We’ve seen firsthand how building sets can truly elevate photography. We were hooked on set building after we created our first set four years ago, and it took our work to a whole new level.
We think of our photos as scenes. We’re never just setting out to take a cool-looking photo. In every shoot, there’s a narrative woven through the lighting, color choices, posing, and set dressing.
We’ve always wondered what it would be like to add motion to our work. It’s been a big “what if” for us, but we were just waiting for the right opportunity. And it finally came.
We teamed up with Tyler Scheerschmidt of Hourglass Sessions to bring that vision to life.
Working with Tyler felt like a perfect fit because we both love in-camera practical effects. While there’s so much that can be done with computer effects, for us, creating something tangible in the real world is so much more exciting. Tyler shares that same mindset. He works with musicians to create live music videos that are filmed in a single take.
The artist we worked with was three-time Grammy-nominated drummer Nate Smith. He’s collaborated with esteemed artists like Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Brittany Howard, Van Hunt, The Fearless Flyers, Norah Jones, and Somi.
David and I creative-directed the shoot and designed the set to look like a vintage television, with Nate playing inside of it. Tyler filmed and directed, while Nate brought the beats on the drums. Every time I hear him play, I just want to start dancing.
Of course, we had to take some photos too, so after the wrapped filming - we reset everything and also did a photoshoot on the set. You can view the full photo series and photoshoto BTS on Patreon.
We love how the project turned out. Check out the YouTube video and let us know what you think!
Drums: Nate Smith
Video: Tyler Scheerschmidt of Hourglass Sessions
Set Design + Creative Direction: Jada + David
Sound Engineering: Jake Vanaman
Mixing: Dillon Douglasson
Filmed at In Your Ear Studios
