright and experiential, showing people actually engaging with Detroit's culture rather than empty tourist shots. Hero images had to work in panoramic crops for social media, while supporting photos needed to show diverse locations: restaurants, cultural sites, hotels, and architecture.

I created detailed shot recommendations for Sylvia to make sure we captured authentic moments that would inspire people to visit, from the flaming saganaki at Pegasus Taverna to the art installations at The Shepherd gallery.

The Result

We delivered 58 edited photos covering 24 different Detroit locations that Visit Detroit licensed for their channels, plus a dedicated hub on AFAR.com. The final selection included everything from intimate restaurant shots at places like Cannelle and Lady of the House to cultural destinations like the Belle Isle Conservatory and vibrant venues like Spot Lite.

Check it out at: https://www.afar.com/magazine/the-afar-insiders-guide-to-detroit