Beéle Billboard Portrait: Behind the Shoot — Diego Cadavid Portrait of Beéle for “Dios Me Oyó” ft. Marc Anthony
Photographing Beéle for Billboard: The Portrait Behind "Dios Me Oyó"
The call came in fast. Beéle was releasing "Dios Me Oyó" alongside Marc Anthony, and Billboard needed a portrait to accompany their editorial coverage. I had a narrow window — maybe two hours — to capture something that would hold its own next to one of the most respected mastheads in the music industry.
That kind of pressure is where I work best.
The Session: Working With an Artist on the Rise
Beéle walked into the studio with an energy that was hard to miss — calm on the surface, intensely focused underneath. I've learned over the years that the artists who are about to break wide carry a specific tension. They know the world is watching, and they want the image to match the moment.
My job was to create that match.
I didn't want a typical promotional portrait — the kind where the artist looks polished but interchangeable. I wanted something that captured who Beéle is right now: a young artist sitting at the intersection of reggaeton, pop, and something entirely his own, about to share a track with one of the biggest names in Latin music history.
The Lighting Approach
I used a cinematic setup that I've refined over twenty years of advertising campaigns — a modified Rembrandt pattern with a large octabox as the key light, positioned to carve depth into his features without flattening the contrast. A second rim light separated him from the background, creating a subtle halo effect that gives the portrait a sense of presence.
These are the kinds of setups I detail in The Lighting Playbook, my technical guide on portrait lighting. The principle is simple: light should reveal character, not just illuminate a face.
For Beéle, I pushed the shadows a bit deeper than I normally would for a commercial client. This was editorial — it needed to feel like a moment, not an advertisement. The result was a portrait with the weight and mood of a film still, which is exactly what Billboard needs to complement their storytelling.
What I've Learned From Photographing Latin Music's Biggest Names
Over the years, I've had the privilege of working with artists like Marc Anthony, Ozuna, Anitta, Maluma, Juanes, Kany García, Tyla, Tini Stoessel, and Becky G. Every session is different, and every artist demands a different approach.
Marc Anthony is all intensity — he walks in, locks eyes with the camera, and delivers. You don't direct him; you capture him. Ozuna is the opposite: there's a warmth and playfulness that only surfaces when he trusts the photographer enough to let his guard down. Anitta requires a visual language as bold as her public persona — there's no room for subtlety, but precision is everything.
What connects all of these sessions is a shared philosophy: a celebrity portrait should reveal something true about the person, not just document their appearance. The best portraits feel like the viewer is seeing something private, even when the image is designed for millions.
Why Advertising Experience Changes the Game in Celebrity Portraits
Here's something most people don't think about: my background in advertising photography is the single biggest advantage I bring to celebrity work.
After photographing campaigns for brands like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and General Motors — projects that demand absolute precision in lighting, composition, and storytelling — I bring a production standard to portrait sessions that most editorial photographers simply don't have. The lighting setups are more controlled. The post-production workflow is more refined. And the ability to work fast under pressure, with a clear creative vision, is something that twenty years of commercial deadlines trains into you.
The Hasselblad Masters program and my selection for Lürzer's Archive "200 Best Ad Photographers Worldwide" reflect this approach — a commitment to images where technical excellence serves an emotional truth.
The Billboard Feature
Seeing my portrait of Beéle published in Billboard was a reminder of why I do this work. A magazine like Billboard doesn't just need a good photo — they need an image that carries the weight of the story they're telling. In this case, the story was about the rise of a new voice in Latin music, standing alongside a legend.
The portrait needed to communicate that gravity. I think it did.
If you're an artist, label, or agency looking for a celebrity photographer who brings both cinematic production quality and genuine artistic vision to every session, I'd love to hear about your project. View my celebrity portrait portfolio →
Diego Sanchez Cadavid is an award-winning advertising photographer and music video director based in Miami. His work has been featured in Billboard, recognized by Lürzer's Archive and Hasselblad Masters, and awarded an Effie for his Pepsi Black campaign with BBDO. He is the author of The Lighting Playbook.
I had the privilege of photographing Beéle for the release of his new single “Dios Me Oyó”, featured in Billboardalongside Latin music legend Marc Anthony.
This portrait, captured as part of a campaign celebrating new Latin music, was selected by Billboard to accompany their editorial. It’s always an honor to see my work featured in one of the most respected music publications in the world.
👉 Read the full article on Billboard
Photography by Diego Cadavid
Diego Sanchez Cadavid – advertising photographer & visual artist
🌐 www.dcadavid.com
"celebrity portrait portfolio"
