Timberland garden

Volunteering for Gather at the Timberland Garden was a unique opportunity to see local corporate responsibility in action. Located prominently in front of the Timberland headquarters in Exeter, NH, this garden is a long-standing fixture of their outdoor and environmental branding. It’s a space that represents more than just a place to grow food; it’s a living example of a brand’s commitment to the Seacoast community and the land itself.

When I met Ally Lynch to start the shoot, the New England weather was doing us no favors. It was a dark, flat gray morning that threatened to make the entire "vibrant garden" narrative look muddy and uninspired. As a commercial photographer in Portsmouth, NH, you quickly learn that you can’t always wait for a bluebird day. I spent a good portion of the morning pulling out every technical trick in my kit—using lens flares and overlay gradients—to simulate the warmth that the sun refused to provide.

The highlight of the day—and now one of my favorite shots of all time—happened just as we were wrapping up. Ally picked up a hose to start watering the beds, and for a split second, a sliver of actual light broke through the clouds and caught the spray. I saw it hit the water and knew immediately it would be the hero shot of the day. The natural, golden glow passing through the mist created a moment of "lightning in the veins" that no amount of post-production could truly replicate.

This project is a staple in my architectural photography portfolio because it bridges the gap between intentional landscape design and raw, human moments. Whether I’m shooting for a non-profit or a global brand like Timberland, the goal is the same: to find the intersection where the environment and the people within it finally click together. The final set of images didn't just show a garden; it captured the energy of a community-driven project that has been a staple of the Exeter landscape for years.