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Jeepney NYC

Cultivating Joy

Nicole Ponseca, the Co-owner and Creative Director of Jeepney NYC—the chef seen above—was a pleasure to meet and direct. Our shared joy and passions for doing the things we do—the founding and creative-directing of multiple culinary ventures for Ponseca, and for us the producing of quality film content—made for an absolutely delightful shooting experience.

It is no surprise, really, that the enjoyment we cultivated during the brief time we spent together on this project, translated so clearly onto screen. For us, work isn’t work; it’s passion. And what better way to make art than by cultivating joy and capturing it on film?

INDUSTRY

FOOD & BEVERAGE

SERVICES

VIDEO PRODUCTION | VFX COMPOSITING

Jeepney NYC

Cultivating Joy

As the incumbent in California’s 34th District, Jimmy Gomez ran a campaign focused on service, community, and results. His team needed video content that reflected his ongoing work while staying accessible and clear to voters across the district.

We produced campaign videos that highlighted his accomplishments, amplified his message, and maintained a consistent tone across platforms. Each piece was built to reinforce trust, keep the message moving, and connect with the people he represents.

INDUSTRY

POLITICS

SERVICES

VIDEO PRODUCTION | POST-PRODUCTION

Cultivating Joy

We had great fun working with Jeepney NYC. There was an instant camaraderie felt between our creative team, our production crew, and the lovely grinning woman featured in the video. Passionate people, creative people, they often gravitate toward one another, and this situation was no exception.

And while we are dead serious about what we do here at C&I Studios, and handle our work with a font of measured consideration that inevitably leads us to good outcomes, we do know how to have a good time.

By Hand

Jeepney, a Filipino Gastropub located in the heart of New York City’s ever-trendy East Village, is the brainchild of Nicole Ponseca and her business partner Miguel Trinidad. It is the second restaurant they’ve founded together, and stands as the brother restaurant to Makarlika Filipino Moderno.

Jeepney was named after the WWII jeeps left behind by US occupation. And as a Filipino-American restauranteur, Ponseca’s vision was to integrate Kamayan-style dining with a western feel. The term Kamayan is a Tagalog word which, in English, translates to “by-hand,” and refers, of course, to the traditional Filipino style of eating. It encompasses community, and involves neither plates nor utensils. We used this literal translation as the basis of our shoot and the compass for our own creative direction.

Focus On The Details

We wanted to capture the preparation of a signature dish of Jeepney’s, a fusion-style meatless burger. And in doing so, we wanted to hone our focus in on the details of that preparation.

To see the flame flaring up form an oil spray. The vinaigrette mixing with a beetroot slaw. The fizzing of a deep-fryer as french-fries are being prepared. And of course, capturing Nicole Ponseca’s look of concentration as she artfully assembles the ingredients into a burger of mouth-watering proportions. The anticipation on her face as she considers the burger in her hand. The blatant pleasure in her smile. All of these things made clear what the restaurant was about; what their brand is; and what Ponseca, along with her business partner, have fostered as an environment and culinary experience.

To capture all of these things using the laser-sharp lenses of our RED Monstro and Dragon cameras, that was our mission. And a smooth one it turned out to be. Especially considering the fun we had. And the ease with which our expert crew handle their equipment never fails to mitigate our stress levels. Which, once again, left plenty of room for fun in the creative process.

All in all, this was one of the most enjoyable projects we’ve worked on. You can’t help but feel that joy emanating from the screen when you view the final product.

Stills In Motion

We played with pull-focus techniques in order to give this video more depth. The effect creates a quality of style that is slick as well as eye-catching. It narrows the viewer’s focus toward the intended subject—or away from it, depending on the scenario. In this case, it really helped us to accentuate the bold colors of the food and the thoughtful way it was being prepared.

These images, caught in motion with our RED 8k camera systems, made for some high-quality stills which our client was thrilled about.

Canovation

The Future of Sustainable Packaging

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Canovation

Rendering the Future

Canovation approached us with a groundbreaking innovation: a resealable can technology designed to enhance convenience and sustainability in the beverage industry. They needed compelling marketing materials to showcase this new product and its applications in everyday scenarios before launching to the market.

To help Canovation achieve their goals, we delivered a comprehensive suite of services including 3D animation and rendering, as well as the production of several video vignettes. These materials were designed to demonstrate the functionality and benefits of the resealable can technology in a visually engaging and informative manner.

