Juniper Ridge

Capturing the raw, unpolished grit of wilderness fragrance through texture-heavy lifestyle brand photography in Virginia

Living by the Wild Creed

I have worked alongside Juniper Ridge for over a decade, and they remain one of the absolute foundations of my creative identity. To understand their fragrance is to understand the dirt, the damp earth, and the smoke of real wilderness. My time with the brand was deeply shaped by its founder, Hall Newbegin, who was undeniably one of the most influential forces in my creative life.

A person with tattoos holding a bunch of green leafy stems with thin branches and small leaves.

Since Hall passed away, staying connected to his memory has become an intentional, sensory practice for me—rooted deeply in fragrance. Hall didn’t care about commercial perfection, and he didn’t care about polished trends. He used to tell me, "Fuck up, fail, flail, and do it again."

That raw, uncompromising philosophy is exactly what I bring to the lens and the styling set. Every frame of this collection is a tribute to that grit—an exercise in leaning into the beautiful, untamed mistakes of authentic craft.

Since Hall passed away, staying connected to his memory has become an intentional, sensory practice for me—rooted deeply in fragrance. Hall didn’t care about commercial perfection, and he didn’t care about polished trends. He used to tell me, "Fuck up, fail, flail, and do it again."

That raw, uncompromising philosophy is exactly what I bring to the lens and the styling set. Every frame of this collection is a tribute to that grit—an exercise in leaning into the beautiful, untamed mistakes of authentic craft.

Sourcing and Styling the Wilderness

When executing the editorial lookbook and commercial product photography for Juniper Ridge, the goal was to make the digital space smell like the trail. This meant bypassing traditional studio backdrops to work with organic, visceral environments.

  • Tactile Set Dressing: Sourcing weathered bark, damp moss, charred wood, and raw mountain stone to create a rugged, natural home for the wild-harvested incense, soaps, and cabin sprays.

  • Chiaroscuro & Grain: Utilizing heavy, directional natural light and deep, atmospheric shadows to emphasize the micro-textures of the packaging and the raw ingredients themselves.

  • Process-Driven Narrative: Capturing the physical relationship between the wilderness and the product—treating a bottle of field lab perfume not as a clean luxury item, but as a living piece of the forest floor.

Editorial Creative Direction for Heritage Brands in Central Virginia

Bringing a decade of experience with pioneering West Coast wilderness brands back to my base in Lynchburg, Virginia, I specialize in helping heritage lifestyle brands and independent artisans articulate their own deep-rooted stories. Whether your brand is built on agricultural history, multi-generational craftsmanship, or small-batch production, I provide comprehensive creative direction, wardrobe styling, and visceral brand assets that refuse to fade into the background.

From Charlottesville to Richmond, I partner with creators who aren't afraid to flail, fail, and build something entirely authentic.

