Esquire Photography

Good day from EPHQ!  Have I got a totally amazing project to share on this wild & crazy journey with you!

As you had seen not too long ago, I shared a teaser titled: “If “IT” is good enough for Bentley Motors to use “IT” for two years in a row and New Balance filmed their latest ENTIRE commercial with “IT”…”

Then “IT” “WAS” DEFINITELY good enough for me!

Like the title of that article pretty much conveyed – if Bentley Motors chooses to use “IT” for two years in a row for their Commercials AND New Balance used “IT” for their latest Commercial featuring some of the BEST pro skaters in the world including: PJ Ladd, Arto Saari, Jordan Taylor, Levi Brown, Tom Karangelov and Jack Curtin.

But this wasn’t “just” any commercial.  To quote my client’s company president: Mr. Tim Graupman after he viewed the final version of the commercial, I was able to: “… see a vague idea turned into such a strong visual presentation.”  So that should give you an idea of the blank canvas I was given, blessed with, challenged with and much more.

Back in July of 2015, I had been asked by my client to consult and help them with their social media.  When they started to see what I was able to do for them in social media, and they had seen all my other international photography & filmmaking, they wanted to meet with me to discuss the possibility of creating a commercial.

After a series of meetings, emails & a proposal back at the end of August 2015, the time came where my client approved my proposal to photograph & film their commercial.

From that day back at the end of August 2015 – came the process of writing, re-writing, story boarding, and nearly everything that you can imagine to launch this project.  I even was a hand model for a moment when our original hand model cancelled.  Can you say manicure!?!  LOL!

Plus!  During that process – I was asked to be a Co-Producer for the commercial, which for me was a shining green light allowing me to exploit my experience and knowledge to create the entire commercial from the ground up.  Can we say: WHEW HEW!

The company is TEK Products located in Long Lake, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota.  If you’re not familiar with them, they have been, for more than 33 years, providing over 21,000 quality products and services to their rapidly growing customer list world-wide.  TEK continues to win awards from their customers and vendors for their customer focus, high-touch service, and technical acumen.  TEK has impressed customers enough to allow them to average double-digit growth for 20 consecutive years.  Which is nearly unheard of anywhere in today’s economy!

Here’s the part about the company that really lit up the philanthropist and educator in me…

TEK Products is also actively engaged in the community, sponsoring local schools, the Long Lake Fire Department, and different events that help raise money for MS and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, as well as being involved in various organizations, including the Humane Society, United Way, Poor of Russia, and the Make A Wish Foundation.

Now here’s where it get’s totally MEGA!

You know I’m early adopter in technology.  From seeing the changes going on in my industry from medium format cameras to 35mm SLR cameras, to full-frame DSLRs to micro 4/3’rds to what I photograph & film the majority of my work on: mobile phones and of course: Google Glass.

From filming in 10 cities throughout England, France, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland for the TV program filmed ENTIRELY on my Nokia Pureview 808, Nokia N8 and Nokia Lumia 1020 to filming around the USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Netherlands and India on my current beast: the iPhone 6 Plus.  Like the latest project “The Perfect Life” featuring music by Moby & the “Mini-Movie” I did for DF Collections, a luxury sunglasses designer starring Jonny Z. from HiFi Hair and Records in downtown Minneapolis.

Well I’m sure you know where my head was when TEK Products reached out to me.  Especially when I felt vindicated in a way after seeing Bentley Motors use the iPhone for a 2nd year in a row and New Balance for their new commercial.  For me to film TEK Products’ commercial with cutting edge technology was the natural and best way to go!

Adding to my arsenal of gear to ensure I had all the best equipment ready for the commercial was a little bit of a challenge because some of it wasn’t on the market prior to the starting shoot date.

But everyone came through like a champ!

I want to give a shout out to Sean at Beastgrip first & foremost.  He was totally awesome helping me receive my Beastgrip Pro before we started filming.  What was even more crazy is he sent me my Beastgrip Pro BEFORE it was on the market.  RIGHT ON!

Then there was Lacey at Imorden.  She was super cool and her customer service freakin rocked; helping me make the best decision for a handheld camera stabilizer.  They have some of the best stabilizers in the world & I would highly encourage anyone who’s serious about buttery smooth footage to get one.

Then there was getting the brand new on the market iRig Mic-Lav from IK Multimedia.  I typically use Rode, but IK Multimedia’s new lav mic had more features, advantages & benefits – making it a no-brainer to choose them.

Combine those three key components with the usual arsenal of lights, reflectors, software, my flawless wide angle video lens from Canon and more – I was ready to rock their commercial.

WHEW!  What a totally awesome back-story!  :-)

Before you scroll down to check out TEK Products‘ very first commercial that was filmed AND photographed entirely on my iPhone 6 Plus with my Beastgrip, and would like to chat with me about photographing your brand, event or artwork, feel free to contact me anytime.

I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, the form on my contact page, the old fashioned phone at: 888.ESQ.PHTO (888.377.7486) or direct at: 562.225.5915.

PS, Be sure to ramp up the quality of the video to 1080 HD so you can enjoy the full awesomeness!

PSS, I want to give a shout out to the entire team at TEK Products & my brother Tony for helping make this commercial a total success.  You guys rock!  :-)

And remember…

Sharing is Sexy like a chocolate covered strawberry!

Be sure to share this awesome film on Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter
To help other brands, designers and companies see how amazing their video can be
when they don’t settle for any filmmaker & photographer, but the right photographer & filmmaker!