Behind-the-Scenes &
Documentary Still Photography

Unit stills and BTS photography for film, television, commercial, and branded productions. San Antonio-based, serving Austin and Central Texas, with travel to Houston and DFW as needed.

I’m Philip Thomas, a San Antonio-based documentary photographer with more than 30 years of experience photographing people and unscripted moments. My background includes press, documentary wedding photography, and street photography—work that requires anticipation, discretion, strong composition, and the ability to respond quickly without interrupting what is happening.

I now bring that experience to unit stills and behind-the-scenes photography. My production experience includes independent and university-led film projects, as well as studio interview productions.

Listed in the Texas Film Commission Production Directory, the Austin Film Commission Production Directory, and the San Antonio Film Commission Production Directory.

Credits:
• Kill or Be Killed (2026) — Unit Still Photographer
• Neurospice Latte Podcast Videos — Production Stills / BTS Photographer

What I deliver:
Typical coverage includes key performance frames, directors, talent and crew at work, lighting and camera setups, and important story beats throughout the production day.
• Discreet unit stills and BTS coverage with a quiet, observational approach
• Same-day or next-morning selects when requested
• Curated edit after wrap for publicity, press and EPK materials, marketing, social media, and production archives
• Production-friendly workflow with clear communication, crew etiquette, and a minimal footprint
• Quiet Leica camera system


I work quietly with a small footprint, following the production’s direction and photographing around rehearsals, takes, resets, and crew activity without becoming a distraction.

  • Silhouettes of crew and talent standing in a field at sunset during an outdoor shoot
  • Hooded man sits at a kitchen table, looking down at a bowl of food in a bright kitchen scene.
  • Wide view of crew gathered on a hillside location during golden hour
  • Behind-the-scenes production still of an interview setup with camera on tripod, laptop monitor, and talent seated on a lit studio set.
  • Director gestures while speaking to talent and crew during a scene setup outdoors
  • Wide behind-the-scenes view of a kitchen location with crew and talent staging a scene
  • Crew stands in a tight group reviewing pages and discussing the next setup on location
  • Over-the-shoulder view of someone reading printed pages with notes during a location shoot
  • Behind-the-scenes production still showing interviewer in the foreground, talent on set, and overhead key light in a controlled studio interview setup.
  • Over-the-shoulder view of a photographer shooting talent at a table during an interior set setup
  • Crew members talk and coordinate while referencing pages on an outdoor set
  • Cinema photographer crouches to capture behind-the-scenes moments while talent stands in position
  • Crew and talent rehearse blocking in a field while the scene is staged for the camera
  • Black-and-white behind-the-scenes photo of a photographer aiming a camera toward talent while a crew member stands nearby in a field

A selection of unit stills and behind-the-scenes photography from independent film, university-led, and studio productions.

Philip Thomas, a San Antonio photographer and a former press photographer
ABOUT THIS WORK


UNIT STILLS + BTS
For film, television, commercial, branded, and independent productions.


BASED IN SAN ANTONIO
Serving Austin and Central Texas, with statewide travel available.

Austin production mailing address.


Production Inquiries

Available for half-days, full production days, or selected key scenes throughout San Antonio, Austin, and Central Texas, with travel elsewhere in Texas by arrangement.

Additional Production Services

Cast, crew, and publicity portraits available on location by arrangement.

FAA Part 107-certified aerial stills are available where airspace, weather, location, and production requirements permit.

I carry general liability insurance; a COI and W-9 are available upon request.

For an accurate quote, please include the production dates, location, anticipated hours, coverage required, and intended image usage.

Download: Producer Tear Sheet (PDF)

For production inquiries, call 210-833-1168 or use the form below.