INDUSTRY

FOOD & BEVERAGE | TECHNOLOGY

SERVICES

VIDEO PRODUCTION | 3D RENDERING

EXPLORE THE

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

3D ANIMATION

VIDEO PRODUCTION

Canovation

Rendering the Future

INDUSTRY

FASHION | RETAIL

FOOD & BEVERAGE | TECHNOLOGY

VIDEO PRODUCTION | 3D RENDERING

EXPLORE THE

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

3D ANIMATION

VIDEO PRODUCTION

3D ANIMATION

Our talented team of 3D artists and animators created highly detailed 3D models of the resealable can technology, meticulously crafting each element to ensure accuracy and precision. By leveraging advanced rendering techniques, we brought the innovative design to life with realistic textures and dynamic lighting.

Our animations highlighted the unique features and mechanical functions of the product, providing a clear and compelling visual representation while showing how it seamlessly integrates into the can’s structure while maintaining its functionality and ease of use.

3D ANIMATION

VIDEO PRODUCTION

Our team produced a series of 6 captivating video vignettes that showcased the resealable can in various everyday scenarios. These short, engaging videos were designed to vividly illustrate the practical applications and convenience of the product, making its benefits easily relatable to potential customers.

The videos also emphasized the environmental benefits of the resealable can. By allowing users to seal and reseal their beverages, the product helps to reduce waste by minimizing the need for disposable containers and preserving unfinished drinks for later consumption. This aligns with the growing consumer demand for sustainable packaging solutions.

VIDEO PRODUCTION

Above and Beyond

“The team exceeded our expectations in every way. Their 3D animations and video vignettes brought our product to life and helped us communicate its benefits clearly and effectively. We couldn’t be happier with the results.”

– Daniel Zabaleta, Engineer at Canovation

Let's Work Together

Interested in creating compelling marketing materials for your innovative product? Contact us today to discuss how we can help you achieve your goals.

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Newbridge Marketing

C&I Studios Partnered with Newbridge Marketing and Kodiak Cakes for This Video Production

Producing Brand Awareness at the Ground Level

The goal of this project was to show Newbridge Marketing supporting their client, Kodiak Cakes. By the end of this production we were able to successfully lay out how Newbridge Marketing’s promotional Food Truck Tour through Utah’s ski resorts increased the brand awareness of Kodiak Cakes’s products. Through a niche marketing video and promotional experience we were able to tell the stories of Kodiak Cakes healthy lifestyle and Newbridge Marketing’s expertise.

For this project C&I Studios produced a video that showed how well received Kodiak Cakes food truck and samples were in Utah’s ski resorts. The video production crew shot this video on location in Utah. We had to accommodate for the wintery weather but it was worth it because the end result was a dynamic, sunny winter wonderful video that advocated for Kodiak Cakes products and it’s brand.

Where the Magic Happens

In post-production, we were able to show off what the Newbridge Marketing brand has to offer their clients. Particularly their Food Truck Tours. This video outlined what a food truck tour of theirs can look like via easy-to-read text. It showed the awry of food samples and also the kind of swag the food trucks offer during their tours. We really took out the time to show what Newbridge Marketing can do to spread brand awareness for their clients like Kodiak Cakes.

Producing Unyielding Courage

Video production has many different levels to it, and C&I Studios is equipped to produce dynamic videos and marketing content just like this one for any client or company seeking content for their marketing campaigns. From concept to post-production, we provide the full-service experience!

Taylor Garrett Spirits

When Taylor Garrett whiskey came to C&I Studios we knew that this company’s whiskey was more than just a product, it was a story that needed to be told. Modern advertising has moved away from the days of just blandly showing a product towards telling the story of what the brand represents. Taylor Garrett is more than just delicious whiskey (and it is delicious), it’s the life’s work of Scott Feuille, a former Navy Pilot who turned his love of whiskey from a personal passion into a thriving business. By studying the great Master Distillers he was able to innovate and improve upon the techniques they used to age whiskey to speed up the aging process of whiskey while maintaining a great taste. And, he named his whiskey after his other great love, his sons Taylor and Garrett. A simple product shot of a bottle of Taylor Garrett whiskey wouldn’t convey to whiskey drinkers what makes this spirit so special.

Taylor Garrett Spirits

This is where C&I Studios and the art of visual storytelling take over. We are a turn-key agency, meaning we can take your advertising needs from the seed of an idea to producing a piece of media to helping you launch your campaign into the digital sphere. Whiskey is a crowded market, with some already very established brand names. To emerge from this crowded field Taylor Garrett needed a finely tuned advertising campaign. C&I Studios worked with Taylor Garrett to identify how to best sell his brand, set goals for his advertising, and identify the best way to reach his desired market. We can walk you through that process here –

