I am blushing 😳😳, but excited to share that Lürzer’s Archive Magazine have just released their Annual of Creative Excellence in which I have been named one of the Top 10 Photographers in the US + Canada! 👀
I can only say that the work is always a team effort, and my crew and agents are what make it all possible – Thank You!
UnitedHealthcare (UHC) has always been dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone. They serve millions of people anywhere from early years to retirement and on. When it came to digital collateral and advertising, the UHC team lacked a comprehensive selection of imagery for advertising, direct marketing, internal communications and digital media assets and called in the Dana Hursey team to help.
Effective & Efficient
With UnitedHealthcare’s needs in mind, the ultimate goal was not only to have them walk away with added-value and flexible assets that could be used across various marketing mediums, but also to have the images be effectively and efficiently produced within a two-week production period.
No “I” In Team
Through the production process, the Dana Hursey team worked closely with various ad agencies conceptualizing the project, refining the shot lists to maximize output, and prioritizing tasks that needed to be accomplished to complete the job with excellence. The scope involved juggling multiple scenes, locations and talent pools— all of which culminated in providing a multifunctional bank of imagery that could have the flexibility to be recycled for years to come.
Relationship Is Key
Although a big feat to be completed in two weeks, our team did not face any difficulty when it came to working with UnitedHealthcare. Their vision was clear and they knew how to communicate it well. The true glue, however, was the relationship our teams built together. We truly felt like partners throughout the process with UnitedHealthcare, helping them to “package” the production in the most versatile way so it could be utilized in future campaigns. UHC put their full trust in the Dana Hursey group to get the job done and deliver the results they needed.
Next Level Results
With all hands on deck and productivity at its maximum, the project was sealed and sent off by deadline with flying colors. We gave UnitedHealthcare an incredibly elevated collection to showcase the versatility, value, and the accessibility of their offerings and services that spoke directly to their target audience.
In It For The Long Run
Since the initial project, UnitedHealthcare has repeatedly returned to the Dana Hursey team for over a decade with confidence in our ability to deliver whatever subject they throw at us. We have produced thousands of images for their marketing efforts including assets for direct mail, their website, social media, as well as digital image libraries for both internal and external use.
Old Fashioned
Oh my.. Now I am just blushing… 2023 is starting off with a big win.. Our image of an iconic Old Fashioned was just awarded a Graphis Gold! Graphis is an institution among publications and it is a HUGE honor to be included in this years Annual.
I created this image with stylist Alice Arato (along with a few other cocktail images) and am bowled over by the numerous accolades it has garnered.
You can soak in all of the other winning imagery over at the Graphis Website!
In September of 2021 I was invited to give a presentation as part of Frank Meo’s “Projections” series. Frank has been running theses for longer than I can remember, though they originally started as in person events in NYC. These days they are virtual events, which of course allows for a wider participation and results in an amazing archive of incredible interviews. Be sure to check out the vast wealth of presentations on his YouTube Channel!
Okay, I guess it is nice to see that even after years and years and years, you can still set new records for yourself. Last week we officially shot in the smallest confines of my career (so far… 😂).
We were tapped to shoot a rebrand of a mobile food provider and had to catch them on the go in Los Angeles, as they were about to leave town. The challenge? To photograph their entire menu on location with the facilities provided. Specifically a 7’x15′ container – THANK GOD for air conditioning!
It ended up being me, the food stylist, and ONE assistant (because there was not ROOM for a second or a Digital Tech!!). And everything we were not actively using in the moment needed to stay outside. But once again… we pulled it off and the client was thrilled with the final imagery.
What we had to work with
One of the MANY visuals we produced
The bulk of my personal work starts with an image that just pops into my head. I may be having a conversation with someone about a random topic, or see some out of the blue object and “BING!” the finished image immediately appears in my mind. I have many of them cataloged there, awaiting their turn to be materialized. More often than not it is one of three things that prevent me from extracting / exorcising them from my brain; 1. time, 2. budget ( VERY FEW are inexpensive 🙄 ) 3. team availability ( I usually am rather intent on working with specific people to execute each image or series).
Eventually though when the stars (or the three things above) align, I get to stretch out and have some fun creating. Such was the case for this project. Over the course of several months I connected with my go-to wardrobe guru Holly Copeland. We talked about several concepts and how we could efficiently accomplish several of them in a single day of shooting. I always try to get at least 3 or 4 new pieces out of any test day. Holly and I both have a couple of series that we have been wanting to execute together, and we were able to coordinate shooting 4 shots in one day that would serve to forward two different series.
This one is part of a Circus / Carnival series, and is entitled “Practice”. My vision for this, was peering in on a captured moment of a tightrope walker practicing elements of her routine late at night in a secluded corner of the big top. I wanted to place the scene in the late 1800’s with all of the character and mood of that era.
Given several limitations of when we shot this (late 2021), budget and prop accessibility made it a challenge to create the scene practically, on set. So I approached this knowing that the talent would be shot and then the scene in which to place her would be created later.
