There is more canine than human diversity in Palm Beach. The dogs come in every shape and size here, whereas the society girls conform more to a type. Dogs are an integral part of daily life in this celebrated town and I needed, at some stage, to pay homage to this.

For a few weeks I was throwing some ideas as to how to get as many dog breeds as possible together in an emphatic Palm

Beach setting. After much iteration, I concluded that the most fun concept would be to host a luncheon party where all dogs sat one side of the table - akin, of course, to Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. This way they could all be in focus, all  looking head on to me. I could then incorporate other guests and waiters who could be styled in a way to endorse the Palm Beach narrative. The goal was always to make it crystal clear which community I was celebrating - any ambiguity on that front would be disappointing.

But I needed a private residence in which to film the concept; this idea would never have worked in a public place. Slim Aarons was the master of gaining access to the private properties in Palm Beach and I thought of him when seeking permission to shoot in one the oldest and most celebrated properties on the island. The tall palms in the gardens in the beautiful home offered the right backdrop.

This was an ambitious project and the result was elevated by my styling team, who left no dog or human behind. This was always going to be a colour shot; it is the pinks and greens that make this island of leisure so unique, but the  monochrome version has an appeal too.