ADVERTISING SERVICES

Closeup from behind view of a man riding a motorcycle on a road

Man wearing a blue polo shirt using copper distillation equipment

Taylor Garrett Spirits

Scott Feuille’s story and his company are unique and in an increasingly digital world where every facet of life is online, trying to find a company’s place takes outside-the-box thinking. The advertising for Taylor Garrett whiskey took the form of the man behind the bottle. A larger-than-life adventurer who had been a Navy Pilot, rides motorcycles, and made it his personal mission to study with all of the world’s greatest Master Distillers so that he could learn how to make the best whiskey possible. A man with this creative and unique of a story needed an advertising campaign just as unique and creative. Which we specialize in and is shown in detail here –

MARKETING SERVICES

Taylor Garrett Spirits

But, at the end of the day, we are a production company and what we love to do is tell stories with cameras. For Taylor Garrett whiskey we had to capture this company’s spirit on location. So, we sent down a C&I Studios crew to film down in New Mexico and see all the action at the Taylor Garrett Distillery. We filmed the process that Scott Feuille developed for aging whiskey at an accelerated pace. We filmed the magic as it happened. We even got to film Scott Feuille riding his motorcycle around town like the true American badass he is and has always been. Most importantly, we filmed him telling his story in his own words and then put dynamic visuals of his distillery in action so that they could further illustrate and sell the story of his whiskey. We are a full-service production company that has a fully equipped grip truck, drones, RED Cameras that can shoot in 8k resolution, and a DaVinci Resolve editing suite to put together any piece of media. All of which you can learn about here-

VIDEO PRODUCTION SERVICES

Taylor Garrett Spirits

It doesn’t stop when C&I Studios is done editing, much like with Taylor Garrett whiskey. We can help launch an individualized advertising campaign with SEO Copywriting to make sure that your product and company is breaking through the internet algorithm to be seen by everyone online. We go in-depth about that process here. And finally launching your campaign into social media.

BTS

New York Grilled Cheese

New York

Grilled Cheese

Ooey-Gooey Disruption

New York Grilled Cheese came to us wanting sexy videos that showcased their gourmet, handcrafted grilled cheese sandwiches. Together, we produced and edited two videos for New York Grilled Cheese that were meant to entice patrons into ordering an ooey-gooey sandwich from their menu. Because sex is still seen as a taboo subject to speak about publicly, there’s a huge history of disruptive marketing campaigns that use sex to sell their products. Disruptive marketing is meant to challenge the status quo. It’s memorable and can be extremely engaging to the right audience.

One video features a male model, and the other a female model so that all gazes can enjoy the appeal of a fresh, hot sandwich being devoured by an attractive person.

If there’s one thing that we at C&I Studios understand about marketing in the modern world, it’s that disruptive marketing can really help a campaign gain traction. Disruptive marketing is not a new creative advertising concept but has become more prevalent with the rise of internet advertisements and social media content.

Filtered

filtered

3D Product Creation

Discover the world of professional-grade 3D product creation at C&I Studios. More and more brands are using the power of 3D to revolutionize their visual storytelling, engaging audiences with lifelike creations that leave a lasting impression. Our expertise in 3D product helps them achieve that goal by using our imagination and technology to transform their visions into stunning digital assets that spark amazement and engagement.

Our skilled artists meticulously designed every curve and every detail of the glass dropper bottle and the elegant round container from scratch. Combined with lighting and reflective effects, the result is a breathtaking fusion of artistry and technology; a 3D creation that looks as if it were photographed in our studio.

Ultra, Carbon and KDF Fifty five Filter packs

Ultra, Carbon and KDF Fifty five Filter packs with attachments

Just Water

Purple, orange, light blue and orange containers of spring water on display with bubbles

JUST WATER

When working with a brand as established as JUST WATER, you need to find a balance between simplicity and creativity.

This holds especially true when marketing on social media, where this advertisement would live. When advertising on social media, your content needs to excite the user in as few as three seconds, otherwise, you risk losing their interest. If your ad is overly complicated, then viewers will likely keep scrolling. If your ad is too simple, then they will most definitely keep scrolling. Discovering that balance is what sets quality media apart from the ordinary.

In this ad for JUST WATER, we created harmony between the product, the brand, and the visual cues that make this ad so alluring. Yes, it’s simple, but more importantly, it is visually stimulating. Secondly, the ad educates viewers on the value of the product without having to say anything. And since most viewers watch video ads on social media without sound, this gives their content a significant edge. In essence, consumers can discover the same meaning whether watching silently or with sound.

For this video ad, we used a motion-controlled slider system to time our transitions and to keep all visual elements perfectly aligned. We also used our Macro Lens for the super crisp underwater shots. This was essential in capturing a clean, natural look in the bubbles and the fruit as they cascade underwater.

