In a world of increasing noise, we’re busy building loud and clear branded experiences for passion-based clients.
Specialty
Our Focus
While we’re eager to take on a wide variety of new challenges, the following specialties are why you’ll choose us. Our clients typically need one or a variety of these services and either have a strong existing brand or are looking to build one.
Build Imagery
Architectural & Interiors Photography
We'll collaborate closely with you to understand the architectural and interior space, determining the angles and lighting conditions that best showcase the unique craftsmanship of the project. Through the use of specialized photo equipment, lighting techniques, and expert post-production skills, we'll capture your work in a way that clearly communicates its creative value while maintaining a natural aesthetic.
Adventure & Lifestyle Photography
Our expertise goes beyond capturing stunning outdoor moments. We've collaborated with large resorts, helping them build their visual library by creating proprietary images that truly showcase the excitement and allure of their destinations. We've built custom adventure trips around products, and documented stills alongside mountain bike film projects. With a diverse range of skills and a passion for outdoor pursuits, we're looking to capture commercial and editorial images showcasing the beauty of skiing, backcountry travel, mountain biking, climbing, and much more. Whatever adventure you have in mind, we're up for the challenge!
Product Integration Photography
We understand the importance of showcasing products in real-life. Our product integration photography services go beyond white backdrops; Integrating your products seamlessly into designed lifestyle based environments. Whether it's for advertising campaigns, catalogs, or e-commerce platforms, we can carefully select and style appropriate locations to highlight your products' features and benefits.
Video Production
We specialize in captivating video production that tells your story in a visually compelling way. Our talented team of videographers and editors work closely with you to understand your vision and create high-quality videos that engage and inspire your audience. From concept development to post-production, we handle every aspect of the video production process, ensuring a professional and polished final product that leaves a lasting impression.
Drive Experience
Branding
A great brand not only connects emotionally with the customer, but acts as a clear and easy-to-follow north star for the the continued growth of the brand. Our branding services encompass everything from brand strategy and visual identity development to logo design and brand guidelines. We delve deep into your brand's essence to create a distinctive and cohesive identity that is built with purpose and reason; not just a pretty logo.
Website Design & Development
For many businesses websites are the primary way that customers interact with the brand. Achieving a perfect brand execution while building a user friendly website is a challenge we have spent years dialing in. Our skilled team of designers and developers excel at responsive design, intuitive interfaces, and meaningful engagement that are grounded in intentional brand and business goals.
Illustration
Charles has a unique illustration style that is playful, engaging, and has been utilized on everything from Snowboard graphics for Rome SDS, to packaging for body wipes. We also have relationships with a variety of independent illustrators, allowing us to cover a wide range of styles and media types. Whether it's for branding, marketing materials, or editorial purposes, our illustrations evoke emotion and enhance storytelling, making a lasting impression on your target audience.
Packaging & Product Design
Charles Stemen Studio has a proven track record of collaborating with various companies, including ski and snowboard brands, to design exceptional products such as boards and outerwear. Additionally, we have successfully undertaken packaging design projects ranging from body wipes to supplements. With a keen understanding of design principles and a focus on achieving your brand's visual and economic goals, we create products and packaging that leaves a lasting impression.
Creative Direction
Having one creative source to learn the brand and filter all creative work through significantly improves the process for both the client and freelancers (Not the mention, most importantly, the finished product!). Charles brings a strategic vision and artistic expertise to ensure cohesive and impactful storytelling across various mediums. From conceptualization to execution, we work closely with you to define your brand's aesthetic, messaging, and overall creative direction, resulting in visually stunning experiences backed by business goals. If we build a creative team for a project, you can be certain the work of all those involved will be guided by, and pass the approval of Charles.
Copywriting
One of the goals with many creative brand updates (directly or not) is to hone in on the brand voice and ensure we are connecting emotionally with our customers. Just as having a consistent and strong visual identity is important, having an equally strong and consistent voice is a key part of branding. Whether you're in need of building a brand voice, or have a strong one in place, we're here to creatively execute on that.
Aproach
Our Process.
Connecting reality to your imagination is a process of asking the right questions. From there, your brand strengths, goals, and pain-points all guide our imagery and design towards crafting a clear brand experience. Check out how we’ve accomplished this for a few of our clients:
Yellowstone Club
Digital Lodging Platform
An outdated experience becomes a beautiful and functional platform.
Siiip
Branding
Building a brand around buying a drink for a friend from anywhere in the world.
Winter park resort
Winter Campaign Photography
Elevating market position for Americas #1 Ski Resort through a photography refresh.
FAQ
Studio vs Freelancer vs Agency? What do I choose? How do your freelance teams work?
Hey, Charles here! As a freelancer, I've enjoyed the flexibility of working with a diverse range of brands and people I love. However, there are limitations to working as an individual freelancer. One person can only specialize in so much and handle a limited workload. Plus, there's no denying the power of teamwork!
Hiring an agency may seem like the go-to option for many businesses, but there's an alternative that offers the best of both worlds. Welcome to Charles Stemen Studio, where I lead a team of specialized freelancers tailored specifically for your brand. While I still handle a significant portion of the work, there are times when I assemble a team of talented creatives to meet the specific needs of your project.
