"Inside the Inner Court"
A high-end photographic series capturing the mental preparation of Czech tennis stars
One Hero Set
Considering we will most likely shoot during the week before the tournament, we probably won’t know the final number of confirmed players until the very last moment. At the same time, we want to avoid physically and mentally overloading the athletes right before competition week with a demanding multi location production.
Because of this, I believe the strongest approach is to build one perfectly crafted hero setup on a single iconic location, where all players and selected Mercedes-Benz vehicles can rotate efficiently throughout the day.
The ideal scenario would be access to the Centre Court itself using the monochromatic blue stands and the geometry of the Stvanice stadium as the core visual identity of the entire series. The location has a very distinctive atmosphere that feels both timeless and contemporary, creating a natural connection between elite tennis culture, architecture and luxury aesthetics.
Visually, the contrast between the clean graphic lines of the stadium, carefully shaped fashion lighting and the sculptural presence of the Mercedes-Benz vehicles could create a highly cinematic and editorial result balancing the authenticity of sport with the elegance of contemporary fashion photography.
The goal would not be to create a traditional automotive campaign, but rather a visually refined portrait series capturing the mental space before performance, where the car becomes part of the athlete’s private “Inner Court”.
moodboard
This visual style blends contemporary fashion editorial aesthetics with the quiet intimacy of cinematic storytelling. The imagery feels minimal, sculptural and emotionally controlled.
Balancing luxury, athleticism and modern femininity without becoming overly commercial or performance driven.
The soft directional light, monochromatic styling and carefully composed poses create a sense of calm confidence and inner focus. Rather than showing the intensity of the match itself, the series captures the psychological space before performance, where the car interior becomes a private sanctuary and the athlete transforms into a modern fashion icon.
Each tennis player will be captured through a curated series of three photographs, combining intimate cinematic portraiture, fashion inspired compositions and subtle interaction with the vehicle environment.
Together, the series creates a consistent visual language while still allowing each athlete’s personality, energy and individuality to naturally emerge.
Styling
Location
The iconic Centre Court at Prague’s Stvanice creates a unique contrast between raw sporting architecture and refined luxury aesthetics. The monochromatic blue tribunes, clean graphic lines and large open space give the location a timeless, cinematic atmosphere that naturally connects elite tennis culture with contemporary fashion imagery.
