Theun Hinboun Power Company | Laos CSR Shoot for $700M Project

Nam Gnouang Reservoir from my drone.

Corporate Social Responsibility Photography for THPC

I recently photographed a large CSR project for Theun Hinboun Power Company in Laos. This assignment allowed me to create images I don’t usually shoot—mostly drone photography. As someone who’s always sought high vantage points for the perfect shot, working with a drone was a revelation. The writer was Asian Travel Legend Joe Cummings of the Lonely Planet. We played in the same band for years, but this was the first time in the field.

Working Across Languages | Thai to Lao to Thai

Laotian is very similar to Thai, and most educated Lao speak Thai fluently. Since I am fully conversational in Thai, I was able to complete this project without relying on English, except for the initial client brief. This made the workflow smooth and immersive, allowing me to focus entirely on capturing the project visually.

A Personal Connection to Laos Since the 1990’s

I first visited Laos in 1996 and have returned many times since. It’s an incredible country with enormous potential, though it faces many challenges. Working with a company striving to improve the country made this assignment especially fulfilling.

Behind the Scenes

Interestingly, none of the photos I created were used in the company’s official communications—they’re still using the same ancient shots they’ve relied on for years. Regardless, I managed to capture some outstanding images. After a rough start, a fantastic staff member appeared seemingly out of nowhere, and completely saved the project. His support was invaluable, and the final shots reflect the effort and knowledge of that one guy.

There was a coffee-table book produced from this shoot.

Check out another Southeast Asia shoot I did recently, documenting Burmese refugee camps along the Thai border for The Border Consortium.

Looking for Corporate Social Responsibility or corporate photography in Southeast Asia? Let’s connect.