By custom-building teams of individuals on a case-by-case basis, we ensure that each team member is fully invested in your project and motivated to contribute their best. This approach eliminates the management headaches and invoicing struggles that often come with coordinating multiple freelancers. With Charles Stemen Studio, you'll always work directly with me, but we have the flexibility to grow alongside your business.
Our internal focus is on fostering a positive and collaborative environment for freelancers, which translates into exceptional results for our clients. We believe that happy freelancers lead to happy clients.
So, if you're wondering whether to choose a studio, freelancer, or agency, our studio offers the perfect blend of expertise, flexibility, and personal attention. Let us help you achieve your creative and business goals with a team of dedicated professionals who are genuinely passionate about your success.
What are your rates?
Because each project and brand is unique, we offer customized rates based on a thorough understanding of your specific requirements. Factors such as workload, complexity, team size, equipment, and any necessary travel are carefully considered when scoping out rates.
Our aim is to ensure that the value of the project matches its cost from the outset, so we typically provide project-based rates. By tailoring our rates to the specific needs of your project, we can provide transparent pricing that aligns with the value and quality of our work. This approach allows us to deliver exceptional results while accommodating a range of budgets.
Do you travel for work?
We believe that our work speaks louder than our location. With Charles is located in Bozeman, Montana, a network of talented freelance partners across the country and even abroad, we have the flexibility to support clients wherever they may be. We genuinely enjoy the opportunity to travel and immerse ourselves in new and inspiring environments.
Who owns the rights to any work produced?
The ownership of work produced is dependent on the client's specific needs and the services provided. Copyright ownership standards can vary across different industries, such as photography, brand design, and illustration. At Charles Stemen Studio, we prioritize setting our clients up for success and ensuring clarity around copyright and ownership.
Typically, this means that brands retain ownership of their branded items, while obtaining licenses to use any photographic and illustrative assets created by our team. We adhere to industry standards for copyright ownership to protect both our creatives and clients' interests. During the onboarding process, we can go into the details of your specific requirements and provide a comprehensive understanding of the ownership rights related to your project. Our goal is to maintain transparency and ensure that you have a clear understanding of the rights associated with the work we produce. Feel free to discuss your specific needs with us, and we will work closely with you to address any questions or concerns regarding ownership.
People
Our Team.
About Charles.
Hello there! I'm Charles, an independent photographer and graphic designer specializing in architectural photography, adventure photography, illustration, and web/user experience design.
My creative journey began while studying Graphic Design at Champlain College in Burlington, VT. During that time, I joined the team at HG Skis and helped run the company, working on everything from ski graphics to branding to cinematography and editing of the 3 ski films we produced and premiered. Our last film, Eat The Guts, premiered around the world and was nominated for “Discovery of the year”, “Best Short Movie”, and “Standout Urban Movie” at the International Freeski Festival.
My time spent in the cold streets of Quebec filming urban skiing transitioned to even colder mornings skinning up Berthoud Pass in Winter Park, CO after I moved to work as the graphic designer at the resort. Discovering powder skiing and larger mountains reinvigorated my love for the sport despite two blown ACLs in seasons prior. The world of mountain bikes and rock climbing also opened its doors when ski season ended and summer gave way.
It was during my transition to freelancing in Bozeman, MT when an unexpected opportunity to photograph rental properties in the area led me to discover my love for architectural and interiors photography. What initially seemed like a pleasant way to spend a day quickly became an addictive blend of challenge and creativity.
Being something of a generalized specialist, I've learned each creative discipline informs the other, providing unique results in each.The ability to switch between these creative fields energizes me, and enables me to provide so much more than an ultra-specialized service for my clients. Understanding how each of these services contributes to an overall brand is crucial - when you are the one doing the research, designing the logo, composing the photo and then using it to design the ad, you come to understand quite a bit more about how to create an entire branded experience from start to finish.
My creative journey began while studying Graphic Design at Champlain College in Burlington, VT. During that time, I joined the team at HG Skis and helped run the company, working on everything from ski graphics to branding to cinematography and editing of the 3 ski films we produced and premiered. Our last film, Eat The Guts, premiered around the world and was nominated for “Discovery of the year”, “Best Short Movie”, and “Standout Urban Movie” at the International Freeski Festival.
My time spent in the cold streets of Quebec filming urban skiing transitioned to even colder mornings skinning up Berthoud Pass in Winter Park, CO after I moved to work as the graphic designer at the resort. Discovering powder skiing and larger mountains reinvigorated my love for the sport despite two blown ACLs in seasons prior. The world of mountain bikes and rock climbing also opened its doors when ski season ended and summer gave way.
It was during my transition to freelancing in Bozeman, MT when an unexpected opportunity to photograph rental properties in the area led me to discover my love for architectural and interiors photography. What initially seemed like a pleasant way to spend a day quickly became an addictive blend of challenge and creativity.
Being something of a generalized specialist, I've learned each creative discipline informs the other, providing unique results in each.The ability to switch between these creative fields energizes me, and enables me to provide so much more than an ultra-specialized service for my clients. Understanding how each of these services contributes to an overall brand is crucial - when you are the one doing the research, designing the logo, composing the photo and then using it to design the ad, you come to understand quite a bit more about how to create an entire branded experience from start to finish.
