There is a difference between photographing the world of luxury and actually understanding how it works. Tom Claeren knows that difference well.

For years, Tom has moved through the worlds of superyachts, supercars, fine watches, art and global events with a camera in hand and an eye for the extraordinary. But what becomes clear when you spend time with him is that the man behind the imagery is just as interesting as the images themselves. He is driven without being distracted by the noise. Ambitious, but patient. Smart enough to understand the details and confident enough to see the bigger picture. And, perhaps most importantly, he is genuinely curious about the people, places and experiences that make this world worth exploring in the first place.

That curiosity has taken him a long way from his early days attending yacht shows and private viewings. Today, his work has placed him at the center of some of the world’s most exclusive experiences, including Ultimate Superyacht, his signature hospitality platform during the Monaco Grand Prix. But even with all the access, all the ambition and all the extraordinary settings, Tom seems less interested in simply showing people what luxury looks like than in understanding why it matters.

We were excited to know what he sees when he steps aboard a 72-metre superyacht. What makes an experience truly exceptional. Why the superyacht has become one of the most coveted rooms in the world. Where luxury is heading next. And, perhaps most interestingly, what keeps a man who spends his days surrounded by some of the world’s most beautiful and exclusive things grounded.

Our conversation took us from the deck of Stella Maris in Monaco to a small village in the South of France, from Formula 1 and hypercars to family, discipline and the simple advice to keep moving forward when the results are not immediately visible.

It is a conversation with a man who is clearly building something bigger than a personal brand. A man with the vision to dream ambitiously, the discipline to see those dreams through and the humility to understand that the best experiences are ultimately about more than what you own. They are about what you create, who you share them with and how they make you feel.

How did those early days on board shape the way you see and shoot the superyacht world today?

There is always something new to learn in yachting because the industry is constantly evolving. In my early days, I attended as many yacht shows and private viewings as possible, and I still do, to understand the market, the differences in design, scale and onboard experience.

Step by step, I became involved in content production and media projects for yachts and yacht-management companies. Eventually, I created my own events, chartering yachts of more than 50 metres in Monaco and Abu Dhabi.

That experience gave me a completely different understanding of the industry. I was no longer observing it only as a content creator; I was experiencing it as a client, living on board and managing every aspect of the organisation, hospitality and guest journey. Today, that understanding influences both the way I produce an event and the way I capture a yacht on camera.

How has the Ultimate Superyacht experience evolved alongside that spectacle, and what are you building toward with each new edition?

From day one, the vision was to create the most distinctive and exclusive hospitality platform on a superyacht during the Monaco Grand Prix.

Placing a hypercar on the helipad, creating exhibitions with monumental artworks, producing after-parties with internationally recognised DJs and welcoming Formula 1 drivers, celebrities, entrepreneurs, artists and members of our international network have all helped make the platform unique.

It has become successful not only as a hospitality experience, but also as a global media platform and an activation space for our corporate partners.

Each edition presents a new challenge because we set the bar very high from the beginning. Our objective is to continue developing the concept through larger yachts, stronger creative activations and increasingly ambitious productions.

Our first edition took place aboard the 55-metre Quinta Essentia, followed by the 52-metre Seven Sins, the 60-metre Sarastar, the 66-metre AHS in Abu Dhabi and, most recently, the 72-metre Stella Maris for Monaco 2026.

You’ve built a reputation for cinematic, high-end production rather than just influencer content. Where did that eye come from, and how has your approach to directing and shooting evolved as the brands and the stakes have gotten bigger?

I have always loved high-end photography and cinema. I find both visually inspiring, and from the beginning I wanted to translate that passion into my own content and creative vision.

My objective was to create beautiful, professional imagery that would work not only on my own platforms, but that luxury brands could confidently use within their own communications.

Over the years, the contracts and projects have become larger, which naturally means bigger teams, more preparation and greater pressure. It can also mean producing fewer projects, as each one requires much more attention.

At the same time, I never want to lose the spontaneity of smaller productions. Some of the most beautiful and creatively interesting content can still be created quickly, intuitively and on the move.

For someone stepping onto a charter for the first time, what separates a week on the water that feels effortless and elegant from one that simply misses the mark?

Preparation is one of the most important elements of a successful charter. You need to understand the client, their expectations and the type of experience they want before selecting the yacht.

A family looking for a peaceful and relaxed holiday will require a completely different yacht and itinerary from a group of friends wanting a more active or social experience.

When you choose a yacht, you are also choosing its crew, and the crew is one of the most important elements of the experience on board. This is why it is essential to understand not only the yacht’s specifications, design and facilities, but also the people operating it.

When the yacht, crew, itinerary and guests are properly matched, the experience feels completely effortless.

Your content is cinematic, not just glossy. What do you want people to actually understand about this world once the cameras stop rolling?

I want people to feel inspired by the content we create and motivated to become a better version of themselves.

It is not simply about displaying luxury. It is about creating beautiful imagery that communicates ambition, creativity and possibility.

I want people to understand that exceptional experiences are not necessarily accidental. They can be the result of vision, work, consistency and dedication.

Why has the superyacht replaced the members’ club as the room everyone wants to be in?

