Behind the Scenes
OF A COVER IMAGE In the Age of COVID
Story by Sharon Chayra; photos by ChayraCom and Shane O'Neal Few can comprehend the impact of COVID-19 better than a respected healthcare system like Intermountain Healthcare. That's why this issue is especially relevant. Not only does it honor all frontline healthcare workers for their selfless work during this pandemic, but it also illustrates the resourcefulness that happens behind the scenes. Case in point, this issue's cover. At first glance, this cover image is simply a beautiful photo. Models showed up, glammed-up, and then posed together for that one perfect shot. Looks would be deceiving, however. According to Stephanie Kocher, publisher of Las Vegas Woman magazine, “Never have we gone to the lengths required to ensure safety and compliance as we have for this issue.� When Christina Cober, director of communications for Intermountain Healthcare in Nevada came up with the concept, it was to celebrate the organization's diverse medical leadership. Las Vegas Woman magazine is the perfect vehicle in which to honor the Sacred Feminine during this unprecedented time in history. While many were able to grace
the cover, not all deserving caregivers are featured. Which is why those featured acknowledged they weren't just representing themselves, but all those in service of others during coronavirus. Long known for award-winning editorial content, Las Vegas Woman magazine faced an unprecedented challenge: Feature a group of women in interconnected poses while shooting them separately to maintain social distancing. This was a logistical challenge, but not an impossible one thanks to key professionals, beginning with photographer Shane O'Neal of SON Studios. O'Neal's first order of business was designing a shoot blueprint. This guideline would allow for each woman to naturally pose without having the benefit of other subjects in the frame. Thankfully O'Neal's wife and digital expert, Deed DeBruno, was there to render her Photoshop expertise. What ultimately resulted belies the painstaking process involved and the people who helped achieve it. As each clinician arrived throughout the day to SON Studios, they were met with freshly
