What you see is what you get. Sometimes.

For this shoot with Carnival Cruises, Emily Scarlett Romain spent a week aboard one of their ships, getting stuck into the same activities as the talent – from touring ruins to quad biking and exploring the onboard offerings. With the tagline ‘No-one does… like Carnival’, the idea behind the campaign was to shake up the perception that a cruise is only about lounging on deck, sipping on cocktails – although this features – instead offering an array of ways to spend your time. Though the weather conditions were challenging at times, this being hurricane season, Emily loved the challenge of shooting in and around water and the natural fit with her interest in travel.

The TVC that these images accompany stars basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, but for the stills the client was keen to focus on holidaymakers. Some families and couples here are authentic, others are acting. Good luck guessing which, though. In Emily’s frame, they’re all the real deal.