An ongoing collaboration
A long relationship gives the work room to grow. With Fire Dept. Coffee, ours now spans styled coffee products, apparel, lifestyle photography, production stills and brand milestones.
We have tested new ideas together, adapted as their marketing needs changed and built an understanding of the images their team will use. This is a look at that work across the years.
From the early days
When we first joined Fire Dept. Coffee, Luke and a small team were building the business from a warehouse. Our early photographs captured the people behind the coffee: roasting, packing orders and getting the work done.
As the brand grew, so did our work together. Years of testing ideas and adapting alongside them have given us a feel for their people, their humor and the images their team will use.
On set & in the action
Production days have been part of our work with Fire Dept. Coffee from the beginning. We capture the characters, the in-between moments and creative stills that give their video shoots a second life in photographs.
Across years of shoots at the Illinois Fire Service Institute, that has meant moving with the action, finding the humor and keeping the brand in the frame. Their team leaves with images for social posts, ads and partner campaigns.
Beyond the coffee bag
The work moves beyond the coffee bag. Apparel, cold brew and everyday moments give Fire Dept. Coffee ways to show how their products fit into people’s lives.
We bring the same familiarity with the brand to a relaxed lifestyle shoot that we bring to a carefully styled product setup. The settings change, but the photographs still need to feel like Fire Dept. Coffee—and give their team something useful to share.
There for the milestones
From a small warehouse team to a nationally distributed brand, Fire Dept. Coffee has given us a front-row seat to a remarkable story. We have photographed the everyday work along the way, as well as moments worth celebrating.
That trust also extends to collaborations with other companies. Whether we are photographing their own products or working alongside a brand partner, we arrive knowing the people, the pace and the care the images need.
Building the scene
For a studio assignment covering roughly 10 coffees, Fire Dept. Coffee brought tasting notes, ingredients, and selected props. The brief called for two distinct looks: a bright morning kitchen and richer red-and-black settings.
Backdrops and surfaces became a kitchen. We sourced additional props and ingredients, prepared food on set and adjusted the styling as each scene took shape. Jen handled styling and art direction while Jesse built the lighting and photographed the setups. Working together, we completed the shot list within the shoot day. Explore the scenes below to see the set, the finished frame and the team behind it.
Built over time
Each shoot adds to the image library. Alongside Fire Dept. Coffee’s quarterly video shoots, we photograph candid moments, new coffees and apparel. Those stills give their team fresh material for product promotions, social posts and partner campaigns.