Video Production Services

CELEBRATE YOUR TASTEBUDS

Video camera trained on an orange drink carton in a tank filled with water in a studio

Orange drink carton under water in a tank filled with water in a studio in semidarkness

View from behind of camera trained on purple drink container in a tank filled with water in a studio with crew members standing by

View from behind of camera trained on purple drink container in a tank filled with water in a studio with crew members standing and sitting by surrounded by lighting equipment

Laguna Blends

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.

We chose to use video production and CBD product photography to create a narrative that would educate average consumers on the benefits of hemp.

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.

Hemp Is Healthy

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.

Display of rejuvenating, regenerating, resurfacing, and restoring serum, cleanser, and cream products with two white flowers

Woman using CannaCeuticals facial cleanser product in the shower

Woman splashing water on her face by a sink with a mirror showing her reflection

African American woman with black and green dreads enjoying a white cup of coffee on a patio

Woman with long blond hair reading a book with a white cup of coffee sitting on a patio chair

Woman wearing white sport bra and black yoga pants doing a yoga pose for the camera

Three women wearing sport bras talking and enjoying smoothies walking

Blue Nun

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.

Blue Nun also hired us to photograph their Riesling and Merlot varietals.

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.

Cabernet Sauvignon bottle being held by a woman wearing a black hat and red lipstick smiling

Cabernet Sauvignon bottle being held from a woman wearing red lipstick and smiling holding the bottle amongst red decorations

Hippie Organics by Alpine Fresh

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.

We knew that Hippie Organics’ video would be significantly more meaningful if each member of the team had an opportunity to share their craft and their passion for organic growing in their own words. Since healthy eating is a commitment that a consumer chooses to make, it was even more important that the people most passionate about the brand be the ones to sell the lifestyle.

Mouth-watering Photography

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.

Aerial closeup view of two packages of organic blackberries and two packages of organic blueberries surrounded by flowers

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.

Brew Next Door

Next Door

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.

Rebranding Brew Next Door

Brew Next Door has changed significantly since its opening. The already vibrant atmosphere has been energized with new seating areas, lighting fixtures, lounge spaces, cocktail selections, and social activations. We recreated our brand image to introduce this newly reimagined nightlife scene.

A Better Way To Sell Cocktails

Brew Next Door is a nightlife concept from the minds at C&I Studios, so it is only natural that they use video to sell cocktails.

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.

Next Door Rebranding

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.

The Neighborhood Hangout

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.

Incredible JustCBD Product Photography

JustCBD Product Photography

JustCBD is an industry-changing force. They are representing the CBD culture differently than any other brand before them. They strive to educate the world about the power of CBD’s holistic properties without embellishing the facts. JustCBD uses world-class labs to test their products and provide the most accurate scientific data to their consumers. They are backing the future of CBD with truth and data. Thus, elevating the reputation of the industry and culture.

JustCBD’s methodology and honesty have taken their brand global. They are instigating a new age of respect for their industry and their craft. Moreover, they are inspiring a new culture of CBD advocates. JustCBD needed their media to reflect their stance on transparency and wholesomeness. So, they enlisted our photography department to revamp their product marketing with fresh, organic, and truthful media.

A Brief Overview of JustCBD Product Photography

The timing of our collaboration is pivotal for JustCBD’s expansion. They are in the process of elevating their online presence with new and improved product photography. They requested media assets that would not only enhance their digital advertising, but also aid in growing their social media profile on Instagram, which is on the verge of reaching 50k consumers daily. Therefore, JustCBD asked us to diversify the spread of media. They asked for clean product photography similar to the type seen on Amazon; requested organic lifestyle photography; and asked for dimensions that would work well as digital banners for the use of social and google advertisements.

NOTE: When viewing the image galleries, clicking the photographs will enlarge the images so you can see them in full res!

Man holding yellow gummy bear between thumb and forefinger

Overhead view of a man taking a pineapple chunk from JUSTCPD dried fruit container

Jet Setter immune support gummies container and contents being held by someone

JustCBD Hemp Seed Oil container on display on a wooden table

The Direction and Intention of JustCBD Product Photography

We always learn about the brand and the industry before starting a project. It’s important to do independent research first then ask the client questions directly. It’s amazing what type of information you’ll learn by studying online resources in addition to listening to what the client has to say. This is where we started before photographing any JustCBD product photography. We first studied their current media and how they represent their brand online. Then we started a conversation with the client to learn their vision, intent, and style. Research is the only way to guarantee that the delivered product aligns with the client’s business goals.

This is what we learned

Our research into JustCBD’s current product photography proved there was a disconnect between the brand’s philosophy and their media. Their products are natural and organic, as is their language and their social media. Yet, the product photography on their website appears artificial. The true essence of the brand and the value of the product is lost. In short, the photos are edited way too much. This taught us two valuable pieces of information which we used to distinguish our photography:

They needed to connect their media with their core values to take their business to the next level, and
The content needed to feel natural.

