North America: The Exuma Cays, Bahamas

Back to the beach, Day chose a spot where she has worked before to shoot the swimsuit issue's body painting story. She values the Exumas, an archipelago of 365 cays about 35 miles from Nassau, for its privacy and solitude.

"You're not fighting for blanket space on the beach and the waters are perfectly turquoise," she said. "We saw the most glorious sunsets you've ever seen in your life. Every day, the tide would change and look different."

South America: Easter Island, Chile

Visiting Easter Island has been on May's bucket list for some time, but even after landing in the remote island, she wasn't sure she would get her shot. Lots of on-site negotiation went into getting permission to shoot close to the sacred Moai statues, more than 800 of which were carved from the island's volcanic stone sometime between the ninth and 17th centuries.

"Everyone knows about it but they're just getting their hook into tourism, and they've embraced ecotourism," she said.

The differences in topography on Easter Island made for a great shoot: "There are black rocks, deforested planes, the Moai jutting out," said Day. "They've replanted a lot and a couple spots look like you're in Hawaii with white sand beaches. "

It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it.