I Was Hired To Photograph An Aviation Magazine Cover
August 14, 2026
A Dream Photoshoot With The Procter & Gamble Aviation Department
In 2026 I received an inquiry to photograph an undisclosed Cincinnati aviation department for Professional Pilot Magazine. It turned out to be a multi-hour photoshoot assignment to photograph the entire Procter & Gamble aviation department. This group is based at Lunken Airfield (LUK) in Cincinnati, Ohio. P&G, a Fortune 500 company, has 4 Gulfstream executive jets with the G650ER and the G500 pictured below.
I have been to Lunken several times to photograph a charter aviation company and various jet sales at Signature Aviation (see blog posts below). Never did I think I’d ever see the inside of the P&G hangars let alone photograph them. This was a definite aviation photography career highlight for me. And as a commercial photographer, it was great getting to photographer employees of one of the world’s biggest companies.
The Magazine Assignment
My assignment was to photograph the executives and pilots in front of their aircraft and hangar. The time was set for 1pm, and of course, it was a very bright and sunny day. This was unfortunate, because full sun makes the job harder. I would have preferred a nice cloudy day, but ultimately, the photos turned out great!
I was able to instruct the mechanics and group operations to place the business jets where I wanted between the hangar and the airfield. Shutting the hangar door was also a must. The last setup item I needed was a stair truck or mobile stairs. Once everything was in place, I instructed the 60 or so photo subjects about what would happen.
I climbed the stairs and photographed the executives with the large group of corporate pilots in various poses. This where the cover photo below came from. The chief pilot is in front, on the right as you look at the photo. My options were restricted due to the time of day this shoot had to take place. I had to move quickly before the sun ended up in front of everyone.
After each group shot, we moved on to the next group. I was confident I had at least a few cover-worthy aviation photos for Professional Pilot Magazine.
Going Above And Beyond For P&G’s Pilots, Flight Attendants, Mechanics, And Executives
After I was done with each group, we walked to the right side of the plane, in the shade, to do some closer group photos. I requested each group pose for me. After I got what I needed, I took requests from each group. Some people had special groups they wanted to take. I love when the client has ideas. We can collaborate on the project, and everyone wins.
Other Lunken Airport Aviation Photography Opportunities
Because I had photographed at Lunken several times, there was inherent trust when hiring me. I try to say yes to everything in hopes that it leads to the next adventure.