For this product shoot, we photographed 10 products that cover 8 commerce categories.

Man using freeze roll pain relief container on arm

.JustCBD Hemp Seed Oil package on display on green plant leaves surrounded by wood blocks

Gummy bears on display surrounded by cherries and slices of citrus fruit

Sugar free gummy bears on display with citrus fruit and cherries nearby

The Natural Essence of JustCBD Products

As you can see, the results of our photography on JustCBD’s products shows that the brand’s products match their promise. The viewer can see the sticky sugariness of their gummies. They can smell the natural aromas of the CBD oil. They can foresee the excitement their pup will have at the sight of a steak-shaped treat! We present the products in their most natural, untainted form. We did not try to disguise the products, and we feel that impacts the way the consumer feels when they see the photography.

Ultimately, we limited our post-production editing so the imagery remains truthful. We did not over-saturate the colors, nor did we sharpen the outlines of certain candies. This went a long way in accentuating the holistic goodness. Also, by taking the product out of the packaging and placing it in the hands of the consumer, we create a craving for JustCBD goodies. These lifestyle shots elevate the entire gallery. They are strong images that encourage the consumer to explore the brand in more depth. Whether they choose to shop online or study the brand’s culture on social media, doesn’t matter. What’s important is that the photography inspires the consumer to take action.

Container of dried fruit pineapple chunks on display with real pineapple chunks nearby

Pina Colada ICE vape juice container on display surrounded with chunks of pineapple and coconut

JUSTCBD Cookies and cream protein bar package surrounded by cookies and bowl of cream on a wooden table

Steak bites pet treats with two bone marrows nearby

Overhead view of JUSTCBD gummy bears container on display surrounded by sliced citrus fruit and cherries on green leaves on a wooden table

Buddha Bowl

Buddha Bowl
Web Design & Development

The brand guidelines created by our copywriting and graphic design departments paved the way for the website design. In this phase, our graphic design team invented a website layout that would expedite the ordering process and fully reflect the core values and brand pillars that define Buddha Bowl.

Negative space frees up the density on the site. Our designers wanted the site to breathe, so they reduced the clutter and spaced out the content. This reflects Buddha Bowl’s core value that simple ingredients can create more abundant flavors. We did not want to overwhelm our consumers. That was the intention. The site needed to feel light. This aesthetic, in a way, personifies the food. Additionally, we focused a lot of content blocks on call to actions in order to exemplify the Buddha Bowl value that more time should be spent enjoying food rather than waiting for it. This is fast food made healthy. This needed to be signaled throughout the site. No matter which page the consumer lands on or where they navigate to, the option to place an order is always at their fingertips.

One of the challenges in building Buddha Bowl’s website is that we had to work with imagery provided by the client. As content creators, we love total creative control. This is especially valuable when, in the case of Buddha Bowl, we are branding the business and creating their narrative from the ground up. Creating our own content to support our copy would have elevated the appeal of the website and the overall message. For instance, a company profile video showcasing the values and philosophy of the Buddha Bowl fresh kitchen would have been a great addition. But, in the end, it all came together to deliver the function the client needed to propel their business. And that is most important.

For more information on our Web Department, check out our website design and development service.

Desktop and Mobile images of Website homepage mockup

MIND. BODY. SOUL.

Buddha Bowl Fresh Kitchen

Buddha Bowl is a fresh kitchen based in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Their brand philosophy unites healthy eating with mind, body and soul.

Buddha Bowl hired us in the earliest stage of business development. At the time, all they had was a vision. We put that vision into words and designed the entire look and feel for their brand. This required an entire branding campaign, including mission/vision statement, core values, brand pillars, tone of voice, and other collateral that would distinguish their brand from competitors.

A Foundation in Branding

Buddha bowls are a part of the latest dining fads. Many businesses in this market share similar philosophies on healthy eating. Creating a personality that would differentiate Buddha Bowl from every other fresh kitchen was essential. Therefore, we gave a lot of attention to branding. All the language crafted in the branding phase would be included throughout the website and menu, so it needed to remain true to the brand entirely. The challenge was that we needed to remain unique yet understandable and relatable. Deciding on the right language meant creating the best narrative. This is where we started.

Before moving into the Graphic Design or Web Design & Development phases, we created a full brand guideline for Buddha Bowl. This provided the blueprint for how they would present their brand to consumers, as well as how their employees would speak and interact day-to-day.

Buddha Bowl’s mission is to prove that food should propel our lives, not slow them down.

“We seek to reconnect people with their food; to show consumers how to rethink the way they approach eating by infusing original recipes, natural ingredients, and creative culinary action.”

