I was in my yard, and a number I didn’t recognize came up on my phone. Not sure why I answered it, but glad I did. It was James Taylor. And so our work on Before This World began. The shoot was done at his house during winter. James with his vintage Ford truck provided a lot of design detail for me. The emerald green with the reflections of trees immediately inspired a cover. This was a big project, very complex, with multiple packages, including a three-disc limited edition book, cd, vinyl and various promotional items. It was a real pleasure to work with someone who is in a class by himself. I’m proud that the branding feels so appropriate. He looks great, classic — like his music. It was his first record, ever, to debut at number 1.

Photography by Timothy White.