When Brightlins came to me with this holiday production, they knew they wanted something that was going to break the mold when it came to photography. Inspired by the bold, high-contrast color-blocking of brands like Bark, they wanted a holiday campaign that felt curated, whimsical, and impossible to ignore. The goal was to create a monochromatic custom set design where the products didn’t just sit on the set; they were part of the pet product advertising narrative.
The Engineering
This wasn’t a “prop-and-drop” shoot. It was a two-week custom set build.
- Custom Fabrication: I designed and built the fireplace at my home workshop, sourcing a chair, rug, and lamp that were meticulously color-matched or spray-painted to achieve that seamless color-pallet.
- Logistics & Grit: Because we don’t do “average,” the entire set was engineered to be modular, transported from my home to the studio, and reassembled to create an immersive environment. This level of control allowed us to match Brightkins’ brand colors with a precision that location shooting simply can’t offer.
Wraggeling the talent
Working with three dogs, a cat, and a guest appearance from a bird, required strategic organizing and planning.
- The Vertical Cat: We “cat-proofed” the set with a 5-foot wall to keep our feline talent contained. He promptly treated it like a hurdle, leaping over it in a single bound. It was a reminder that in pet product photography, the animals always have the final say.
- Staggered Talent: To keep the environment safe and low-stress, we meticulously time-blocked the arrivals. By preventing overlap between animals with different social behaviors, we ensured the focus remained on the performance, not the distractions.
The Result
Brightkins walked away with two distinct visual libraries for their holiday campaign: the hero immersive color drenched set and a high-energy purple cyclorama set to align with their core branding. By trading “safe” for “bold,” they secured a library of pet product advertising assets that stand out in a saturated market, proving that even a traditional holiday theme can be reinvented through strategic set design and expert animal handling.
Production Credits:
Creative, Set Build & Photography: Hilarious Hound
Set & Prop Stylist: Melanie Francis
Photo Assitant: Meagan Shuptar
Talent: Artoo, Love, Kai & (sourced from HH database)
Your brand is too good to look like everyone else’s. Let’s build something custom, chaotic, and completely unforgettable. Let’s talk strategy!