Tattooed arm wearing bracelets holding a pineapple

Modest and Genuine Tone of Voice webpage

Vibrant and Knowledgeable Tone of Voice webpage

Confident and Enlightened Tone of Voice webpage

Discipline and Health Core Values webpage

Convenience and Cleanliness Core Values webpage

New Belgium Brewing

New Belgium Brewing Co., brews out of Fort Collins, Colorado. They are most known for their Belgium style brews and juicy IPAs. We created this video advertisement for New Belgium Brewing for their holiday promotion. This was a lifestyle production, showing how New Belgium beers bring friends together. Given that the holidays are a time when friends revisit their hometowns and reconnect, we felt this video really captured the emotional value of gathering for a round of beers… and a little reminiscing.

Fresh First – The Brand

The Brand - Fresh First

Fresh First is the first 100% gluten-free eatery in Fort Lauderdale. They are the first eatery in the area to earn GREAT Kitchen accredidation by the National Foundation of Celiac Awareness. Their focus is to serve healthy food that is delicious, fresh, creative, and nutritious to the mainstream world.

Though Fresh First dominates their industry as a leading example of healthy eating, their market presence suffered due to weak branding and a poorly designed website. They came to us to relaunch their brand with a new fresh aesthetic and to build a website that would fully tell their brand’s narrative and increase online ordering. We decided to reconstruct their brand imagery from the ground up, focusing on ingredients to showcase the power of healthy eating. Furthermore, we recrafted their brand’s dialogue, polishing it for a mainstream, english speaking audience. Utlimately, Fresh First’s resurgence required extensive graphic design work, copywriting, and detailed website development.

Phase 1

First, we redesigned Fresh First’s logo. This gave us a better idea of their artistic preferences, as well as the iconogrphy that would be used throughout the website. Once the logo was confirmed, we got to work on their mood boards, which demonstrate the overall aesthetic of the brand. We created a few options and justified our approach with rationale so the client could make the most informed decision.

Heading Typeface

Our first choice of typeface is Paytone One, a readable yet playful display font. Its advantage over a script-style font like Pacifico or a handwriting-style font like Dakota is its readability for website visitors that have difficulty reading decorative fonts due to vision problems and learning disorders like dyslexia. Paytone One is a sans serif typeface developed for use as a display font on modern web pages. The typeface has a slightly casual appearance with round bowls and slanted stroke terminals to add a sense of visual playfulness to the overall appearance of the font.

Paytone One is featured in more than 59,000 websites.

Body Typeface

We recommend Zilla Slab, a contemporary slab serif constructed with smooth curves giving the text an unexpectedly sophisticated and modern look with a friendly approachability in all weights. C&I would use it to replace Fresh First’s current body fonts, American Typewriter and Bebas Neue. Zilla Slab’s advantage over Bebas Neue is its availability in five weights and a lowercase format which Bebas Neue lacks; its advantage over American Typewriter is that it is available for free as a Google font, which has the included benefit of Google hosting the font meaning that the website won’t be slowed down through self-hosting

Zilla Slab is featured on more than 9,800 websites.

Color Palette

Here, we have selected a harmonious palette inspired by the vibrancy of South Florida and the natural colors of the fresh fruit and vegetables used by Fresh First. our selected hues have a high degree of contrast without looking harsh or synthetic. When the colors touch, the eye can easily pick up on the line between each color, and there’s no ‘vibration’ or muddiness of colors, which is important for any layering of colors for print and web design.

We are confident that this palette will contribute to an aesthetically-pleasing designing for print and web.

Next Door Food Reel

Crazy Faith Coffee

Our Mission

Crazy Faith Coffee came to C&I Studios looking to launch a new coffee brand with a unique mission – to pair incredible coffee with inspirational stories of people whose faith helped them overcome adversity and achieve the extraordinary. They wanted bold branding that would make an impact on shelf and online while authentically representing their uplifting concept.

Crazy Faith Coffee centered on providing a “Daily Uplift” by combining outstanding coffee with real stories of faith, courage and perseverance. The brand language and visual identity system took inspiration from an eclectic mix of influences from coffee culture, street art, zines and indie publishing.

While the majority of images have a desaturated, grainy film aesthetic, selective color tinting with the brand’s deep red and navy blue anchors the photographs in the Crazy Faith Coffee’s visual identity. Typographic story excerpts overlaid in a scrapbook collage styling completes the raw, analog feel.

The resulting photography has amassed praise both internally and externally for Crazy Faith Coffee for capturing their brand in such an immersive and emotive way. The powerful imagery elevated their product launches to feel like the release of an indie film or zine each time – captivating audiences with slices of real life rendered in a highly stylized yet unvarnished way.

