Denver-based photographer Dag Larson has worked with the honey-based energy fuel company Honey Stinger on product shoots for a few years. While Honey Stinger mostly focuses on food products, including waffles, energy chews, protein bars, and gels, the company recently collaborated with outdoor gear brand Merrell to create the Agility Synthesis shoe. Dag was contracted to shoot a new protein Cracker Bar with Olympian marathon runner and Honey Stinger Elite athlete Jared Ward.
For this latest shoot, we traveled to Provo, Utah to create images with Jared Ward. Jared competes in marathons and is a big fan of their new protein bar.
I have had a connection with Honey Stinger’s creative director for some years now and have worked side by side with her on many campaigns for the companies she has been with. Alicia Mangold reached out to me to tackle Honey Stinger’s photography when she landed at her new role there.
Alicia contracted Dag to shoot photos and videos of Jared running to advertise the product’s upcoming release across Honey Stinger’s social media pages. Over the course of three days, Dag and videographer Daniel Kelly Brown followed Jared during his training routine as he prepared for a race in London.
Daniel and I have been working together for a while on many different campaigns. Because of this, I believe we have a great understanding of the brand and what is desired. Creating the images and video comes with ease and allows for us to play and present all sorts of different ideas.
To align with COVID regulations, Dag kept the crew small, including only himself, the videographer, the talent, and the creative director. In addition to traveling in separate cars before, during, and after the shoot, the crew followed social distancing guidelines while shooting.
Working outside made it easier to work with any COVID-related restrictions and make sure we all were all taking the required steps to keep each other safe.
Beyond shooting during Jared’s training routine, Dag captured a few shots of the runner and his family. Jared is not only an Olympic marathon runner, but a Brigham Young University professor and a father of four. Yet that did’t mean he was uncomfortable before the lens.
Jared Ward was truly an amazing person to work with, generous, kind, comfortable, and always willing to do another take to get the shot right. It was obvious this wasn’t the first time he had been in front of a camera, knowing exactly what the vision was and how to perform time and time again.
Before Dag was finished, Alicia had hoped he could capture a few images of Merrell shoes to tie into Honey Stinger’s upcoming collaboration. Dag’s flexibility allowed him to incorporate the new ask without difficulty.
Dag’s images from this shoot can be found on both Honey Stinger’s and Merrell’s Instagram pages.
Credits:
Athlete: Jared Ward
Creative Director: Alicia Mangold
Videographer: Daniel Kelly Brown
See more of Dag’s work at daglarson.com.
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