Festive wedding banquet with guests toasting as an animated speaker stands at a decorated long table.

From Prague to Bangkok: Growing with the Leaders of Design



When the Leaders of Design Council (LDC) hosts its annual international conference, it expects perfection. For this exclusive community of architecture and design executives, the media team can’t just take great photos—they have to be flawless, invisible, and highly adaptable.


Here is how a single commission in Prague evolved into a seven-year global partnership, culminating in a high-stakes 20th Anniversary marathon in Bangkok and Cambodia.

1. The Origin Story

Our relationship with LDC began in 2019 when their conference came to Prague. We were brought in by our trusted DMC partner, IMS, who originally showed us the ropes of top-tier events. We put our heads down, met every request, and delivered.


But the real turning point was a brief, human chat between our CEO, Tomáš Hercog, and Dana-Christine Colla—an LDC Partner in charge of event planning—about the upcoming birth of Tomáš's son. Three months later, Dana emailed to congratulate him and dropped a game-changing question: "We are very interested in having you join us in Monte Carlo. Could you put together a proposal for us?" Tired of gambling on the quality and logistics of hiring local photographers in every new city, they didn't want to roll the dice anymore. They wanted a team they could trust.

2. The Global Routine

Since that email, we’ve been LDC’s passport-ready media crew. We navigated COVID postponements and traveled with them to the Côte d'Azur, Bruges, Israel, Stockholm, San Sebastian, and finally, Bangkok and Cambodia.


The routine is now beautifully simple: After every closing gala, Dana pulls us aside, reveals the next secret location, and asks, "Do these dates work for you?"

Joyful woman smiling broadly while sharing a warm hug with an older man at a social gathering.
Man in black sweater waving at Leaders of Design Conference Stockholm 2024 with two attendees beside him.
Group of professionals networking outdoors at a design conference in Stockholm, smiling and holding coffee.
Large group of design conference attendees walking together outdoors in Stockholm during daytime event.
Five men posing together at an elegant candlelit gala dinner with floral decorations in Stockholm.
Speaker presenting at Leaders of Design Conference Stockholm 2024 podium before seated audience.
Two people walking through a sunlit garden casting long shadows during an outdoor conference event.
Elegantly decorated long dining table with red glassware, white flowers, and colorful ikat tablecloth.
Guests laughing and enjoying dinner at a warmly lit restaurant during a design conference social event.
Group of fourteen formally dressed design conference delegates posing together for official group photo.
Dinner guests raising red wine glasses in a toast along a festively decorated long banquet table.

3. The 20th Anniversary UNEXPECTED Challenges

LDC went all out for their 20th anniversary at Bangkok’s Capella Hotel. Behind the scenes, however, the hurdles stacked up fast:


14 Days Out (The Unexpected Challenge): Dana asked if we could manage a live stream to four massive 3x6 meter LED screens for the final gala. Usually it's an AV team's job, but we said yes and acqired a propper technology to stream video directly from our cameras.


5 Days Out (The Medical Emergency): Our lead videographer texted from a Sri Lankan hospital: "Suspected salmonella... need a replacement." We immediately tapped another trusted team member, navigated global flight disruptions to secure last-minute tickets, packed the gear, and boarded the plane.

A bowl filled with blue Leaders by Design conference cards at a registration desk.
Professionals warmly embracing at a networking event while colleagues smile nearby.
Three conference attendees laughing and socializing near a bar at a networking event.
Group of smiling professionals networking under elegant globe pendant lights at a conference.
Aerial view of outdoor corporate networking event on green lawn beside modern building.
Conference attendees mingling outdoors near a river with city skyline in background.
Two smiling women sitting on a boat tour along a scenic urban waterway.
Boats navigating a busy urban river with city skyline at dusk in Bangkok.
Happy conference attendees enjoying a scenic boat ride along Bangkok river at sunset.
Three event organizers posing on balcony above Chakrabongse Villas sign in Bangkok Thailand.
Person in white suit walking down a dock gangway with arms raised in celebration near a river.
Woman in cream dress and white hat leads group past Thai musicians in pink traditional costumes.

4. The Bangkok Marathon & The Prague Relay

The trip was a nonstop sprint from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM every day—covering leadership sessions, temples, "dine-arounds," and a ride on the Heritage Blue Lotus train.


We turned the 6-hour time jump into an asset. We beamed raw files back to our dedicated editor stationed in Prague. Because of this parallel workflow, LDC attendees woke up every morning to a fresh batch of 50–100 fully edited images from the day before, ready for their social media.

People walking through a lush green garden courtyard with wooden pergolas and tropical plants.
Young blonde woman laughing joyfully at an outdoor dining event with other guests at white tables.
Panel of men speaking into a microphone at an outdoor conference table during a daytime event.
Large indoor event venue with glass ceiling, purple stage screen, and seated audience at round tables.
Elegant high-rise bar interior with golden ceiling lights, dark furniture, and panoramic city views.
Two women conversing at a rooftop bar with a panoramic aerial view of a city below.
Group of six people posing together on a high-rise rooftop terrace with city skyline backdrop.
Two men smiling and laughing while riding in a tuk-tuk vehicle during a city tour.
Couple enjoying a romantic candlelit dinner on a rooftop bar with a stunning Bangkok skyline at dusk.
Guests socializing on a luxurious rooftop bar overlooking the Bangkok cityscape at sunset.

5. Thai Directing & Fried Sensors

The technical peak was the closing gala in a historic railway station. We coordinated the live stream with the local AV team, managing colors and framing despite a complete language barrier.


Then, at the very end of the night, a stray colored laser permanently fried one of our camera sensors. This is exactly why we travel with redundant gear. We swapped the body and kept rolling without missing a beat.

Elegant train dining car with long white-clothed tables adorned with purple floral centerpieces.
Smiling couple holding champagne glasses aboard a luxurious vintage train car.
Tattooed woman gazing at railway tracks from a moving train at golden hour.
Two elegantly dressed guests chatting with champagne by a window on a luxury train.
Motion-blurred night shot of a luxury train speeding through illuminated city streets.
Two women in glamorous outfits walking through a dazzling mirrored tunnel installation.
Smiling man holding a decorative fan reading I Wanna Bangkok at a neon-lit venue.
Tourists exploring the ornate colorful temples and stupas of Wat Pho in Bangkok.

6. The Ultimate Metric of Success

The deliverables were extensive: daily photo highlights, a complex group portrait, multiple event films, and full keynote recordings.


But the real payoff happened during the gala. LDC projected a video montage of their 20-year history. Seeing our own work on screen for every event since 2019 was profound. As we packed up our gear, we got the ultimate confirmation of a job well done. Dana gave us a hug and said the words every vendor wants to hear:


"You make my life so much easier. Does next year in Switzerland work for you?"

 

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