A Piece of Paradise: What I Learned from Shooting Chef Tommy’s TV Show

Starting a blog has been on my mind for the longest time, a space where I can finally free my creativity and share my thoughts with the world. So today, I want to talk about a memorable experience I had while shooting a photo for Chef Tommy during the production of his TV show A Piece of Paradise in Destin, Florida.

To give you some backstory, Tommy and I have known each other for years, and we both started our businesses at the same time. We've worked together, helping each other push forward in Destin’s competitive market. So, when he reached out asking for my help with the TV show—handling everything from shooting to the logistics—I was beyond excited and truly honored to be a part of it.

What I really want to focus on, though, is the valuable lessons I learned while watching the production process of the show. Observing the film crew shoot a cooking show, I gained some great insights into their methods. The biggest takeaway, however, was realizing that I can do exactly what they’re doing, on the same scale—and I believe I can shoot a better TV show. Please don’t misunderstand me; I’m not trying to downplay their work. Every show has its own style and audience, and what works for one network may not be the right fit for another. But it gave me the confidence to recognize that I could create something similar, even elevate it.

Although I wasn’t the main director on the set, I did have the opportunity to take on a bit of that role. But, more than anything, I focused on capturing the moments—those fleeting instants that tell a story forever. Despite being more of a video person myself, I found a renewed spark for photography. It was the style of the shoot that made it enjoyable: very lifestyle-driven, almost like freelance work. There was no retaking shots. The food was cooked, and once it was done, it was done.

As you’ve had a chance to glance at some of the photos in this post, I hope you see what I see: a man who loves food. My hope is that these images inspire you to go check out Tommy’s show, because when you do, you’ll witness a man who’s passionate about what he does and full of life. Tommy is one of the greatest cooks I’ve ever met—his culinary skills are unmatched. But what makes his food so special is that Chef Tommy never cuts corners, and what he wants most is for the people eating his food to enjoy it just as much as he enjoys making it.

Tommy, thank you for allowing me to be a part of this journey. There’s so much more to share, but for now, I’m just happy that I finally started