Hasbro

At Hasbro, my skill set is on full display. My work is used for everything from packaging, press release and social media, to ecomm (and more.)

Storytelling is the key to selling a product. The below images are part of the photo carousel that a customer would be presented with when shopping for this product online. Individually they detail and highlight the features of the action figure, such as the articulation and various accessories. Together, the customer is presented with a story that inspires their imagination and entices their play and display pattern. Because of these images, customers often expressed wanting to buy a fish tank just to be able to display this figure in a similar underwater scene.

Simultaneously, where I can, I’ll weave those stories across multiple figures and releases spread out over time. The product’s ecommerce photography becomes its own ongoing storyline. Similar to a supplemental comic, cartoon or movie series. Below you can see slices of a zombie-esque storyline that was told over several months and waves of figures. Multiple dioramas were built at different times, building and expanding upon previous products.

Here, crisscrossing between a wave of four simultaneously released products is a more focused cage fight storyline depicting a rescue. Each figure has its own role to play in the story. All while showing off their unique accessories and features. Using special lighting, I can highlight the actual product being advertised and allow it to stand out in an image where a complex scene featuring multiple products and items that are sold separately is depicted.

Through my dioramas I craft environmental storytelling. Each location is created with the characters physical and personal story based traits in mind. By building out the diorama on a larger scale, I give myself room to tell a variety of unconstrained stories. One diorama can become multiple locations by switching camera angles or rearranging props. And by telling a story true to the character[s] the merchandise is based on, I’m able to strengthen the connection that the customer has with the product. And when grouping products together that aren’t actually a package I find customers express interest in buying them together. They want to pose and display them the way I presented them.

Sometimes the story needs to be creatively told through simpler means. In these instances I’ll elevate my photos using smoke, fog, printed (and projected) backdrops, light painting and simple props. I’m able to tailor these simple backdrops to more accurately represent the brands I work with. And reduce the need for further post processing.

Many brands utilize a specific digital backdrop. I tailor my lighting with that backdrop in mind. As with all of my dynamic action figure photography, special attention is paid to ensuring that the posing feels true to the character. I want the customer to feel like the toy they’re looking at has been ripped straight out of their favorite media.

With simple photos on white or black it’s entirely up to the posing and framing to tell the story. By paying close attention to the individual traits of the characters I shoot, I can bring vignettes to life that beckon the customer to fill in the blanks of the void that surrounds them.

Sometimes the product doesn’t have any dynamic articulation to work with. Or the subject is the packaging. But I’ll still give static items and packaging the same expert care and attention to detail for their staging and lighting.

I treat lifestyle shoots like working with giant action figures. I utilize my directing and staging abilities to turn talent into larger than life characters.

As well as dynamic hand talent photography

I can even create animated GIFs, as a stop gap between photo and video, to help bring products and features to life in a unique way.