The WellOff elixir is a reusable organic Keurig pod with healing effects for the body and the psyche. These coffee and tea pods provide the nutrition needed to get through the day while spreading a positive message. Health and well-being come first.
WellOff pods are produced with the highest quality certified organic ingredients. These amped-up drinks promise to provide plenty of health benefits in a delicious and easy-to-consume form.
Just like the creators of WellOff had taken their time to craft such a magnificent drink, we also took our time to display them in all their glory. Our sessions included product photography where we captured all the combinations available. We also highlighted some of the benefits of the products in a well-detailed video.
These elixirs have proven to be an excellent complement to our morning routine throughout the years. Some of the benefits of starting your day with a cup are as follows:
WellOff seeks to improve people’s lives by providing them with a handy and healthy functional beverage tailored to fuel their lifestyle in their unique way. We are excited to teach our community that the energy we use to greet the world comes from the nutrition we consume to nourish our body, mind, and spirit.
At C&I, we believe that health is wealth, and as such, we keep energized while creating mind-blowing content.
WellOff elixirs are available in eight different combinations. The most well-known are:
A cup of any blend will give you an energy boost while suppressing your appetite and relieving bloat, increasing your mental clarity, and eliminating hunger for hours. It will also reduce inflammation, cleanse your body and boost your immunity as your body naturally detoxes. Courtney, the founder, has spent the last 25 years of her life researching and self-evaluating. She’d always wanted to create a product that would make everyone feel good in their skin. Feeling better leads to a better appearance, and vice versa.
The mission of the park is to protect Florida’s most prized ecosystem while educating and exciting guests from all around the world through immersive activities, wildlife shows, interviews, and more.
When we first started working with Everglades Holiday Park, they were working to build authority in their profession and establish their name among the top wildlife parks in the region. With these business goals in mind, we created and executed annual marketing strategies designed to showcase their unique involvement with local wildlife, the guest experience, their attention to environmental stewardship and preservation, and the vibrant personalities that create such a welcoming and memorable adventure.
To achieve these goals, we created a strategy that involved detailed social media marketing complete with monthly video production, graphic design, and photography. Our team planned Everglade Holiday Park’s social media campaigns and managed tens of thousands of engagements from all over the world.
Our strategy focused on organic marketing and a playful menu of media content (video, graphic design, and photo) to drive user participation and followership. By treating Everglades Holiday Park’s social media as an extension of the guest experience, we were able to reengage social media users who had recently visited the park, as well as excite and pique the interests of users who lived in or were visiting Florida.
One of the key elements in the overall strategy was sharing fun and educational media to establish Everglades Holiday Park as a thought leader in wildlife preservation. This greatly increased audience participation on Instagram and Facebook and allowed us to discuss the function of the park and the involvement of the staff in more detail.
One of the great benefits of our strategy was the ability to teach Everglades Holiday Park’s audiences about the many areas in which they cater to the local environment. There is much more to the park than alligator shows and airboat tours. We chose to bring this to the very forefront of communication. Sharing fun and engaging content like this created the foundation for EHP’s online community, who regularly engage one another and act as brand ambassadors to the park.
There are often misconceptions associated with alligators. Many people who have never interacted with them fear them because they simply don’t understand their nature.
The Gator Boys seek to change the public’s perception and to teach Florida locals and visitors not to fear alligators but to respect them and their environment. Their shows are a balancing act between adventure, suspense, and education. Daring maneuvers are performed with live alligators to show the majesty of these creatures and to teach the general public more about them.
Once The Gator Boys became the face of the park, we chose to keep them at the forefront of EHP’s social media. Over time, as their reputation became more widespread and the content associated with them increased in popularity, we were able to incorporate more species of wildlife into the content structure, such as information about snakes, birds, and mammals.
Everglades Holiday Park interacts with a massive community through social media. Many of their most loyal audience members have visited their park, but there are a ton of people who are following their accounts that have yet to visit. These consumers are still in the consideration phase of EHP’s marketing funnel, so sharing content that will appeal to and interest them is a major focus in our overall strategy. To convert these warm leads, we often share sneak previews of the live gator shows performed by The Gator Boys. This type of content leads to a few different outcomes, which are crucial for driving sales: 1) it sparks conversations amongst our followers, who in turn advocate on behalf of EHP; 2) it encourages warm leads to seek out additional information about the park or book tickets outright; 3) it helps to reinforce the love our online community has for the brand; 4) it increases the recognition of The Gator Boys (essentially bolstering the power of this marketing funnel).
Below are some of the snapshots we’ve shared on social media to keep The Gator Boys in the limelight and to help increase foot traffic to the park and loyalty amongst our most dedicated fanbase.
Everglades Holiday Park has a diverse online following, but, as you would expect, many of their followers are younger. To appeal to EHP’s younger following, we created goofy comics that personified their mascot. These comics received a ton of engagement and were essential in showing the family-friendly atmosphere and lighthearted personality signature to the park.
Our success can be attributed to the type of content we shared with their audience. In addition to the educational content featuring The Gator Boys and other staff, we included goofy media that coincided with seasonal themes and social themes to give our audience more reason to follow EHP’s account.
These messaging segments greatly increased user participation, raising engagement across the board. With more likes and comments on every post, we had a rare opportunity to create hilarious graphics and videos. Ultimately, this new collection of media showed EHP’s audience that the guest experience was enjoyable for adventurers of all ages and that EHP offered a totally unique journey through the Florida Everglades.
All in all, the inclusion of this media provided our audience playful breaks between realistic media, which helped diversity our content structure and the type of engagement we received from our audience.