Charles has built a network of specialized freelancers and small agencies to build creative teams from. Here are a few and their specialties.
Jake Caggige
Jake Caggige is a multidisciplinary designer with experience spanning from digital to physical, crafting solutions for clients on the global scale down to local start-ups. Based in Burlington, Vermont.
Brand Design
A great brand not only connects emotionally with the customer, but acts as a clear and easy-to-follow north star for the the continued growth of the brand. Our branding services encompass everything from brand strategy and visual identity development to logo design and brand guidelines. We delve deep into your brand's essence to create a distinctive and cohesive identity that is built with purpose and reason; not just a pretty logo.
Website Design
For many businesses websites are the primary way that customers interact with the brand. Achieving a perfect brand execution while building a user friendly website is a challenge we have spent years dialing in. Our skilled team of designers and developers excel at responsive design, intuitive interfaces, and meaningful engagement that are grounded in intentional brand and business goals.
Webflow & No Code Development
By utilizing Webflow and other no-code development solutions, we provide our clients with the flexibility to make updates, add content, and manage their websites without extensive development knowledge. You'll have the freedom to maintain and evolve your website independently, without relying on technical expertise.
Zack Warren
I build websites and data driven web and mobile applications. I’m a full stack kinda guy, doing everything from frontend styling and UX to backend logic and integration. I’m incredibly passionate about all things web development!
Wordpress Development
With our expertise in WordPress, we transform your ideas into immersive digital experiences that are easy for your team to update. Our skilled team ensures seamless functionality, responsive design, and user-friendly interfaces, empowering you to establish a strong online presence.
Shopify Development
We craft engaging and optimized online stores tailored to your brand's unique identity. From customizing themes to integrating secure payment gateways, we ensure a seamless shopping experience for your customers. Our team can harness the power of Shopify to help you drive sales, enhance conversions, and grow your online business.
Web & Mobile App Development
Taking your digital presence to the next level with a comprehensive web or mobile app can be daunting! We're here to streamline that process while providing sleek and interactive user experiences that brings your ideas to live.
Holler
If we need a video as part of your brand growth project we need to look no further than Holler. With experience ranging from music videos to large commercial film sets, (& a world class drone pilot named George), Holler is just a shout away.
Video Production
We specialize in captivating video production that tells your story in a visually compelling way. Our talented team of videographers and editors work closely with you to understand your vision and create high-quality videos that engage and inspire your audience. From concept development to post-production, we handle every aspect of the video production process, ensuring a professional and polished final product that leaves a lasting impression.
FPV / Aerial Cinematography
Experience a new perspective with our breathtaking aerial cinematography services. We'll use cutting-edge drone technology and skilled pilots to capture stunning aerial shots that add a sense of grandeur and scale to your visual projects. Whether it's capturing expansive landscapes, architectural masterpieces, or dynamic action sequences, our aerial cinematography elevates your storytelling and creates truly memorable visuals that leave a lasting impact.
Studio Trev
I strive to create art that brings you to a special moment in time. A place that has a feeling of sunshine, vacation, and good vibes. I love to create images that you can relate to, bringing you to a place that you hold dear, or a feeling you would like to have someday. When you look at my work I hope it makes you feel a special connection to this life.
Illustration
We bring ideas to life through captivating illustrations that spark imagination and convey messages with visual impact. Our skilled illustrators possess a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of various artistic styles, allowing us to create unique and engaging illustrations that align with your brand identity. Whether it's for branding, marketing materials, or editorial purposes, our illustrations evoke emotion and enhance storytelling, making a lasting impression on your target audience.
Ben Dann
As an action sports cinematographer for clients such as Red Bull, Teton Gravity Research, and HBO, Ben has the adventure production experience and network to help tell your brands outdoor story, large or small.
Video Production
We specialize in captivating video production that tells your story in a visually compelling way. Our talented team of videographers and editors work closely with you to understand your vision and create high-quality videos that engage and inspire your audience. From concept development to post-production, we handle every aspect of the video production process, ensuring a professional and polished final product that leaves a lasting impression.
Koda
Studio pup and #goodboi, Koda keeps the vibes high, the kibble pile low, and the sticks retrieved. With a teammate like this, we’ll be unstoppable.
Kibble Destruction
Our furry team member brings his unrivaled talent for kibble destruction to Charles Stemen Studio. With a playful and determined spirit, he expertly demolishes any bowl of kibble in record time. No matter the size or shape, this canine dynamo takes on the challenge with gusto, leaving no kibbles behind. His impressive kibble destruction skills are sure to impress both humans and fellow four-legged friends alike.
Stick & Toy Retrieval
They say on the 4th day, God made stick, and Kodas' passion lies in the retrieval of such. With lightning-fast reflexes and a sometimes worrisome unyielding determination, he excels at fetching sticks, balls, and toys of all shapes and sizes. His ability to retrieve with precision and enthusiasm adds a touch of playful charm to our team, and hopefully soon, to yours.
