Travel Diary: A Big Apple Editor Takes On Brazil

When you work at a start-up, you dream of one thing: world domination. And, while R29 is taking on the challenge, sometimes it takes travelling to a totally new place to realize the scope of the dream. Such was the case with my recent trip to Rio de Janeiro to direct a shoot for the Brazilian Footwear Association, where I found a whole new network of R29'ers.

Though I didn't know how to say "can I take your street style photo for my website" (or anything else) in Portuguese, I jumped at the opportunity to make my first ever trip to South America — and I couldn't have been happier with the outcome. I was challenged in my role as director, amazed by the breathtaking landscapes, humbled by the supportive production of the shoot, and, ultimately, sad to leave. The result? After several long days of shooting (don't feel too bad, they were filled with coffee, beaches, cachaca, and Brazilian models galore), we've got a killer set of images to show off the innovative shoes coming out of Brazil (footwear is one of their leading exports!) and a fun behind-the-scenes travel diary to give you a sneak peek without the overnight flight.