This type of content was purposed to encourage user participation in social media. By showcasing the guest experience, we found that users were more likely to comment on our social media content and share their adventures with the community. Not only did this increase traffic to Everglades Holiday Park, but it also helped to market their attractions, like airboat tours, the petting zoo, and gator shows.
The involvement we received from EHP’s audience also helped with our online customer service. With tens of thousands of questions and comments to answer weekly, having users answer guest inquiries became a major advantage.
This level of community building also aided in increasing the amount of 5-star Google and Yelp! reviews, which led to EHP ranking higher on Google.
The designer, Analisa Perretti, hired our team to design a chic brand image and lead the debut of her first fashion line: a collection of Italian summer dresses. The main challenge here was launching a brand with enough appeal to compete with the most popular high-end fashion brands in the industry, like Luis Vuitton, Prada, Dulce & Gabbana, and so on. This was a major challenge as Peretti Italy was entirely unknown and, therefore, did not have any standing in the fashion industry leading up to launch. But that wouldn’t stop us. We put our brains together and came up with a brand image that emits luxury.
Of the collection of branding and promotional materials we delivered for Peretti Italy, the most valuable were:
All of these services played an essential role in our overall launch strategy. With each successive piece of content in place, we were able to steadily build momentum and scale Annalisa Peretti’s social media following while positioning her audience to become first-time buyers at launch.
We presented many options to the client, showing various applications of the brand in action to provide a realistic real-world point of view. After narrowing down our top 3 logos, we applied the favorited logos to multiple frontiers from storefront mockups to packaging, stationery, and more.
Our all-inclusive approach presents all of the necessary information for the client to make the best decision for their business. Furthermore, this level of detail provides rare insights into the evolution of the brand following launch.
No matter the project, we approach everything with one mindset: this brand is going to make it big! Because of this, we plan the brand’s growth years down the road. This forward-thinking snapshot shows what we expect the brand to achieve.
Check out the document to the right to see the evolution of the Peretti Italy brand and why we landed on the branding presented above.
In an effort to position Annalisa Peretti, the chief designer of Peretti Italy fashion, as a thought leader in her industry, we created a diverse menu of media showcasing her luxurious lifestyle.
The media we created is all set in Los Angeles and aims to connect the designer’s personality with her profession: fashion. We photographed Annalisa Peretti wearing beautiful outfits from other top designers and walked the city with her to get these amazing shots.
Overall, this was used to tease the launch of her fashion line and begin conditioning her audience to receive ads and interact with intake forms for use in further marketing efforts.
We managed thousands of engagements, interacting with social media users around the world. It was our mission to elevate Annalisa’s audience’s perception of her and win over their trust before marketing her fashion line. To this end, we accomplished our mission.
Kali Boxes was started by our close friend Sara Shake of ExposedPR and her partner Joanna Piira to help ease that time of the month for women in a healthier and wholesome way.
Kali Boxes are a subscription box service intended to raise awareness of what women are putting in their bodies. As health-conscious individuals, Sarah and Joanna wanted to make the option of choosing organic an easy one. In doing so, every purchase also donates a $1 of the cost to Girl Up, the United Nations Foundation’s Adolescent Girl Campaign.
One of the chief reasons photography was so necessary is because of the honesty we employed. Nothing is embellished or misleading. We showcased the exact products that would be delivered in each box.
This also helped ease conumsers into this new style of shopping.
As with anything new, consumers are often apprehensive. That’s why honest photography such as this was so effective. Consumers needed to know what they were committing to. They needed to see the real products, the real packaging… all of it. We believe that that is how brands should operate. Nothing is more attractive than honesty in marekting. So, we made sure our content was accurate across the board.
Freebird real estate agents focus on the unique lifestyle needs of their clientele to find them a home that best suits their way of living. Before beginning the home buying process, they take the time to get to know their clients personally. If you’re a yogi, an outdoorsman, a business person, a boater, a foodie (you get the point), they’ll learn about your interests and passions until they have a firm understanding of how you live. Then they’ll find you a perfect home in a neighborhood that exemplifies your lifestyle.
Freebird believes that how you live is the first step in deciding where you should live. They inject the home buying experience with a social-centric, no-pressure vibe, which provides their agents with the intel needed to locate your dream home in East Fort Lauderdale. This intimate process creates a positive and relaxed atmosphere in which their clients can experience life in East Fort Lauderdale before committing to a move.
They are unlike any other real estate firm in the profession. And we are confident they will enrich the quality of life in East Fort Lauderdale for residents interested in buying, selling, or renting a beautiful home.
Our image had to excite consumers by breathing life into real estate. Boring wouldn’t do. Ordinary wouldn’t do. Their real estate process contradicts the status quo, therefore, their branding had to be completely unique for the industry.
First, we created a color palette that was iconic to South Florida scenery yet unique to the Freebird brand. One important difference here is how it distinguishes the company from other real estate agencies. The client wanted to avoid mimicking the realtor aesthetic that has completely saturated the market. This decision inspired us to incorporate people into the branding collateral. Rather than showcase homes and realtors in suits, we chose to showcase real people living and enjoying the East Fort Lauderdale lifestyle.
Given that Freebird is redefining the real estate process for home buyers and sellers by making the entire experience more social and laidback in nature, we avoided using imagery or language that denoted hard sales. We want users to feel comfortable every time they interact with the Freebird brand. If we did not achieve this, then we risked devaluing the Freebird program, which would, ultimately, cast the brand in the same shade as generic real estate agencies.
The final product is a distinguished and easily identifiable brand image that we are confident will become an icon to real estate in East Fort Lauderdale. No other company embodies the same values, energy, or process as Freebird, which is why the branding is so effective.
Freebird cultivates the most experienced professionals in the industry. Their leadership has been serving the East Fort Lauderdale markets in various capacities for the past 30 years. They know everything there is to know about Fort Lauderdale and will use their insights to guide you to your dream home.
