By: Christopher Michael Photo
As I continue expanding the commercial side of my work, I’ve been intentionally bringing more of my advertising and commercial photography into focus throughout the Washington DC and Northern Virginia market. While my portrait work has long centered on connection and authenticity, the foundation of what I do — storytelling through light, composition, and emotion — translates seamlessly into the world of commercial campaigns. Whether I’m photographing an executive, a brand launch, or a full-scale advertising production, the goal is always the same: create images that feel intentional, dynamic, and aligned with the client’s vision.
For years, I kept my portrait and advertising work somewhat separate. But projects like this one reinforce how naturally the two disciplines complement each other. Strong commercial imagery still requires human connection. It still requires an understanding of personality, energy, and audience. The difference is scale — more moving parts, larger crews, tighter timelines, and a clear marketing objective driving every creative decision.
Recently, I had the opportunity to photograph an advertising campaign for UNJUNKD, a new healthy probiotic snack brand created for a younger, health-conscious generation. From the start, the direction was clear: the visuals needed to be bold, colorful, energetic, and authentic. This wasn’t about sterile product photography. It was about lifestyle, motion, and attitude. The brand identity leaned into freshness and vibrancy — and the campaign imagery needed to match that spirit.
As a Washington DC commercial photographer, these are the projects I’m drawn to — collaborative, fast-paced productions that combine technical precision with creative freedom. Campaigns like this challenge me to think strategically, adapt quickly, and deliver imagery that doesn’t just look good, but supports a brand’s voice, marketing goals, and audience engagement.
That blend of creativity and execution is what makes commercial photography so exciting — and why I’m continuing to expand this side of my work throughout the DC and Northern Virginia region.
This wasn’t a simple product-on-white-background shoot. It was a full commercial production built around lifestyle storytelling and dynamic product visuals.
The production included:
The direction was clear: keep everything fresh, youthful, fun, and vibrant. UnJunkd’s brand identity is rooted in clean ingredients and modern health culture, so the visuals needed to reflect energy and authenticity — not stiff, overly polished commercial imagery.
As a Washington DC advertising photographer, my role was to collaborate closely with the art directors to execute their vision while also contributing prepared visual ideas to strengthen the campaign.
The campaign required a combination of:
Lighting was a major component. Each scene needed to feel consistent with the brand tone while adapting to different creative concepts. Some images required bright, high-energy lighting, while others leaned into softer, lifestyle-driven moments.
Being able to move quickly between setups while maintaining visual consistency is essential in professional commercial photography. Preparation is everything — and that preparation allowed us to execute efficiently without sacrificing creativity.
Commercial photography is a team sport.
Working with four art directors meant clear communication, flexibility, and precision. My job was to:
The turnaround was fast. I edited the shoot within two days, retouched the final selections, and the UnJunkd website was live within one week. That level of efficiency is critical in modern advertising timelines.
Although this particular campaign was produced outside of DC, it represents the type of advertising photography services I now offer in Washington DC and Northern Virginia.
I work with:
As a Washington DC commercial and advertising photographer, my focus is on collaboration — bringing together creative direction and technical execution to produce imagery that drives campaigns forward.
If you’re launching a product, refreshing your brand visuals, or developing a new marketing campaign, I’d love to collaborate.
📧 christopherrobbins@mac.com
📞 917-701-8085
🌐 www.christopherrobbins.photo
Let’s create visuals that move your business forward—one image at a time.
Leave a comment
0 Comments