Gray coffee cup next to story being held by someone

How it works

A subscription based coffee company

BREW

The Brand

BREW Urban Cafe is part of our neighborhood collaboration, known as Next Door at C&I. During the day, BREW Urban Cafe curates all of the coffee served at Next Door. As a result, our team of marketers and content creators strategize, create, and distribute marketing for their brand. We have worked with the owners of BREW since their opening in 2015. In that time, we have elevated this once unknown neighborhood coffeehouse into The Hidden Gem of Fort Lauderdale.

The services we provide BREW involve professional photography, video production, social media marketing, and copywriting. We fuse all of these services into monthly marketing strategies built around seasonal themes. Our marketing strategies are purposed to: generate increased traffic to BREW’s website, boost engagement on social media, and improve SEO ranking on Google for geotargeted keywords. In the last year, we have seen a drastic increase in brand recognition, loyalty, and authority. The following case study informs on BREW’s current status in the industry and showcases their most current marketing and branding.

The Challenge

The local market is changing drastically. To stay competitive we needed to prove BREW’s leadership as the original and best local spot for specialty coffee in Fort Lauderdale. We invested in content creation and copywriting above all else. Blogging became a primary source of the traffic to our site and a huge pillar for social media content.

The current challenges facing BREW come from changes in Fort Lauderdale’s developing landscape.

1) There are more coffeehouses to compete with.

Ongoing development has greatly increased the appeal of — and demand for — living in downtown Fort Lauderdale. New coffeehouses are responding to this. Multiple establishments have opened for business within a 1-mile radius from BREW in the past year alone. Each new competitor cuts into BREW’s existing consumer base, challenging their status as thought-leaders.

2) Fort Lauderdale’s demographics are changing.

We have always had a firm grasp on who our audience was and what they value. As more people move to the area, however, our understanding of who we are communicating with changes. Therefore, we invested time in social listening. Even with so many families and individuals moving to the area, we understand what they value and what they care to read, so that is how we build our blog content.

Photography

The challenges listed above were answered with a repertoire of new photography.

The following images provide the backbone for our blog content and social media. Too often, brands underestimate the value of quality photography when paired with quality copywriting. For instance, consumers typically remember only 10% of the information they read three days later. If a relevant image is paired with that same information, however, those same readers retained 65% of the information three days later. Additionally, Google loves great images. Relevant visuals in conjunction with quality copy tell Google ranking bots a great deal about the type of content you are publishing. The right pairing of visuals and copy will help content rank higher on the majority of search engines. With our new attention on blogging, this was more crucial than ever before.

Video Production

The video production created for BREW Urban Cafe is designed to strengthen the connection and sense of belonging between their brand and their audience. By showing who BREW services and how they interact with each other we have been able to strengthen the consumer-brand relationship. This is essential given the amount of competition in the area. No other coffee brand is regularly engaging their audiences with informative, visually pleasing media. This is a piece of the marketing puzzle that continues to set the BREW brand apart. When consumers see our content they immediately understand that BREW is the most welcoming neighborhood coffeehouse in the area — the one and only Hidden Gem.

Results

It is always important to keep your audience engaged. Outside of blogging, we do this through digital, video and print promotions. Promotions lend a sense of urgency, which encourages our audience to regularly view our social pages and blog. Using a multimedia approach of blogging, professional photography and video production have increased both foot traffic and visitors to our site. Simultaneously, this has boosted the number of people accessing our main webpage from social media. Cross-pollinating our various audience segments has increased engagement results on all fronts.

The blue line represents BREW’s analytics for 2019 (when we started to blog regularly and produce content to support those initiatives). The orange line represents BREW’s engagement in 2018. As you can see page views, engagement and sessions have increased on all fronts (and continue to climb). We have increased traffic to the site through social media conversions; people spend more time on our pages (which means they are delivering more value to consumers); and our social media audience is more engaged with the brand than ever before.

Lipton Iced Tea

The Brand

Lipton Iced Tea is committed to bringing consumers sustainable solutions and innovations. We were challenged to create a new design for a potential new bottle. The proposed challenge called for a total reimagining of their current plastic design in order to make their product packaging more eco-friendly. Different approaches to sustainability were welcome as long as they showcased environmental consciousness. The use of recyclable materials was not required. However, the design and materials used would have to provide clear environmental benefits.

To grade our concepts, Lipton Iced Tea required that the results answer the following criteria:

How does your packaging idea help people to engage in sustainability while drinking their favorite drink?
How does your idea benefit environmental sustainability in the context of packaging?
How is your idea different? How does it stand out compared to other sustainable packaging solutions available in the marketplace?