More importantly, once you do find your new home in East Fort Lauderdale, Freebird invites you to join their community permanently. They host monthly Happy Hour occasions throughout Fort Lauderdale, so you can embrace your new home and start building your social network.
We designed and developed a digital home that exemplifies the Freebird program. The entire website is built around the user experience. It is designed to excite consumers, inform them of the benefits of Freebird’s unique program, show them the validity of their process and encourage them to reach out to schedule a tour with a Freebird agent.
The greatest challenge we faced in the creation of the website was the interactive map for the Areas East page. This custom design provides an overview of East Fort Lauderdale, showing major points of interest and the locations of the most iconic and livable neighborhoods in the city. Our interactive map allows users to embark on a digital tour of East Fort Lauderdale. Each icon leads to a unique page that provides lifestyle information and pictures of the neighborhood, the most recent real estate statistics, and a few Freebird favorites.
To exemplify the laidback, social-centric appeal of Freebird real estate in Fort Lauderdale, we created a custom lifestyle quiz. This casual intake form preps users for the program and provides Freebird agents with a few talking points to get to know their clients on a personal level. A major function of the site is to ease consumers into this new real estate process while gently feeding them information on the Freebird brand and what awaits their new life in East Fort Lauderdale.
Jedidiah Learning Steps is a nonprofit school on the outskirts of Lusaka, Zambia that offers children and teens free schooling and educational services. Their vision for united and prosperous Zambia begins with the children. They trust in the power of knowledge and have pledged to instill likeminded respect for schooling in their students. Jedidiah Learning Steps was started by Sifelani Mwale in 2010. At first, her school had 25 students. It has since grown to well over 300 students! They are in the process of building a fully functioning school building to give the children more comfort and space to grow.
We filmed the following video documentary for Jedidiah Learning Steps through our 501c(3) nonprofit organization, C&I Reach. We wanted to shed light on their ongoing mission and inform viewers about life in Zambia. We filmed this video documentary during our first trip to Jedidiah Learning Steps so it plays much like an origin story. Being there, getting to know and experience life in Zambia firsthand, added a lot of authenticity and accuracy to our documentary.
We used this video documentary production to help Jedidiah Learning Steps market their brand. To succeed they need to attract the global spotlight. This video is a great start in achieving just that. If you’d like to help Jedidiah Learning Steps build their brand new school, please visit our website and donate.
While we love to join a creative project at any step in the process, we especially love being able to flex our pre-production muscles.
This project with Laguna Blends required a lot of front-end planning, brainstorming, and production meetings. We developed 10 concepts for them to choose from in order to produce 4 different videos, and then we developed still photography concepts that vibed with the video in order to put together a cohesive social campaign.
This shoot required a crew of 8 from our team: we produced, directed, styled, casted, filmed, and photographed each production from start to finish. In the end, we heard “thanks again for an amazing shoot” from Laguna Blends.
Our social media campaign aimed to educate the general public on the nutritional value of hemp, as well as the types of people who use it. Considering Laguna Blends incorporates hemp and CBD into a number of products ranging from smoothie blends and coffee to face masks and beauty supplies, we needed to show the versatility of their primary ingredient. Furthermore, given the connotation of hemp, it was important to educate new audiences about hemp users by showing who they truly are.
Our social media videos are quick and playful. They rely on bright colors and a hint of mystery to keep viewers engaged until the end. The message: “Trust in plants.”
All in all, our media hints at the hemp lifestyle by showing those who utilize it and benefit from it. We do not engage in hard sells but, rather, pique the viewers curiosity so they actively seek out more information. This strategy allowed the Laguna Blends brand to branch out from its niche audience and reach consumers in untapped markets. The results showed in the conversion of cold leads and the maintenance of loyal consumers.
At the mercy of time, Alpina Frederique Constant Watches hired our team of photographers to photograph, edit and deliver six product shots, because our commitment to delivering quality work is not limited by a tight schedule. With a 24-hour turnaround from inception to creation, our team needed to maintain a detailed consistency in approach and appeal that highlighted the luxurious qualities of Alpina Frederique Constant Watches without sacrificing the cohesive aesthetic of the product line.
Our process required the utmost precision and accuracy. The placement of each watch in each photograph needed to be exact and consistent across the board. Furthermore, each image had to capture subtle idiosyncrasies of the varying styles of watched without diminishing the collective appeal of the entire product line. The lighting was the hardest (and most important) element to tame. Not only did the radiance have to remain consistent across each product showcase, but we could not sacrifice highlighting the ornate designs to compensate for clarity.
Blue Nun commissioned us to create a TV advert showcasing their delicious Riesling wine. They requested that the framework for the ad and the atmosphere therein be within the context of a “girls night out.” We were asked to come up with the concept and locations, organize the talent, and create a licensed song for the ad.
We decided that an industrial loft space, which was a renovated warehouse building, would be perfect for the theme. The setting is mysterious and can easily be interpreted as an underground, speakeasy-esque bar scene. The talent we hired fit Blue Nun’s targeted demographic perfectly. They also helped to make the scene believable, which was essential for their marketing goals.
We wanted to show that their wines are not simply alcoholic beverages, but that they represent one’s mood. This is why the collection of photography is so drastically different. The images portraying the Merlot varietal are moody and romantic. They are lustful and that sells. Whereas, the product photography for the Riesling varietal is bright and playful. The imagery leans on innocence and wholesomeness.
Glavovic Studio is an architecture, art, and urban design firm based in Fort Lauderdale. Their architectural contributions and unwavering commitment to designs that benefit both people and place have taken their influence internationally. Glavovic Studio has been published in more than 30 national and international publications and has won dozens of design awards since its founding, including multiple awards from the Urban Land Institute and the United States Green Building Council.
