Tribute Equine Nutrition has been a retainer client for a while now, which means we do shoots together regularly throughout the year. I love that kind of working relationship. You build trust, you understand the brand, and over time, you start thinking creatively on their behalf even when you’re not on set.
That’s actually how this project came together. I pitched the idea of shooting in feed stores because I had done something similar for another feed client years ago and knew how well it worked. Tribute loved it, and we planned two shoots: one in Minnesota and one in Florida.
The Minnesota shoot was at Spikes and Houles in their Elk River location, which is in an old grain elevator with wood beams, spacious aisles, and a lot of character. It was also 12 degrees that morning. I didn’t realize the feed area was unheated and showed up underdressed for it. Once I got moving, I was fine, but those first few minutes were a little rough. 🥶
The second shoot was at Berrettini’s Feed Specialists in Ocala, a strong Tribute partner that had a great product display set up right at the entrance. Their warehouse was something else entirely: thousands of bags of Tribute feed, floor to ceiling, ready to go out the door. It was genuinely awe-inspiring!
In both locations, I sourced the models myself, mostly friends, and executed the shoots remotely with the same shot list for both. The scope covered products on store shelves, customers shopping and selecting feed, and loading bags into a pickup truck.
Kat Riggs, Equine Brand Lead at Tribute, had kind things to say about our work together: “Shelley is an invaluable partner to Tribute Equine Nutrition. She never fails to deliver stunning photo and video assets that elevate everything from our marketing to our packaging. No matter the scope, her responsiveness and willingness to jump in make her a true extension of our team.”
That means a lot coming from a client I’ve worked with this closely. If your brand needs someone who can show up consistently, professionally, think proactively, and create wherever you need them – even in an unheated grain elevator in January – I’d love to connect!
