A photo collage of a year in photos taken by AHM Brands

A Year Behind the AHM Lens: Helping Clients Tell Their Story

A photo collage of a year in photos taken by AHM Brands

Great brands rely on great photography to tell unforgettable stories.

Read on as AHM Director of Photography Thomas Boyd reflects on the range of work photographed for AHM’s clients over the past 12 months. From the serene Oregon coastline to industrial hubs of activity, and from community events to quiet moments of connection, this year’s projects have covered a lot of ground—both literally and figuratively.

Exploring Oregon’s Communities: Lincoln City to Dillard

Some of my assignments took me to contrasting parts of Oregon, each with its own character. In Lincoln City, the coastal beauty offered a dramatic backdrop for my work, with its mix of natural landscapes and small-town charm. On the other end of the spectrum, a trip to Dillard brought me to a mill truck shop, where the setting was less picturesque but equally compelling. The grit and hard work visible in that space made for striking, authentic images.

A red car parked by the beach in Lincoln City, Oregon
People enjoying sunset at the beach in Lincoln City, Oregon
Sunset light reflecting off of beach homes in Lincoln City, Oregon
Documenting a Piece of History: The PBY-9767 Catalina

One of the more unique opportunities this year was photographing—and riding in—an 82-year-old PBY Catalina airplane. Shooting this vintage aircraft was about more than its mechanics; it was an effort to capture a sense of history and the passion of those who maintain and fly it today. The challenge was finding angles that conveyed the plane’s timelessness while grounding it in the present.

A man looking at the exterior of an 82-year-old PBY Catalina airplane
Unlikely Action: Lawn Mower Racing and Trail Running

Some projects stood out for their unexpected energy. Lawn mower racing, for example, was a fast-paced, unconventional event to cover. The visuals were as much about the people involved as the racing. Similarly, photographing nighttime trail running required balancing movement and light to capture the runners and the environment they were navigating. Both events pushed me to think on my feet—literally.

3 people lawn mower racing on a dusty track
A man celebrating a lawn mower racing victory and another man enjoying a henry weinhard's beer after the race
5 racers at the starting line of a lawn mower race as a man waves the racing flag
3 trail runners enjoying a beverage during sunset before nighttime trail running
3 people trail running during golden hour
3 people nighttime trail running

Capturing Work and Connection

This year also gave me the chance to focus on workspaces and the people who inhabit them.

People enjoying a Hop Valley Brewing event with food trucks and vendors
A woman holding her dog outside of Hop Valley Brewing Co.
A person tossing a can of Hop Valley Brewing's Space Haze Hazy Ale in front of a Hop Valley Brewing mural
A person grabbing a bottle of Henry Weinhard's beer from the canning line
2 men reading bible scriptures at a table at Eugene Mission
5 people and the Bushnell University mascot gathered around the Bushnell University monument sign
Portland Golf Club
An aerial photo of the golf course at Portland Golf Club
2024 Photography by the Numbers

1.73TB: Data generated
38,587: Total number of images shot
74: Assignments photographed
12: Cities visited
3: Slices of Abby’s breakfast pizza eaten
1: Times rear-ended on the freeway