Despite their prestige and farreaching success, Glavovic Studio’s brand image had fallen out of sync with their name and what they represent. So, they came to us to reimagine their consumer-facing facade. When they hired us, their website was severely outdated. They had very little content, and that which they did possess was lacking conviction and quality.
After getting to know Margi Nothard, the founder, CEO, and lead designer at Glavovic Studio, we knew exactly how we would restyle their brand. This would ultimately call for a complete, top-to-bottom overhaul, a brand new website, video storytelling, professional photography, and a 12-month marketing strategy to back it up.
Perhaps the most needed service to Glavovic Studio’s rebranding was the design and development of a new website. Their former site was lacking in key areas, which dampened the user experience and, ultimately, weakened their first impression. The categorization of information was confusing. The structure of the site made it difficult to maneuver between important pages. The design did not match the studios potential as a design firm. And they were not showcasing their work in the best possible way.
We learned a lot during the website redevelopment phase, including the type of content that Glavovic Studio was missing and would benefit from most. This predominantly included video production and professional photography. The combination of the two would create a unified brushstroke, showing the commitment and integrity behind each Glavovic Studio design.
Ultimately, this decided what Glavovic Studio’s new consumer-facing gateway would look like. Their audience would immediately be able to identify a shift in the quality of the content and the storytelling therein. No matter where their audience would first interact with this new grade of media, they would learn that it is just a small piece in a fullscale rebranding initiative. That was our goal and our success.
Glavovic Studio’s former website was lacking in pivotal areas but none more so than their portfolio. They were not showcasing their work properly. Aside from lackluster descriptions, they failed to include any decent media. Rather than showcase finished products in their natural environment, they used renderings that were created at the start of the endeavor. This was artificial — a stylistic approach that failed to connect with readers.
To remedy this, we brought their portfolio to life with real, crisp, authentic and informative media. This is where the bond between professional photography and video production shined brightest. Our video showcases of their work, such as this case study on The Mending Wall at the Boca Raton Museum of Art (left), explain the inspiration behind each project, the practical application, and the longterm benefits. They connect Glavovic Studio’s artwork, urban design, and architecture to a time and place. This would ultimately lay the new foundation for their brand’s narrative.
The video showcases often inform on the people and institutions that benefit from Glavovic Studio’s design. Whereas, the photographs highlight the artistic nuances. They are hyper-focused yet silent, which allows the viewer to invent their own interpretations. Together, they paint a detailed picture of each project.
A major part of Glavovic Studio’s ethos is their willingness and passion for helping those in need. They prize architecture that benefits the working class above all else. With Margi Nothard at the helm, they have spearheaded nationwide initiatives, such as the affordable housing campaign with AHF (featured left). Margi’s unwavering social responsibility has both guided Glavovic’s ever-evolving mission and been the catalyst to new architectural frontiers.
As is stated in their mission statement, “The studio explores architecture engaged in environmental stewardship and social value…” This phrase resonated with us. Given that this is one the areas Glavovic Studio would never compromise, we knew it needed to be a guiding theme to their new brand narrative. Their mission to use architecture and urban design for good is now at the forefront.
Also known as the OC Fella, Sammy C was first discovered on season 5 of NBC’s “The Voice.” Sammy is a budding rapper, singer, and lyricist from Southern California currently building a name in the national local music scene.
Sammy focuses on inspiring others using a positive message with every rhyme he drops. He is slowly becoming a voice for anti-bullying as well as for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, a condition with which he was diagnosed at a very young age.
The first video is the official “OC Fella” music video for his first hit single. The second video is part of a small acoustic set we shot at our LA loft of Sammy performing his soon-to-drop single “Bump That.
The second video is for his single “OC Fella.” We decided to go big in this video. Aerial shots, lovely ladies, beautiful beaches, and cars you’ve only dreamed of driving; All the things Southern California is notorious for.
Make sure to follow Sammy on Instagram, twitter, and keep an eye out for his future releases on iTunes.
Hippie Organics grows organic non-GMO fruits and vegetables. Their philosophy conveys a love for nature and deep respect for healthy eating. Their core values are equally wholesome. Unlike many food providers, Hippie Organics inspires creativity at every level of the food chain. Their brand art is bright, playful, and authentic — a testament to the food they provide.
Hippie Organics by Alpine Fresh hired us to film their company’s brand video, which introduces the founders, farmers, and branding artists while educating users about their pure growing methodology. To properly present their brand, we needed to take the video out of the studio to their farmland. The natural setting was not only essential in setting the tone, but it was also a crucial means of delivering the dialogue in a captivating and true fashion.
A major selling point for Hippie Organics is the quality of their food. All of the fruit and produce harvested on their land is a labor of love. Their berries are rich in flavor and nutrition without the need for added chemicals or artificial growing methodologies. This richness is iconic for their brand and something we felt was absolutely necessary to convey in their photography.
Another standout element of Hippie Organics is their cover art. Their labels are groovy and playful, and so obviously genuine. They are not using art to sell their products. They are using art to illustrate the personality of their products and their farmers. We think that’s really powerful, so we chose to give their packaging and branding the attention it deserved.
Outside of this setting, we also photographed their fruits and vegetables on the farm and in a very clean studio environment. The photos taken at the studio are super crisp. They have white backgrounds so the natural colors of the fruit pop! The vegetables were treated slightly differently. In many of the photos they are being cradled, almost cherish. This denotes the purity of the product.
All in all, the photography we produced for Hippie Organics is a very real showcase of their brand. The fruit is deeply colorful. The labels play to this and make it abundantly clear that they practice what they preach. Though the photographs are staged, they appear natural. That’s the magic of creative marketing.
