On the Water with Jeff Brown, Breed Media

If you’ve ever admired a breathtaking superyacht photograph — sails full, sun glinting off the hull, sea spray frozen mid-air - chances are, Jeff Brown was behind the lens. As the co-founder of London-based Breed Media, a creative agency run by a team of talented Kiwis, Jeff travels the world capturing the beauty, power, and precision of the world’s finest yachts. We’ve crossed paths with him at regattas like the Millennium Cup, where he’s often hanging out of a helicopter to get the perfect shot. Jeff’s work embodies everything we love about life on the water - craftsmanship, adventure, and the pursuit of perfection.

Jeff Brown

You’ve seen more of the world’s oceans than most — is there a destination or moment that stands out as particularly unforgettable or meaningful during a shoot?

Ha, yes I have done my fair bit for travel. And that's a tricky question I get asked a lot. I did a shoot one up in the Faro Island to capture natural elements. It was for a yacht builder. The place was very remote but stunning. Photographing superyachts in the fjords of Norway is usually highlight, flying through on a helicopter and seeing a superyacht I'm about to photograph dwarfed between the mountains is a pretty magical sight. New Zealand is close to my heart to, so shooting in the Bay of Islands was always near the top of the list.

When you're not behind the lens, is there a favourite place to stop for a memorable meal or a glass of wine on your travels?

If its not a good Expresso Martini after a photoshoot in Antigua on the dock then its probably the salt-backed sea bass in a Lu Pisantinu Restaurant on the hill in Porto Cervo, Sardinia.

What are a few non-negotiables you always pack for a shoot on board?

First thing I do is check the location (hot or cold) then the weather when I'm there. I can't go on a shoot with out my tripod, two cameras, and 4 lenses and drone.

Depending on the location I will take my underwater housing too. Then I'm left with not much room for personal items, but lucky a lot of the places I go are hot, so I don't need to much.

My togs and swim goggles are always in my suitcase, I try and get in the water at lease once during a shoot if I can.

You’ve spent time on board some of the most impressive yachts in the world — is there a standout meal or experience that felt particularly memorable?

Yes, I have spent 2-3 days at a time on over 600+ superyacht in my time and have seen a lot of meals being prepared, usually for me to photograph. I am then lucky enough to enjoy it after sometimes.

I did a shoot earlier this year in Sardinia, and had the pleasure of sitting with the owner on his yacht enjoying lunch and then a dinner with him before he had to leave the next day. The food and service was incredible. 

Are there any brands or tools—on or off the water—you always trust for their reliability, performance, or design?

I have had a trusty Samsonite hard shell suitcase that has travelled many times around the world with me for over 10years now. It’s so solid and protects my gear through all the airport transits. It may be a little beating up now but I cant leave home with out it. My camera bag is an EVOC 35L, and is my carry on and most trusted bag I use to protect all my gear. It is super comfy even when it’s heavy with all my kit.

I use SanDisk SSD drives to store all my photos when traveling, they are so compact and reliable and an essential part of my kit I cant live with out.

In your view, what’s one small detail that elevates the onboard experience — something that signals true luxury or care?

Tricky question because each yacht has its own special feature(s). But what elevates an onboard experience from my view is the crew. They are so important to creating the onboard experience in a massive way. Even for me when I'm photographing a yacht. I've experienced a lot of crew service and the ones that I remember are the ones that took care in the details and did it with a smile. With out the crew a true luxury yacht experience wouldn’t really happen. 

If you’d like to escape into more of Jeff’s incredible work, visit breedmedia.com/collection.

Stay tuned for the next edition of On the Water, where we’ll bring you more stories from those who live - and design - for life at sea.