A person with tattoos on their arm and wearing a watch is holding a large handful of soil and organic material, with more soil and roots on a fabric surface nearby.
Two hikers with backpacks standing in a rocky, mountainous landscape with sparse vegetation and cliffs in the background.
Close-up of hands holding a small, partially peeled quail egg with yolk and white inside.
Person holding a folded map outdoors, wearing a plaid jacket with tattoos on their hand.
Silhouette of a person holding a small tree or branch with leaves, standing on a hill against a scenic sunset or sunrise sky with clouds and mountains in the background.
Wet watercolor paint set with various colors, paint splatters inside the case, placed on a vibrant striped cloth with holiday decorations nearby.
A close-up of a person wearing a worn hiking boot, tying the laces, with a dirt trail in the background.
Close-up of a pipe releasing a drop of liquid into an orange container with vapor in the background.
A person pouring liquid into a laboratory funnel connected to a glass container on a stand, outdoors with a blurred background.
A man lying on the ground outdoors, smiling and wearing sunglasses, a brown cap with a 'Hello' sticker, and a green plaid shirt.
Four people are standing and sitting on a hilltop overlooking a mountainous landscape at sunset.
A man standing on a mountain during sunset, wearing glasses, a cap, and a dark green sweater, with mountains in the background.
A black cap with a white eagle logo and orange circle that reads "FIELD LAB" on a wooden surface outdoors, with gloves nearby.
A black open box filled with various small bottles and containers, likely medication or supplement bottles.
A wooden surface with a colorful striped cloth, a small bouquet of wildflowers, and a round tin labeled 'Juniper Ridge, Topo Chico Canyon, 24041, Light Out of the Wilderness.'
A small round container with a lid, labeled 'Juniper Ridge Topanga Canyon', sitting on a wooden surface with a colorful striped fabric and blurred flowers and background.
A small brown glass bottle with a white cap, labeled "Earth Rising" and "Tpopanga Canyon," surrounded by colorful flower petals and flowers on a wooden surface outdoors.
Close-up of a black bottle with a black cap, labeled 'FEEL BETTER' and 'GREEN EARTH RISING', outdoors with blurred green foliage in the background.
A bottled beverage labeled 'Earth Rising' with 'To Panga Canyon' written on it, placed outdoors on a wooden surface, with sunlight and blurred natural background.
A man with tattoos and a beard sitting on the floor, drawing or writing on a large sheet of paper with watercolor paintings of trees and fields. The setting appears to be an industrial or workshop space with wooden walls, a green container, and blue
A man with a beard and slicked-back hair wearing a light-colored shirt, standing outdoors against a gray wall with a window, showing tattoos on his arms and wearing a wristwatch.
Person writing a handwritten message on a large sheet of watercolor paper with a pen, with paint splashes in blue, pink, and gray nearby. In the background, a glass of beer, a black cup with a spoon, and an artist's palette are on the table.
Two people are writing or drawing on a piece of paper with colorful watercolor paint at the top, with a handwritten quote underneath reading "There's light in the ... Wild rivers cav..." The focus is on the paper, with one person's hand visible holdi
Close-up of a frosty glass of beer with condensation droplets, illuminated by warm orange and yellow lighting.
A man with a beard wearing a baseball cap, carrying a backpack, holding a walking stick, outdoors under a clear blue sky.
A person holding a jar with a lid, with dirty hands and dirt on their fingers, outdoors in a natural setting.
Person holding a small bouquet of green leafy herbs.
A person is adding a substance to a fire in a large metal container, with flames and ashes visible.
A man with glasses and a maroon beanie smelling a jar held by another person wearing a gray sleeve, outdoors with blurred greenery in the background.
Person hiking on a trail with a large red backpack in a dry, shrub-filled landscape.
Five people outdoors on a hillside overlooking mountains during sunset.
Open black storage box filled with brown glass bottles and white plastic caps, outdoors.
Close-up of a worn black hiking boot on uneven dirt ground, with hands tying the white shoelaces.
Close-up of worn hiking boots with rolled-up jeans, standing on dirt ground.
A worn-out hiking boot and a pair of dirty gloves on rocky ground.
A flat lay of outdoor and camping items on a wooden surface, including a feather, a lantern, a small bottle labeled 'Cabin Spray' with herbal ingredients, and a bundle of fabric swatches with frayed edges, with a piece of wood on the left side.
Five amber glass bottles labeled with various scents of cabin spray, arranged on a piece of wood with dirt and twigs in the background.
A partially melted orange candle next to a small round tin container with black and gold design, surrounded by dried herbs, dirt, and a map on a surface with a dark background.
A dark scene depicting a small bottle of cologne labeled 'Winter Red Wood' on a wooden surface, surrounded by dried herbs or seeds, an open book, and various bottles and candles in warm, dim lighting.
Person harvests wild herbs and plants, with a table of freshly gathered greenery in front, outdoors in a forest setting.
Person holding a small plant with green leaves in front of their face, with a blurred outdoor background.
Person filling a glass jar with water from a green plant or shrub outdoors.
Group of hikers walking on a trail through a hilly desert landscape with mountains in the background.
Close-up of a person's hand holding a small bottle with a label that reads 'Wanderer' and some numbers, resting on blue denim fabric with a button.
Person pouring a dark liquid from a large glass vessel into a small brown glass bottle in a workshop.
A person's hand covered in tattoos, wearing rings and black wristbands, digs into dark soil with exposed roots, with a boot visible nearby.
A scientist in a lab holding large glass jars with colored liquid and working with scientific equipment.
Burning incense sticks with smoke rising from them.
A man with dark, curly hair is holding a carved wooden sign that reads 'Wilderness Preserve' with 'Juniper Ridge' underneath. The man is smiling and standing indoors near a table with a metal tray of liquid in front of him.
A windowsill with a book titled 'The California Field Atlas,' a bowl containing used matches, some matches and a matchbox, a piece of cloth, small rocks, and a smoking incense stick.
Two bottles of Juniper Ridge body oil and cologne labeled Desert Cedar, placed on a topographic map with shadows cast by nearby objects.
A bar of soap with the engraving 'JUNIPER RIDGE' being held above a bath with soap suds and bubbles.
A flat lay of a wooden table with fire-starting items, including matches and a lighter, a book on desert adventures, a rock, and a small spray bottle labeled 'Juniper Ridge Cologne Coastal Pine.'
A small glass bottle of Juniper Ridge Cologne with a silver cap, placed on a wooden surface next to a coil of white rope with red and black stripes, and a map or chart partially visible underneath.
A hand squeezing a yellow sponge over a basin, with a bottle of trail crew soap and folded cloths on a wooden surface.
A person holds a small bottle of essential oil labeled 'White Sage' with other essential oil bottles and caps on a wooden surface, with droplets of water or oil falling from the bottle.
A person with tattoos on arms and wristwatch painting a tree using watercolor paints on white paper. The person is sitting at a wooden table with watercolors, a cup, and brushes.
Person spreading resin with a tool onto a surface outdoors
A person's hand with dirt and black marks, guiding a small fish on a wooden board covered with herbs, leaves, and crushed plant material outdoors.
A small glass bottle of perfume labeled 'Juniper Ridge Mountain' with a blackened wood cap, placed on a flat surface outdoors with twigs and dry ground.
A wooden table with a small glass spray bottle labeled 'Juniper Ridge Cologne Coastal Pine,' a partially visible book, a brown leather wallet, a matchbook, and a small stone with red accent.

brand photography and videography can benefit you

Contact me to start your project