Superyachts are exclusive by nature. Access is limited, capacities are small and the cost of chartering or owning one remains extremely high.

Beyond that exclusivity, yachts create a unique feeling of freedom. They allow you to move between some of the world’s most beautiful destinations while enjoying an exceptional level of service, privacy, design and comfort.

In that sense, a yacht can become a private members’ club without a fixed address. It brings together a carefully selected community in an environment that is intimate, constantly changing and almost impossible to replicate on land.

You move fluidly between supercars, fine watches and yachts in your work. Do you see a common thread in how the truly discerning collect and experience luxury across those worlds?

These worlds are often connected by passion. For many collectors, yachts, cars, watches and art are not simply possessions. They represent craftsmanship, engineering, design and emotion.

They also create a sense of belonging among people who appreciate beautifully made objects and the stories behind them.

Ultimately, the most meaningful forms of luxury are often connected to experience: the emotion of driving a remarkable car, sailing somewhere with family and friends, or sharing a memorable moment around an exceptional object.

Luxury is increasingly moving beyond ownership and toward experience, emotion and shared memories.

You’ve worked with some of the biggest names in yacht building. What makes a brand partnership feel authentic to this lifestyle rather than simply parked on top of it?

For a partnership to feel authentic, it has to be genuine from
the beginning.

Both parties must be fully engaged and committed to creating something meaningful, whether that takes the form of a production, an event or a larger creative activation.
I choose to collaborate with brands I believe in and that align with my vision. The best partners understand the project, trust the creative process and give me enough freedom to express my own point of view.

When the relationship is based on shared values and a common ambition, the partnership becomes part of the experience rather than simply branding placed around it.

Who has been the greatest mentor in your life?

I would not name one specific mentor, but I have always been inspired by great actors and filmmakers.

I admire the ability of an actor to communicate emotion, inhabit completely different characters and make an audience believe in another world. That capacity to tell a story and create emotion has influenced the way I think about imagery, production
and performance.

I have also learned a great deal from the entrepreneurs, creators and industry professionals I have met throughout my career. Different people have influenced different parts of my journey.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

To remain consistent and continue moving forward, even when the results are not immediately visible.

A career is rarely built through one perfect opportunity. It is built through years of work, relationships, discipline and the ability to keep improving.

I have also learned that it is important to think ambitiously while remaining patient. Some projects need time before the vision, credibility and resources come together.

How would you describe a NOBLEMAN in your own words?

A NOBLEMAN is a modern gentleman with taste, discernment and the confidence to move comfortably within the highest levels of culture, luxury and experience.

However, true sophistication is not defined only by access or status. It is also reflected in the way someone treats people, carries responsibility and remains respectful and humble.

What keeps you grounded in a world built around access and aspiration?

My family and my roots keep me grounded.

I come from a modest family and a very small village in the South of France. I still love returning there after major events or long periods of travel.

It allows me to reset, slow down and reconnect with a quieter and simpler environment. That contrast is very important to me.

What is one habit that has helped you most in your career?

Sport has probably been the most important habit for me.

It helps me reset mentally, maintain discipline and keep my energy levels high. Combined with breathwork, good nutrition and occasional fasting, it has helped me manage demanding schedules and periods of intense pressure.

When the work becomes overwhelming, taking care of my physical and mental state allows me to return with much greater focus.

Where do you see the superyacht world heading next, whether in design or charter culture?

I believe we will continue to see growth in yacht-based events and branded yacht experiences, with global luxury companies increasingly using yachts as platforms for hospitality, communication and storytelling.

This is something we have already developed through our strong positioning within Formula 1. The yacht is no longer simply the setting; it becomes a complete marketing, media and experiential platform.

Our objective is now to expand beyond Formula 1 by creating our own events with partner brands, as well as producing bespoke yacht experiences directly for brands. This is a natural evolution of the knowledge, relationships and operational experience we have accumulated in the yachting industry over the years.

M/Y STELLA MARIS

What was your first impression when you stepped aboard this yacht?

I first visited Stella Maris during the Monaco Yacht Show around two years ago.

The first thing I said to my broker was that I would love to charter her for one of our future events.

The volume on board, the sleek design and the combination of 72 metres and 2,114 gross tonnes made her feel like the perfect stage for my vision.

At the time, however, it was far from certain that we would be able to make it happen. The budget was significant, and we did not know whether the owner would accept the scale and complexity of our event requirements.

Two years later, following a successful series of events and the references we had established, we received the approval to move forward.

Securing Stella Maris represented a major achievement for us and our most ambitious event charter to date.

Once on board, what details immediately stood out to you?

The volume and sense of space were the first things that stood out.

The large windows bring an extraordinary amount of natural light into the interiors, while the size of the helipad and the overall deck layout gave us the perfect platform for our event and production.

The positive attitude of the crew also made a strong impression. They understood that this was not a traditional charter and embraced the challenge of being part of an exceptional event.

Every great yacht has a personality. How would you describe this one?

Bold, elegant and fearless.

She has the presence of a true flagship, but she is also adaptable and ready to take on ambitious challenges.

Words by Tom Burleson
All photos @tomclaeren