The day of the shoot, we were at Helms Daylight Studio, and photographed the talent, Anh Dillon – a wonderfully elegant dancer – from slightly below, in a wide variety of poses. Holly had really nailed the wardrobe and Evy Power joined in to bring her Hair & Makeup talents to bear. We lit the scene with my final vision in mind, single spotlight, but with a variety of warmer light sources that would exist below her. We also shot three other scenarios that day that will eventually appear in their own right.
After the shoot I set out to find the right people to produce the type of environment I was looking for. I checked out referrals from other photographers, my producer, my agent, and from industry directories. And then I happened upon a visual (while NOT looking for someone) that I knew was not real but looked realistic and did a little digging and figured out who had done the work. A company in Amsterdam called Luminous Creative Imaging. I reached out to gauge their interest in a collaboration and immediately connected with Fedde, the lead at Luminous. We had a couple of Zoom meetings where I explained my vision both for this and other images I was planning, and it instantly felt like the perfect fit.
We had a couple more conversations about environment, content and composition and then the team at LCI was off and running. The first order of business was a rough line drawing to set the scene and ensure we were on the same page… We were.
Simultaneously I was reviewing all of the imagery from the shoot to identify a hero frame. When all was said and done I decided to create a composite of two frames. I was in love with the body language of one image, but was not in love with where Anh was looking in that particular frame. So I opted to pull a head from another frame and marry the two.
I delivered the high resolution assets to LCI as they were developing out the scene based on some subsequent wireframes, and basic composition and lighting tests.
We really did not have that many revisions throughout the process, and those we did have were rather minor tweaks to add depth, realism, and atmosphere. This was a true collaboration as the team at LCI brought some fantastic details to the table and made their case as we refined the final image.
While creating a CGI environment is not the “cheap way out” the argument could be made that there are some economies to be had. AND you are not limited by “what’s out there”. It definitely makes for a more streamlined shoot day and you can take your time in post to finesse to your heart’s (or budget’s) desire.
We’ll be sharing more of these projects down the road and look forward to creating rich visuals like this for our clients. Reach out and let’s have a conversation about how we can create some magic for your next project!
This is new for us. We’ve never been selected for an American Photography Award, so this was a real treat this week when we found out this super fun image from our campaign for the Newport Beach Film Fest had been chosen!
It was fantastic collaborating with the amazing creative team at The Garage who came up with this whimsical campaign! Hoping we can work together again down the road!
Feeling super honored to have snagged a couple of International Color Awards again this year! It is always so humbling to be included in such great company as all of these fantastic image makers. Here are the two images that were selected this year (in addition to two others that were also nominated ☺️). Make sure to check out the rest of the winning images at photoshow.colorawards.com!
Very excited to share a brand new campaign we did for Marie’s Dressings. This was a still and motion combo and we’re really proud of the results. This was a jam packed day with four scenes and covering them all with both video and stills. We always are super thrilled to work with the team at High Wide & Handsome, because the collaborate always results in some great visuals and days full of fun.
We just wrapped up a full menu rebrand for Daddy’s Chicken Shack. They are getting ready to start franchising and needed a refresh for the new endeavor. We actually shot the whole menu in one face paced day on site at their Pasadena location.
Guess what we had for lunch? 🤤
These were no “straight shots” but rather a multi step process that brings out every bit of detail and texture in each item. Which is why the finished product looks almost like you could reach out and grab it!
We’re excited for Daddy’s and their next chapter and hope to have the opportunity to collaborate with them again soon!
Was surprised to have picked up FIVE Honorable Mentions in this year’s IPA’s (International Photography Awards)!! Three of them were for campaigns and two individuals. Feeling very humbled to be selected and included!! Check out all of the Amazing Imagery at www.photoawards.com
They’re Finally Running!
These are images I have been SO WANTING TO SHARE! And I FINALLY can. These three images are for a campaign we did for the Newport Beach Film Festival. The were connected by the Creative Team at The Garage. We shot all three images in one day on location in Newport Beach. We were of course granted perfect weather.. because… California. And the creative team was a blast to work with. A true collaboration! So why have I been so antsy to show these?… Because….
We shot them in February… 2020!!! These were SUPPOSED to be for the 2020 Film Fest and then we all know what happened next…. So we had to sit on these as the 2020 Festival basically got postponed a year. But it’s now 2021 and the Festival is back on! So here they finally are! Hope you have a chance to check out the Festival!
What?!
I have never picked up an APA Award and out of the blue took First Place in this years Lifestyle category. What a shocker and totally thrilling! Granted it was for this super fun campaign we did for fatherhood.gov. (#DanceLikeADad) Amazing Talent, Amazing Producer. Amazing Crew. Amazing Creative. It’s always a team effort! Thanks APA & Judges!