Roya Zangoui is a Miami-born, Brooklyn-based CPC certified life coach and professional model. Her perception of femininity, sexuality, and the self truly distinguish her from other models we’ve worked with.
We’ve worked with Roya on a number of productions over the years. She starred in both our #UNCREATIVE clothing launch promotion as well as select advertisements we produced for Archives — a hip clothing brand located on Las Olas Boulevard in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
If you want to work with us to elevate your personal image then click the button below to get in contact with our management team.
From her caring personality to working with children with autism, Roya uses her creativity to help people every single day. She is passionate about the world, using her platform as a model to send out a message of love and find new ways to fight for real change. We photographed and filmed this model profile for Roya Zangoui before she left for New York City.
The Uncreative Blog highlight artists, like Roya, Mercedes, Sabela and those using their art to connect with the world. We shed light on undergound artists breaking out into the industry through our Freestyle Friday series (we recommend starting the series with the debut episode featuring South Florida rapper, Sam Stan, and go from there). And we also host Uncreative Radio, a podcast series that explores politics, pop culture, modern art, activism and more with well-known creative professionals who are making waves in their industry, such as 103.5 The Beat radio personality, Stichiz.
Within this creative umbrella exists the Uncreative Shop. This is the artist’s calling card. We design and sell limited apparel (hoodies, hats, t-shirts, shoes, headphones, etc.) to further our creative mission. Our morals are grounded in artistic expression — no matter the art form. Our style is clean, simple, and comfortable. Look out for the Uncreative X.
Roya Zangoui helped to bring the Uncreative brand to life. Her involvement in our first marketing campaign showed the world who wears Uncreative apparel and why the Uncreative lifestyle belongs to you and us.
Brew Next Door is a unique social frontier founded by the creatives at C&I Studios. Literally, next door to C&I Studios’ Fort Lauderdale location, this bar is a haven for local artists, musicians, business professionals, influencers, and anyone who loves great art, intimate moments, and handmade cocktails. Throughout the month, the space hosts live bands, art shows, open mic nights, improv shows, and more. It is known locally as ‘The Hidden Gem’ of Fort Lauderdale, due to its speakeasy-esque atmosphere, private location, and word-of-mouth presence.
One of the most notable characteristics of Brew Next Door is the attention to books and vintage furniture. They link guests to the culture of the 20th century, which this space embodies to the fullest. All cocktails are named and modeled after the most notable American artists of the last century, such as Ernest Hemingway and Emily Dickens to name a few. A floor-to-ceiling bookshelf bar area and secret bookshelf door, behind which private events are often hosted, add to the atmosphere and virtually teleport guests to the heyday of American culture. The aging books also add a soft note of vanilla to the air, which increases cravings for premium bourbon, of which Brew Next Door offers a grand selection.
Video can articulate emotion more strongly than any other visual medium. Even with a soundtrack masking the sounds at the bar, one can hear ice clinking against the glass, they can smell the aroma of citrus and mint, they can feel the shaking of their cocktail before it is poured from the frosted shaker. Even though these sensory details are imagined, they are very real.
Video also ads a secondary visual cue to the aesthetic at Next Door. It brings the vintage environment of books into the present, essentially connecting the brand to their founding fathers in C&I Studios. Using video to sell also enables Brew Next Door’s versatility. They can promote rotating and promotional artisan cocktails without needing to redesign and reprint menus. These are also extremely valuable assets to use on social media and other digital promotions. Rather than relying on a flyer and spelling out a drink’s ingredients, which is tacky and unattractive, they can show their audience what they’re offering. And that brings people through the doors.
During the day, Brew Next Door curates locally roasted coffees. Though the appreciation for literature remains a notable characteristic during the day, the atmosphere is completely different from its after-hours counterpart. Glass bay doors, often left open when the weather permits, floods the interior with natural light.
At night, when the bar comes to life, the setting reverses. Dim lighting perpetuates the mood. Soft music injects a romance. And the patrons who come to drink do so to embrace intimate moments; to relish in great art and deep conversation; to savor complex wines and unique cocktails; to escape the ordinary Fort Lauderdale bar scene. Brew Next Door does not associate with other bars in the area. Instead, it caters to a crowd that goes at their own pace, who drink because they enjoy the flavors and aromas of handcrafted cocktails, and who like to reflect on their day in a setting that invokes deeper thoughts.
That is what this photoshoot seeks to capture. Not only did we want to excite the viewer with stunning photos of these two beautiful models, but we also wanted to show them who they can expect to run into on any given night. Rather than focus on cocktails and the bar area, we chose to accentuate the lifestyle aspect offered at Brew Next Door. You see, there is a freedom of expression available at Brew Next Door that is not afforded any place else. They allow their guests to immerse themselves in the setting and the culture in the ways that speak to them most deeply. If they want to pull a book from the shelf or recommend a vinyl record to the bartender, they may do so. If they want to shoot some awesome photographs for their blog or Instagram, then Next Door is their creative playground. If they want to invite their friends to a private event hidden behind the secret bookshelf door, all they have to do is ask.
As we mentioned above, during the day Brew Next Door is a cafe. It is one of the most popular neighborhood hangouts in downtown Fort Lauderdale, having catering to the interests of creatives, business professionals, coffee enthusiasts, and locals for nearly a decade.
The vibe is brighter and warmer during the day. It is a space that promotes creativity and neighborly connectivity. For these reasons, the media we use to promote the space (and daytime atmosphere) is different from our after-hours aesthetic.
