54 10-4 Magazine / August 2026 continues to take online classes to stay current with the latest trends in order to keep improving her craft. Sonya’s current camera of choice is Nikon’s flagship Z8 (mirrorless), while keeping a Z7 II as her backup body. As camera technology continues to advance, she usually upgrades her primary camera every three years, with her previous camera becoming her backup. Her lenses include Nikon’s professional 24-70mm and 70-200mm f/2.8 zooms, giving her the versatility to photograph everything from sweeping landscapes to tight detail shots without sacrificing image quality. For Sonya, however, the camera is only the beginning of the creative process. Besides mastering her camera, she also taught herself Adobe Photoshop. While every photograph begins behind the camera on a photo shoot location, the creative process rarely ends there. “I’ve always believed it’s about 50% in the camera and 50% in Adobe,” she said. Using multiple exposures, careful color correction, contrast adjustments, and other refinements, Sonya enhances each image while preserving its authenticity. Distracting elements like power lines or unwanted background objects can be removed when necessary, while reflections are carefully controlled to present the truck exactly as she had envisioned it during the shoot. Most people don’t realize how much work goes into producing the final image they see in an advertisement, a magazine, or hanging on their wall. While Sonya’s camera equipment plays an important role in creating her photographs, there is another side of the job that most people never see. Truck photography often takes her into active quarries, construction sites, industrial facilities, and other locations where safety is every bit as important as creativity. Along with all her camera gear, lenses, tripods and filters, Sonya’s pickup is often loaded with hard hats, reflective safety vests, steel-toe boots, and even recently, a safety harness she wore while photographing near the edge of a cliff! “You have to be prepared for just about anything,” Sonya said with a laugh. “The camera is only part of what I bring to a photo shoot.” Whether she’s waiting for perfect sun, setting up a tripod for multiple exposures, or carefully positioning a truck to capture just the right angle, Sonya understands that preparation often makes the difference between a good photograph and a great one. Depending on the conditions, she may decide to use a polarizing filter to reduce reflections on paint and glass, or blend several exposures together in Adobe Photoshop to preserve detail throughout the image. Every decision is made with one goal in mind – creating the strongest possible photograph while remaining true to the truck and its surroundings. As much as photography is about equipment and technique, Sonya also believes it is equally about people. During our conversation, she told me a fun story involving Shell’s Global Marketing Communications Manager Heather Duffey, who made an observation that perfectly described Sonya’s approach. While brainstorming ideas, they discussed what Heather called “the click.” For most photographers, “the click” is simply the sound of the camera’s shutter, but for Sonya, it represents something much more meaningful. “It’s about clicking with people,” Sonya explained. “You want everyone to feel comfortable. We joke around, we have fun, and we work together. When people are relaxed, everything just comes together.” Heather said, “It’s a really special experience working with Sonya. We want to make the truck owners feel like they’ve achieved something truly special.” That philosophy has become one of the hallmarks of her career. Whether she’s working with the owner of one truck or a large manufacturer, Sonya approaches every assignment with honesty, transparency, and a genuine desire to give her clients not only exceptional photographs, but also an enjoyable experience. Many of the owners of the trucks she photographs have become longtime friends, and it’s not uncommon for truck owners (or drivers) to arrive a little unsure of what to expect, only to leave feeling like they’ve spent the day with an old friend. No one understands the importance of teamwork better than Sonya. While she may be the one behind the camera, she is quick to point out that many of her most successful photographs are the result of a collaborative effort. During Shell Rotella SuperRigs, where every truck is shot on a tight schedule, her husband Claude works alongside her, while scouting manager Charlotte Ariss helps coordinate locations and logistics to keep each session running smoothly. “We usually have three hours with each truck, which includes the truck detail shots and portraits. We shoot three trucks per
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