The Grand Alliance - photo / video shoot
Project: Album release photo and video shoot
Date: 11/12/2020
Location: Gas Money Studios - 3300 Walnut St, UNIT 119, Denver, CO 80205
Brief:
Under No Coast Projects, I led a full-scale photo and video shoot for The Grand Alliance, a Denver-based music collective known for its bold visual identity and genre-blending sound. The goal was to craft a cohesive visual campaign that captured the group’s creative energy while aligning with the aesthetic of their upcoming album release. The Grand Alliance is made up of Kayla Marquee, Carl Carrell, and Sur Ellz. Check out the custom neon built for this project!
Creative Team
Blake Jackson – Lead Photographer
Anthony Maes – Photo Assistant
Connor Ray – Videographer
Tobias Krause – Executive Producer / Lead Producer
Production & Execution
As Executive Producer, I oversaw every aspect of the shoot from concept through delivery. My role included:
Set Fabrication & Design: Led the design and build of a fully custom set environment, including a neon sign installation designed to match the album’s color palette and visual tone.
Creative Direction Support: Collaborated with the artist and creative team to align visuals with the album’s narrative and brand identity.
Production Management: Managed all pre-production logistics, scheduling, and day-of coordination, ensuring smooth transitions between photography and video capture.
Vendor & Crew Coordination: Oversaw all third-party vendors, equipment rentals, set materials, and studio operations.
On-Set Supervision: Directed load-in, lighting design adjustments, and overall creative flow to maintain timeline and quality control.
Post-Production Oversight: Guided deliverables, file organization, and editing priorities for both still and motion content.
Additional Services Provided
A photo and video shoot of this scale typically includes:
Pre-production planning and creative brief development
Location scouting and permitting
Set design and fabrication
Lighting and grip coordination
Styling, wardrobe, and HMU coordination
Equipment sourcing and rentals
Shotlist creation and timeline management
On-set direction and continuity supervision
Talent coordination and call sheet management
Post-production management and final asset delivery
Outcome
The final imagery and video content reflected the dynamic artistry of The Grand Alliance, which balanced polished visual storytelling with raw creative expression. The custom neon fabrication became the visual centerpiece of the campaign, tying the entire aesthetic together across photography, video, and promotional materials.
Photo courtesy of Anthony Maes
Photo courtesy of Blake Jackson
Photo courtesy of Blake Jackson
Photo courtesy of Blake Jackson
Photo courtesy of Blake Jackson
Photo courtesy of Blake Jackson
Video courtesy of Connor Ray