Whereas the branding for Brew Next Door at night is moody and appeals to one’s curiosity, during the day it appeals to one’s senses. You can smell the espresso wafting in the air. You can imagine the soft, buttery texture of our pastries. You can hear the pitter-patter of rain on the glass bay doors. You can sense that it is one of the rare places in Fort Lauderdale where people connect on a deeper level.
Kids is a six-piece American Indie-rock band formed in 2012 by Josiah Sampson (guitar), Joshua Diaz (lead vocals, bass), Matthew Barrios (drums) and Christian Gonzalez (guitar). Kids is licensed by C&I Studios and Hard Rock Energy, who featured “The Standoff” from Rich Coast and guitarist, Josiah Sampson, in their debut commercial.
Kids released their debut EP Sink or Swim in 2013 and quickly established themselves as local heroes in South Florida before securing fame nationwide. Kids’ thrilling performance at Florida’s Coastline Music Festival, where they shared the stage with St. Lucia, Surfer Blood, The Neighbourhood, and indie-icons Passion Pit, Matt & Kim, and Capital Cities, started a new chapter in the musical career.
The following video (featured left) is a live recording we shot in our recording studio in Fort Lauderdale, known locally as The Barn. The setting shows the soul that keeps the band together, as well as providing great insight into the recording process and the band members’ skills as musical performers.
Kids are not just musicians, they’re storytellers. We wanted to give their second album, Rich Coast, the debut it deserved, so we created the following video series to tease the release.
Each video is a glimpse inside the album and the artists’ inspirations for writing it. It is a blending of their literal and spiritual journey — the sacrifices they made and their reason for making them. The series is about abandoning conventional living in pursuit of something greater. It’s about being lost and being found; of knowing your place and knowing when to move on. It’s about solitude and the lessons we can learn from being alone.
Our video series received great success. Each week, thousands of viewers tuned in for the next chapter of the saga. Each teaser was paired with a musical soundpiece from Rich Coast. The combination excited Kids’ audience. It allowed them to embrace their music in unique ways, which led to a successful album release.
When working with Kids, each production injects the song and the purpose of their performance with new meaning. They are such a colorful, vibrant and expressive band. Their lyrics contain unheard messages and their instrumental evoke uplifting, energized feelings. Their ability to bend emotion and understanding like this make them an incredibly fun band to work with. So much so, that we filmed two music videos for Kids’ single “Second Star on the Right.”
The artistic version of “Second Star on the Right” shows what inspires Kids’ music. Their lyrics lean on fairytales, such as Peter Pan. We used similar elements to drive this story. For instance, the attic setting, and peering into (or rather inviting) an unknown world into one’s reality, is a play on Jumanji. Using popular culture, such as this, created the framework for this story and those shown below. It was really amazing to see how the same song impacts the listener differently when the setting and context changes.
The following photos were captured at For The Love Music Festival, hosted by us in Fort Lauderdale. You can see more from the artists headlining For The Love here.
Magic Leap is an American startup company that superimposes 3D computer-generated imagery over real-world objects. By projecting a digital light field into the user’s eye, they achieve an augmented reality experience that is wildly beautiful and useful for both entertainment and practical purposes. When we started working with Magic Leap their product was still in development. This posed an interesting challenge for us: we had to teach the general public about their technology while they were still mastering it themselves! With these obstacles in mind, our initial strategy was to simplify their amazing product to make it more approachable.
It’s clear to say that Magic Leap has entered into a new era of technology. As they started navigating uncharted territory it became clear that they needed a skilled team of marketers and content creators to introduce their product and company to everyday consumers. As with any new technological development, educating the general public of its many uses and benefits is a key challenge. Simply put, people don’t like change. Fortunately, today more than ever, consumers are more receptive to game-changing technologies. Even still, Magic Leap faced a serious hurdle in the race to market: they needed to simplify a seriously complex tool to appeal to the mass market. So, they hired us to create media that would educate the world on their innovations in augmented reality.
New technology is always a tricky subject to present but people always understand tech better if there is a human connection that can be made. To help build such a connection to the Magic Leap One, we created one of the strongest videos in our overall marketing campaign. It begins by introducing the engineers leading the development of Magic Leap One. Hearing their stories and the path that led them to Magic Leap humanized their rather mysterious brand.
Creating this video involved an intensive production schedule involving 14 days of travel to 12 destinations to show Magic Leap’s global presence. We traveled to multiple countries, from San Francisco, New Zealand, and Switzerland, to film interviews with chief engineers who shared their inspirations and aspirations. This unscripted take not only made the brand and product more approachable, but it made Magic Leap’s company culture relatable to people involved in the company and those hearing about it for the first time.
Magic Leap’s flagship product, the Magic Leap One, was initially designed as an entertainment and gaming tech product. We created several videos that showcased some of the developers and media partners that created applications on the Magic Leap One platform. We interviewed members from, Insomniac, Funomena, and even the critically acclaimed Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós, with whom the team at Magic Leap developed Tonandi, an interactive audio-visual exploration of the sounds and spirit of the band.
Launch day brought with it a large amount of new media to create. To help properly execute the product launch, we created a series of user video guides to teach users how to use and master their Magic Leap One device. We knew this educational series would live for as long as the product was in the market, so we had to make sure everything was perfectly accurate so users would receive the ideal experience.
Our intro series is a step-by-step explanation on how to get the most out of every Magic Leap experience. These videos live on Magic Leap’s website and are delivered with each product that is purchased.
The many videos we filmed for Magic Leap — both the creative and educational — led up to this moment. The world’s most influential techies gathered in L.A. to learn and play with the new Magic Leap One. We photographed the event and used this media to further Magic Leap’s influence in the exciting world of gaming innovation.