Today we were notified that we had been selected as one of Archive Magazine’s 200 Best Ad. Photographers Worldwide! This is some amazing company to be in and in my opinion, right up there with being in CA (Communication Arts). This is the second time in a row we’ve been selected and I am thrilled with the honor.. Gotta keep step-in’ it up!
This was a campaign we shot for Educational Insights and was Art Directed by Liesl Kadile. Along with some other images the campaign was all vibrant colors with kids taking an almost retro adult twist.
Okay.. where to begin?
THIS was a shoot! Once again we were on set shooting in tandem with a commercial production. They were shooting MULTIPLE spots and we were doing the print campaign. All in one day.. All on a tight sound stage.. All good! Right?! 😳
Snoop was in his space doin’ his thing…
Martha had some VERY kind words for us when she saw what we had shot on the monitor.
Camera time was minimal.. to be expected. But hey.. Agency and Client were thrilled with what we got considering the very ambitious shot list. All in a days work. Always amazing to work with a commercial production that plays nice, knows how to share, and realizes we are all after the same goal.
Were Bic Lighters used at the end of this production? 🤔
Always an honor to be recognized for recent work. This year we received two ICA awards!
You can see all of the other great imagery that won this year at www.colorawards.com
Check out the Behind the Scenes video on one of our recent Covid Safe Productions!
Late last year we did another multi day COVID-Safe production and are now able to share some of the imagery!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE how each production brings something new and unique. I have worked with athletes and performers before and I have done high speed sync projects before, but this project brought them together in an interesting way.
The ask was to create a variety of sequences, showing stages of actions of an individual through a particular move or motion. The sequences would later be used to indicate a patient’s particular point in time in the treatment of their condition. A cool and different approach to telling this kind of story.
While these are not the exact image sequences the client ultimately used, they give a good sense of some of the motions we were executing. The client sequences utilized 2x – 3x the number of steps / frames for each final sequence.
Once again.. Talent was fantastic and really hit it out of the park! So cool that we were able to remote cast this as well.
Literally 8 days before the first mandated COVID-19 lockdown we shot a campaign for Fiora Paper Products. It was a fun campy group of images that were paired with simple tag lines the likes of “Smart feels good!”
We shot these in a central Los Angeles studio in tandem with a commercial shoot for the products (something we do quite a bit). While the commercial production had a ton to do in a limited amount of time, we opted (in support of them) to shoot plates of the two sets and do all of our talent shots in an adjoining space to as to maximize their time with the sets & talent.
We got a TON of great images with talent and with the subsequent lockdown we had plenty of time to finesse things in post production. After elects we made and set plates were cleaned up we were ready to dig in and start compositing. We wound up with about a dozen hero’s (give or take) and were not only anxious to deliver them but also to share them out in the world!
“Put the brakes on that!!”
Remember what was happening at the beginning of the COVID lockdown? There were massive runs on all paper products… Toilet Paper, Tissue, Paper Towels.. everything! Why on EARTH would anyone want or need to spend any money on advertising these products when they can’t even keep any on the shelves?!
Flash forward 6+ months, to the end of 2020, and FINALLY the new campaign launched! We were finally able to post and share the imagery and the new Fiora website splashed on the scene. The imagery is still in use and we hope to be able to produce more quirky imagery for them in the near future!
Did we share our lates BTS video with you?? I don’t think so!
This was ANOTHER hysterically fun project we shot in tandem with a commercial production! Though, this was purely ours.. We cast our own separate talent (which is half the fun on jobs like this) and had own own separate day… Casting was hilarious as of course we needed over the top action with little to no concerns about such things as being self conscious! Talent pulled out all the stops, and we got three unique scenarios with both print and motion elements. Take a look, I am sure you won’t be able to tell that we had a good time on set! The print campaign (Dance Like a Dad – fatherhood.gov) were plastered on bus shelters EVERYWHERE!
Please tell me we have seen the last of the silver fox couple in white linen walking down the beach hand and hand. The cliché idea of health and aging gracefully.
I want to take photographs of people that are at their most vital. Images that connect with the baby-boomers who come from an incredible generation of music lovers, dancers, movers and shakers.
My dear 75-year-old friend Susan hosts a zoom happy hour every week.
She is planning her first trip after COVID to Morocco.
She always takes the stairs.
She laughs with her whole body.
She had the IPhone-12 the week it was released.
She is not “old”.
Susan is a wonder woman.
When Susan sees pictures of people, supposedly her age, whether in an AARP magazine or her insurance email, it doesn’t resonate. She feels it is meant for someone else. Not her.
My hope is to work alongside creative teams to create content that honors this ever-important generation with imagery that reflects and connects.
We are Super Excited to announce that one of the images we shot for the fatherhood.gov “Dance Like a Dad” campaign was awarded Third Place in the Professional Advertising Category in this year’s International Color Awards! We were also nominated in the Professional Abstract, Aerial, Food, and Still Life Categories! With over 6000 entries from around the globe this is truly an honor to be included in such a collection. Check out these and a bunch of other fantastic imagery at ColorAwards.com