Display of container of Lipton Iced Tea with specs

The Design

Our graphic design solution was created to benefit both the consumer and the manufacturer. We were confident our sustainable design would appeal to the manufacturer because it would save their business shipping and production costs. To attract consumers — and convert them into loyal customers — we needed to design packaging that would not only embody everything they already know and expect from Lipton’s brand but also to present an attitude of environmental consciousness they could assimilate with. These were the core tenants of our design process — the creation of product packaging that would serve the consumer experience while alleviating specific monetary burdens for the business. This was only half the battle, however. Foremost, our design had to be approachable and attractive while improving brand standards and consumer loyalty.

Display of containers of Lipton Iced Tea with specs

The Results

We created two options, both of which suited Lipton Iced Tea’s brand guidelines and delivered on the required criteria. Each concept would attract consumers, clearly demonstrate environmental consciousness and bolster Lipton Iced Tea’s famous image in their own unique way.

Option 1 is dynamic.

It is designed to showcase movement and embody natural elements that lead consumers to fantasize of drinking Lipton Iced Tea. This design taps into experiential factors. We wanted to fuse sensation with nature. By doing so we added another benefit to the consumer experience: flavor, health, and green living.

Option 2 is crisp and delightful.

This design is bright, embodying the clean, natural flavor of Lipton Iced Tea. The minimalist design presents impactful information, showcasing Lipton’s attention on sustainability. This was purposed to attract new consumers and convert existing ones into loyal customers. Whenever a consumer drinks Lipton they would be serving the environment by helping to reduce waste.

Lipton Iced Tea product packaging redesign with nutrition info

Lipton Iced Tea product packaging redesign

Hard Rock Energy

Hard Rock with Chris "The Birdman" Andersen

After spending $25,000/month on a marketing retainer with a different agency, Hard Rock Energy had very little to show for it.

Upon seeing a newspaper article about C&I Studios, they approached us, confident that we were the perfect fit for their company. Our primary goals for Hard Rock Energy were content creation and distribution, and establishing a well-known spokesperson for the brand. In a very short window of time, we had to deliver a full advertising plate of Graphic Design, Photography, and Video Production to market their new product nationwide.

Due to pitfalls with their former marketing agency, Hard Rock Energy had absolutely no product photos of their new energy drink collection, so that’s where we started.

Bold, seductive lighting was the main aesthetic for the product shoot. This, combined with a few tricks of the trade, made this simple product shoot POP! It was important to show that the three flavors coexist while also standing independently, so we photographed a diverse collection of their product in groups and individually.

Three cans of Hard Rock Energy drinks on display

Closeup of three cans of Hard Rock Energy drinks on display

Closeup of can of original Hard Rock Energy drink

Can of Paradise Punch Hard Rock Energy drink on display

Closeup of can of Sugar Free Hard Rock Energy drink

Ad with three cans of Hard Rock Energy drinks on display

Bearded tattooed man posing for camera with arms crossed

Bearded tattooed man posing for camera holding a can of Hard Rock Energy drink

Branding For A New Audience

Content is absolutely necessary, but it isn’t effective unless you place it in front of the right audience. So, in phase 2 we tackled distribution. The initial test markets were in Chicago and South Florida.

In order for our distribution tests to provide valuable information on Hard Rock Energy’s prime consumer-base, we needed diversity. In Hollywood, FL there is a very popular Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, so we placed select advertisements in this location. Chicago, Illinois, on the other hand, is only home to Hard Rock Cafe. We chose this location to see how consumers outside of the casino culture would respond to our ads.

We produced billboards to be erected on heavily-traveled highways in both locations, took out ad space in several major newspapers, promoted videos, and digital ads, and initiated online takeovers of news sites, all using the tagline we helped to develop, “Give Your Tastebuds A Break.”

Bearded tattooed man wearing a red Hard Rock Energy jersey and black shorts holding a guitar

Bearded tattooed man wearing a red Hard Rock Energy jersey and black shorts holding part of a guitar with other guitar parts flying around

Photographing Chris "The Birdman" Andersen

Finally, we wanted to make sure that Hard Rock Energy had a recognizable name attached to their brand. When they informed us about their relationship with Chris “The Birdman” Andersen, we knew he’d be the perfect fit.

We needed to produce enough content to last about a year so we developed multiple concepts for the upcoming photo shoot. However, working under such short notice meant that Chris Andersen was only available for two hours — one of which was consumed by local media interviewing him. What happened in that next hour was a flurry of activity, make-up artists, lights flashing, and models posing.

In the end, we pulled it off! Generally, one hour is not nearly enough time to allow for a wide array of concepts, but we were able to work within the constraints and provide a superior plate of marketing materials for Hard Rock Energy to circulate throughout the year.