All in One for Mayfaire

December 1, 2010 / Editorial

It’s December and the holidays are in full swing. Wilmington’s upscale shopping mecca, Mayfaire, wanted their cover photo for Focus on the Coast to catch the eye of locals and visitors alike. The challenge was trying to show all of the various stores in one shot. After meeting with their marketing director, we agreed on a simple approach. For the picture we used a local model who fit the target market perfectly. We also included clothes, jewelry, makeup and even furniture to showcase all the variety you can find during a simple stroll through Mayfaire. Thanks to Paige, Melanie, Garry and Laurel for another great cover shoot!

Let Boys Be Boys

/ Editorial

I was happy to have several families ask me back to photograph their kids this holiday season. An hour at a park can turn into something truly precious. I like to let boys run and play, and I’m thrilled when the parents go along. Or better yet, come along for a game of hide and seek among the huge sycamore trees. A little texture treatment in post and you’ve got some special memories to savor and share. Thanks to Hank and Luke for all those smiles!

South ‘n France Handmade Bon Bons

November 29, 2010 / Editorial, Film

Lately I’ve been meeting local small business owners who provide unique products and services—take South ‘n France, for example. They offer delicious bon bons that are completely made by hand. Charlene Dupray, the “southern half” of the company, said she needed a short informative video for their website, SouthnFrance.com. Pascal Siegler, professional chef and the “French half” demonstrated how these exquisite chocolate morsels are made. The resulting 2-minute movie was designed to be a warm and charming peek at this cute couple and their entrepreneurial efforts. If you’re still shopping for a tasty gift for your clients or loved ones, look no further! (Disclaimer: several bon bons were consumed in the making of this film.)

And read about the shoot in this awesome article, “Chocolate Movie Stars,” on the South ‘n France blog…. SouthnFrance.com/blog

PPD Beach2Battleship Triathlon Shoot – The Run

/ Editorial

On November 13th, some amazing athletes descended on Wilmington, NC, for the “Beach 2 Battleship” iron distance triathlon. PPD, a global research organization who partners with pharmaceutical companies, was the main sponsor and hired me to cover this event. In fact, several folks who have benefited  from PPD clinical trials were a big part of the race. These survivors shared their stories of recovery, from brain tumors to breast cancer—making what was already a world-renowned race even more special.

The Roof, The Roof….

November 12, 2010 / Editorial

Local small business owner Kevin Walker is upgrading his website and wanted some creative images of his work, installing high-end roofing systems. Having photographed a lot of homes, I’d never focused on just the roof. Here are two images that made it to the TOP of the edit. And yes, I had to crawl up there. Don’t tell my insurance agent.

The Finished Product

November 5, 2010 / Editorial

Red Square sent over some of the ads they delivered to the Alabama State Port Authority. It’s so cool seeing my photographs in their final form. Bravo, creative team! Stephean Grimes, art director; Maureen Smith, account executive; Rich Sullivan, creative director. Thanks again to Red Square for bringing me back to ‘Bama!

Introducing….Chris Davis Productions.

November 1, 2010 / Editorial, News

I’ve been working in video for a while now (under Categories to your right, click on Film). And I noticed something that has always bothered me regarding TV commercials. The super slick, big budget spots for national companies run right beside the ones created locally. Not good. Kinda like putting a Lexus up against a homemade go-cart. But there are certain small-business owners who want their advertising efforts to have a great idea and a high production values too, like the big-boy ads. This is where I come in.

I’d like to offer an option that doesn’t feel so….local. So I’ve launched Chris Davis Productions.

Already have an agency? Great, send us your boards. Can’t afford an ad agency, but want an awesome TV ad? Great, let’s talk. We’ll create an ad that will put your business in the best light.

Same eye. New toys. cdphoto.com/motion

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2010 ~ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Production Firm Seeks to Shoot TV Ads That Are “Not So Local”

Nationally recognized commercial photographer, Chris Davis, launches a new division of his Wilmington, NC-based photography business, turning his lens toward local and regional television commercials and short films.

WILMINGTON, NC—For the last 18 years, Chris Davis has enjoyed success as an award-winning commercial photographer.  Davis considers his career’s official start in 1993, when his photo for a men’s clothier ran as a full-page ad in GQ magazine.  Since then, Davis has worked for corporate giants like Coca-Cola, BellSouth, Motorola, Sony, and ING; his images have graced magazine pages and 6-story billboards in Atlanta, where he was trained. Davis and his family moved to Wilmington in 2005, and these days, Davis has his sights set on local Wilmington businesses.

On November 1st, Davis officially launches Chris Davis Productions, a division of Chris Davis Photography, Inc.. The production company will focus on creating high-quality commercials that are intended to fill the gap between the slick, Madison Avenue-produced advertising of national corporations and the obviously home-spun look of most local ads.

Davis explains:  “When you watch television, national spots run right beside local ones, and there is often a huge difference between them in terms of concepts and the cinematography.  My intent is to fill that gap, allowing smaller local companies to look, well—not so local.  Chris Davis Productions will produce commercials that feel more like short films than TV ads.”

If you’ve seen local spots for Kitchen and Bath Galleries (“Sleeping Bags”) or the Goodnight Sleepstore (“Burglar,” “Insomnia” and “Date”) series, then you’ve seen Chris Davis in action.  He produced the Kitchen and Bath Galleries spot and collaborated as Director of Photography on the Goodnight Sleepstore spots with local award-winning director Joey Connolley. You may have also seen Davis’s still photography work on recent covers of Focus on the Coast magazine. “Of course, we’re continuing to shoot stills, too,” he says.

Charlene Dupray, current client and co-owner of Wilmington-based South ’n France, Inc., says:  “What makes Chris Davis Productions unique is that he’s not just some guy who liked video and decided to start a production company.  He’s an experienced commercial photographer who knows how to create, produce and deliver an advertising product.  He understands marketing, photography, lighting—the whole package.  To have a pro with the eye of a commercial photographer who can create a full-blown video production…well, it’s a gift.  Wilmington is lucky to have him!”


Back to ‘Bama

October 22, 2010 / Editorial

In the summer of 2008, Mobile hot shop Red Square hired me to take pictures for the Alabama State Docks (see post dated – July 18, 2008). So this year when the client needed to update some images, they called me back. Thankfully the October weather was a little cooler, and it was awesome to revisit an area with such incredible images at every turn. Again, the port staff provided us with amazing access, which was crucial. Here are a few of my favorites, along with some behind-the-scenes shots from my über-talented digital assistant, Jason Fobart.

Port of Mobile

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Port of Mobile

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Port of Mobile

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