One of the questions I get the most is, “What do you love the most about what you do?” Whether that’s in passing conversation or in interviews, it always seems to come up and I always have the same answer… “Connection.” It’s one thing to take a picture, but it’s another to take a picture that tells someone’s story at a glance. It requires a sometimes unexpected amount of vulnerability from the photographer and the client, and the connections we create as a result are absolutely priceless.

The SGS team is incredibly talented at getting the shot, but their biggest strength is definitely the way they create a space of trust that encourages authenticity and vulnerability that lets them capture a shot that showcases the client in a way that’s 100% them.

This shoot was no exception. The Glanbia team was amazing to work with, and each of their personalities really came through. It was such a joy to see the change from everyone coming into the shoot a bit uncertain of what the experience might be like, to leaving confident and empowered from the laughing and happiness of getting some amazing shots. The SGS team really clicked with their unique dynamic as leaders, and I think it comes through in their photos.

WENDY DAVIDSON // President, Americas Glanbia Performance Nutrition

How did you create such a strong, cohesive team?

I’m so glad that the chemistry and comradery of our team came through during your days in our office! I’m a big believer in diversity, transparency, and collaboration to drive engagement. And the culture of the organization isn’t something that can be mandated, but is nurtured through the people around the table. As I joined the organization and we designed our new operating model, leveraging the strength of our legacy talent with the addition of new talent was a key focus in my first year. And simply hiring and placing people isn’t enough, but requires communicating early and often with the team on performance and partnering together on key issues. True teamwork is the result of shared experiences, good and bad, to build knowledge of each other’s strengths, and trust in each other’s decisions. I’m excited for the growth this team will achieve together.

What's your office culture like, and how do you think your team contributes to it?

To be honest, my first year with the company was largely remote and we have yet to fully re-open our offices to the full team. I’m proud of Glanbia for launching our Smart Working program in the fall of 2020 which includes Flex Hours, Flex Fridays and now Blended working (aligning location with a team member’s preferences). As a result, our “office” culture has evolved to a hybrid between actual and virtual and our goal is to enable a physical space that fosters collaboration and inspiration when our teams gather. Because we have offices around the globe and team members working in the market as well as our manufacturing locations and distribution centers, the passion for our brands and alignment around our shared purpose to inspire people everywhere to achieve their performance and lifestyle goals is something that both binds us and drives our team culture. As you saw firsthand in our office workout space, each person on the team represents a key consumer of our brands and what connects us is a shared desire to healthy lifestyle.

What was it like navigating the pandemic together?

Our primary focus was, and is, the safety of our teams, their families and our customers. As long as we kept those goals at the forefront, it enabled us to be radically focused on what was most important and to make sound decisions about people, place, and product. Onboarding to a global company in a pandemic, completely remote, creates its own nuances for myself and a variety of our team. We were able to have fun getting to know each other “virtually” and the first in-person meetings were priceless. “I had no idea you’re so short!”

Why did you choose Steph Grant Studios for this project?

I have known Steph for many years and she and her team have partnered with me at two different companies. What sets Steph Grant Studios apart besides sheer talent, is the attention to detail in capturing the storytelling. Steph and her team work to bring out the personalities of the team, the uniqueness of the company and the excitement of the space.

What was your team's reaction to seeing their images, and how did that impact you?

The reaction from our team was priceless. From “these are the best pictures I’ve ever taken” to “they captured his/her true personality”, the overall reaction was outstanding. I’m excited to leverage these images in our communications and PR, internally and externally, and enable my team to put their best foot forward as we build our company and our brands. Thank you!