L.E.A.P. Conference was a colossal event and our team needed to be in many places at one to capture it all. From keynote presentations to tech demos, panels, attendee interactions, and the show floor itself, we navigated the event and successfully documented an accurate picture of this monumental, one-in-a-lifetime event.
Our experience with these kinds of events really showcased itself here. This was no small task and there were no second chances to capture this content as it happened over the course of 2 days. This required a knowledgeable and nimble team that knows how to be in the right place, with the right gear, at all the right times. Needless to say, we absolutely nailed it.
Edward Turner, the designer of Triumph’s Bonneville T120 and arguably the most famous name in motorcycles, created the iconic British classic in 1958. The T120 inspired a new generation of teenage cafe racers and established a proud reputation for action and performance. It has remained a beacon of British motorcycle engineering, finding a resurgence in 2006 after the launch of its successor the Bonneville T100.
In part, the Bonneville T120 gave rise to the Bonneville T100, which launched in 2002 and quickly earned acclaim as a modern vintage ride with stylish appeal and all-performance handling. The T100 played a pivotal role in the birth of the modern custom scene, bringing the classic Bonneville into the modern era and instigating the rebirth of the T120 four years later.
Though the Triumph Bonneville T100 is only 13 years old, its reputation is bound to the vintage classics of the 1950s and 1960s. It is a young piece of machinery from a brand with a rich history, and is styled as such. The T100 is bound to both the past and present, tying modern motorcyclists to the heyday of 1950s engineering and vice-versa. At the time of its creation, the T100 was already acclaimed alongside the classics, which has emboldened motorcyclists to follow in the tracks of the earliest roadwarriors. For these reasons, we chose the Bonneville T100 to be the centerpiece of this Euro Bike photography concept.
In a word, Triumph Motorcycles represent freedom. It is a means to venture beyond limitations; to bypass roadways and barriers and claim the liberty of the open road and unbeaten path in the most exciting way we can think of. The Triumph lifestyle is only made possible through its products. Therefore, we paired lifestyle alongside the product to show they are dependent on one another. Our media is intentionally commercial, casual and candid. Nothing is random, but it feels so. Sudden pitstops along the side of the road, obvious product shots, inviting lifestyle shots… they all share in telling the narrative.
To emphasize the quality, style, and classic vibe of the Bonneville T100 we styled the talent with quality, vintage-style clothing. We chose to play up Triumph’s identity as a luxury and masculine brand by outfitting the model with a Bilt Drago Leather Jacket, Street & Steel Fingerless Gloves, Ray-Ban Clubmaster, and Bell Bullitt Helmet. These accessories played to the strengths of the narrative: a solo road trip through Angeles National Forest with nothing but the atmosphere and the steady rumbling of the Bonneville T100.
We chose to work in Angeles National Forest because of its dynamic landscape and unique micro-climates. The setting and terrain change regularly, which helped diversify the imagery and create a longer, more adventurous feeling road trip. The changing land also helps the consumer see and understand that this is more than a motorcycle advertisement–that it is a lifestyle awakening.
In a few of the photographs, we showcased the application of the product beyond style and into the utility (another area where landscape really came into play). Pairing the products with the setting added a lot of variation to the photoshoot, which helps tell a deeper story. In some photographs, the narrative becomes more about the individual riding the Bonneville T100–his curiosity, demeanor, and passion for adventure. While other photographs (the majority), show why and how the T100 is a centerpiece to his life; how it activates his personality. When viewed as a whole, the gallery shines with a very defined purpose and emotion that would have otherwise been dulled without the character and scenario we invented.
We’d like to give a shout-out to Eaglerider in Los Angeles, where we rented the Triumph Bonneville T100. It was the exact bike we needed for the occasion. The Triumph was a comfortable ride through the city and up the highway to Angeles National Forest. It was a perfect combination between a street bike and destination bike, climbing up the mountains and across unique terrain effortlessly. We love the fact that the T100 is a lighter, sit-up bike with 100cc and a smooth clutch. It was a super comfortable ride. The coolant system, which prevents overheating, was another awesome feature for a long day riding in the mountains. If you plan to visit California and want to enjoy a day riding through the mountains like this, check out Eaglerider in Inglewood. You can also contact us for more information on our exact route.
What a day! What a day!
Our photographer, Justin Mein, road his Ducati Monster 1200 S during the shoot. He and a good friend Curtis Blank captured this really awesome behind the scenes photography.
A little bit about our gear…
Our gear made the transition between micro-climates and scenarios seamless. We packed two Peak Design 45L Travel Backpacks. These camera bags held all of our gear, water, and food. For a lightweight, versatile bag, the Peak Design Travel Backpack was super spacious, so we didn’t need to take more than one bag on each motorcycle. Without them, we wouldn’t have been able to bike through the mountains for 6+ hours comfortably.
We shot the entire gallery on the Nikon D5, rotating between the Nikon 24mm 1.4 and Sigma Art 50mm 1.4. We primarily used the Nikon 24mm lens. In some scenarios, we used two Profoto A1 Wireless Systems with air remote trigger to set the scene.
During the photoshoot we road through a magnitude 5 earthquake! We felt the rumbling but didn’t know how serious it was until we checked our phones and saw the notification. Throughout the rest of the day, we had to be on high alert for debris in the roadway and had to be conscious of unsecured rockfaces when venturing around bends and offroad. Fortunately, we had really awesome gear, expertly crafted motorcycles and some of the best motorcycle helmets on the market. Safety first!
The Black Mile Travel Bag is a compact, space-saving, and versatile travel bag. It was designed by a United States Military Veteran to be lightweight, functional, and fashionable in both adventurous rural settings and bustling urban locales. The Black Mile Travel Bag can be worn as a backpack, used as a suitcase or modified into a carry-on travel bag.
