Karen Frank is an icon in the photo world. I’ve heard her name spoken in the brightest light for years, so when she reached out after moving to Barron's. The answer was simple: yes.

Editorial budgets rarely cover what it actually takes to do what we do—assistants, gear, the whole circus. After my accident, I’ve had to create real boundaries around my energy and my body. But sometimes you still go beyond.

You know the budget.

You know you’ll lose money.

You hire Jose to help with the heavy gear.

You rent what you need.

And you do it anyway.

Because you’re not doing it for Karen.

You’re not doing it for Barron’s.

You’re doing it for you.

Also…turns out I now have a whole new appreciation for photographing older men in finance wearing slightly ill-fitted suits.

Meet the delightful Sadek Wahba. I wasn’t taking about his suit.