We were tasked with branding the Black Mile Travel Bag to appeal to three types of consumers, which were outlined by the client: the rugged adventurer, the wanderlust, and the creative professional. All three audiences share a respect for nature and travel, however, their personalities are wildly different. We created a concept that would appeal to all three.
Our narrative follows a creative professional on a trip abroad for a client. Upon landing his identity shifts. He is not purely a creative professional. He embodies deep respect and appreciation for the country and the culture he is experiencing — he begins to wander and admire. Similarly, he ventures off the beaten path, which appeals to the rugged adventurer. All three of these archetypes converge yet they do not conflict with one another. This situated the Black Mile Travel Bag as the universal companion for all types of travelers and businessmen.
The photography reinforces the message articulated in the branding video: that Black Mile Travel Bag is a perfect companion for any type of traveler in any type of situation. Though this is stated in the video, the product deserved additional verification. Our product photography for Black Mile Travel Bag, therefore, showcases the product in its entirety.
We approached our product photography from two angles: full-scope (shooting the entire bag) and granular (shooting close-ups of the features). Not only does this prove the message stated in the video, but it also adds value and appeal to the product.
Regardless of consumer archetype, the photography shows all of the ways this bag benefits those who travel. These photos are proof of its durability, versatility, quality, and style. Nothing is omitted. Every canvas — every layer — is photographed to fully capture the bags function and lack of limitation.
These photos are perfect for online sales, which is the primary medium Black Mile Travel Bag markets to their consumers. Once their website is complete, these photos will become the centerpiece. They will lead online sales and expand their digital marketing to include social media — a resource they have yet to tap into.
Komuso Design provides a simple and natural means of reconnecting with the self. Their product — The Shift — encourages people to slow down, steady their breathing and embrace the present. Their philosophy is backed by ancient wisdom. They embody the Komuso way of life, using teachings from Japan’s Edo period to spread their messaging.
Komuso Design only offers one product to consumers. Yet their brand is rich and vibrant. They invest a lot of time telling their story. And that narrative is what has elevated their company to a global presence. When the owners, Todd and Vanessa, came to us, their company was young and quite unknown. They had a vision for what they wanted to accomplish — the story they needed to share with the world — but weren’t sure how to go about it. That’s where we came in. We immediately connected with their vision. We understood the value their product offered to people and were eager to help share those healing powers with the world.
Our branding mission started with video production. The first video we filmed (below left) was essentially an introduction to the brand, the product, and the modern problem they solve through The Shift. The video to the left is much more impressive. What started as a 2-minute company profile video grew into a massive 6-minute story. It is the truest representation of the Komuso brand and a must-see. The third video we produced (below right) is a tutorial on how to best use The Shift.
The Shift is the centerpiece of the Komuso brand. Don’t let its simple appearance fool you. It was developed by a psychotherapist and meditation teacher who used data from over a year of testing to engineer the ideal length, diameter, and quality of metal. Part of The Shift’s charm is its apparent simplicity. It may seem ordinary but it is, in fact, profound. Its design is, in a way, a clever nod to the power of breath, which when harnessed has an immense influence on our bodies and mind.
Given that simplicity is the namesake of The Shift, we chose to keep the aesthetic of their product photography minimal. This was also a stylistic nod to the natural form of The Shift and the philosophy behind the product.
When we took our photography outside of a controlled setting, our methodology and purpose had to change. We needed to connect The Shift to a mindset. After listening to our audience, we realized that many people underestimate the power of breathing. They often take it for granted and that leads them to disregard it as a healing modality. Because of this, people were failing to see The Shift for what it is and what it provides.
We realized that our photography needed to teach our audience about breathing and The Shift’s place therein. So, we chose to place The Shift in magnificent settings around the world, like the Mojave Desert. Our photography associates The Shift with these landscapes, ultimately connecting the tool to nature. The environments we chose are calm, vast, isolated, and ancient. They are timeless and powerful, as is the power of breathing. When the viewer sees these tranquil photos and notices The Shift is the reason the models are so relaxed, they immediately have an epiphany.
The imagery above is created with our social media audience in mind. We thoroughly researched their online behavior to create media that we knew would resonate. The imagery and messaging unite the Komuso aesthetic with what they preach. This effective combination has grown their Instagram audience to 27.6k followers and opened avenues for additional marketing on Pinterest and through email.
The ad to the left was created specifically for Pinterest. This is an untapped frontier for Komuso, so our first step was introducing the product and the Komuso philosophy to users on the platform. In less than 15 seconds, we educate this consumer base on the purpose, functionality, and reward of using the Komuso Shift. There are no hard sales. This video conditions our audience for additional programming while encouraging them to be proactive in their search for a quality and proven anxiety treatment method.
The success of our social media marketing campaign inspired similar programming in email marketing. Our team strategized to develop 5 separate marketing funnels to appeal to consumers at various stages in the conversion process. Some of these flows are evergreen and are automatically triggered when consumers either abandon their cart, sign up for our mailing list, or order a product. These series often push sales and, ultimately, lead to our Nurture Series — an educational sequence that informs on the company culture, the founders, and the science of The Shift.
Whereas the evergreen series encourage sales, the Nurture Series aims to strengthen the consumer-brand relationship. There is virtually no sales language. Instead, they inspire and provide meaningful tips. Though these emails don’t push sales, they have been highly effective at shuttling viewers to Komuso’s e-commerce site. They account for thousands of dollars in sales while deepening the brand story in the process.
Below, is also an example of our Re-engagement Series, which offers promotions on select holidays. These value-based emails subtly push sales, using the context of the holiday to inspire consumers to take action and make a purchase.
(click to enlarge the image)
(click to enlarge the image)
