Two people collaborate at a desk while working on laptops in a modern office space.

 

Art Direction & Set Design

 

From initial concepts and custom-built sets to lighting, art direction, and final photography, I love bringing  ideas to life. These projects are a look behind the scenes at some of my favorite creative builds, collaborations, and campaigns.

Recent Projects

CHARLY Heritage Campaign

We built an entire set here in San Antonio, with every detail sourced intentionally to bring that vision to life. I designed the space, sourced the props, assembled a crew to help with construction, and photographed the collection on two models alongside a variety of product shots. A fun personal touch: all the framed photographs throughout the set came from my own travels around Mexico.

Dark studio lighting setup with red walls and professional photography equipment arranged around a vintage-style interior scene.
A collection of vintage baseball jerseys displayed on a rustic wall with green diamond accents.
Minimalist red room interior with photography equipment and decorative elements arranged along a wall.
A green and white varsity letter jacket rests on a brown checkered pattern background.
Green sports jerseys hang on a red wall in a dimly lit room with framed artwork.
Ornate gold candlesticks and decorative mirrors create an elegant display against a deep red wall in warm lighting.
A vintage-styled interior scene with a basketball on the floor, green polo shirt, and framed artwork on deep red walls.
A person in a white polo shirt stands against a dark red wall with framed artwork in an interior setting.
A green Mexico national team soccer jersey is displayed on a dark wooden surface next to various decorative items.
Moody interior scene with dark red walls and checkered floor pattern illuminated by soft lamp lighting.

****

SAFC x CHARLY - 2026 Kit Launch

For 2026, we took four distinct approaches: soft, even lighting against a textured canvas backdrop for the primary kit and group portraits; a bold red-to-white gradient for the secondary kit; and two more experimental setups for the goalkeepers. We used shutter drag to introduce movement into the orange kit and reflective Mylar to create dramatic shadows and highlights for the blue kit.

Soccer goalkeeper in orange jersey diving to catch a ball under dramatic blue neon studio lighting.
A male soccer player poses in a vibrant orange San Antonio FC jersey with geometric patterns under dramatic blue lighting.
Soccer player in orange kit poses with ball held by photographer during professional photo shoot.
Goalkeeper in vibrant orange-pink kit with white gloves poses dramatically against a dark blue background with colorful light streaks.
Four soccer players posing in colorful team jerseys during a photo shoot session.
Four soccer players in colorful Chivas jerseys pose confidently in a studio, showcasing team uniforms in orange, white, red, and blue.
A professional photography studio with a gray backdrop, lighting equipment, and scattered props on a worn concrete floor.
Soccer player in red and black Charly kit stands on platform with ball, arms crossed, studio portrait.
Professional photo studio shoot with athletes in sports gear, studio lighting equipment, and photographers working in background.
Two soccer players in a photography studio with red backdrop, one posing while another lies on floor with football.
Soccer goalkeeper in blue uniform kneeling with ball, wearing gloves, Community First jersey sponsor.
Soccer player in white and red uniform sits on cube with ball, posing against vibrant red background.

****

SAFC 10th Anniversary Campaign

After nearly ten concepts and mockups, we landed on a wall of 143 matte-black cubes suspended within a custom 10-by-9-foot frame. Each cube was individually secured and adjustable, allowing us to carefully align the pattern before introducing red lighting to bring the wall to life. What looked simple in a rendering turned into one of my most technically challenging builds.


The final campaign featured current and former players, along with recreations of memorable moments from the club's history. A fan favorite, and definitely one of mine too.

Soccer players in dark uniforms celebrate with intense emotion against a dramatic red and black backdrop.
Soccer player in black uniform crouches with black ball against red and black geometric background.
Soccer player poses in red and black geometric patterned jersey against checkered background.
Rugby players celebrate together on the field during a nighttime match wearing red and black checkered uniforms.
Multiple orange and red ladders lean against scaffolding in a dimly lit construction or renovation area.
Technical diagram showing a metal frame structure above and a black honeycomb textured surface pattern below.
A sequence of four photos showing a studio space with black and white checkered walls and lighting equipment setup.
Soccer player wearing a black checkered Toyota jersey stands against a dark red and black geometric background.
Soccer player in red and black checkered jersey kisses team badge after scoring goal during match.
Athletic figure in a dark striped jersey with 'UNITY FIRST' text poses against red and black checkered background.

****

SAFC x CHARLY - 2025 Kit Launch

We explored a range of styles, from a simple, elegant gold-on-gold setup to a vibrant combination of orange, teal, and pink lighting. The colorful goalkeeper set was especially fun to figure out, balancing multiple light sources while keeping skin tones natural and the white uniform true to color. The gold setup remains one of my favorite shoots from the project.

Photography studio setup with yellow backdrop and lighting equipment arranged in a professional indoor space.
Behind-the-scenes photo of a professional photoshoot in a white studio with lighting equipment and photographer in action.
Soccer goalkeeper in yellow uniform sits on black block against brown curtain backdrop, wearing gloves and cleats.
Athletic figure in white clothing sits on minimalist pink and turquoise set with geometric shapes and clean lines.
Dark studio workspace with computer setup, camera equipment and window view of city skyline in background.
Athlete wearing a colorful jersey shows off white goalkeeper gloves against a dark background with dramatic lighting.
Soccer player in dark uniform poses with ball in dramatic red-lit studio setting with athletic stance and red cleats.
Athletes pose in white soccer uniforms with colorful lighting effects in a promotional photoshoot.

****

Iceman's Throne Recreation

We commissioned a custom ice throne from a fabrication company that typically builds artificial mountains for zoos. One of the biggest challenges was suspending a basketball backboard  above the set to recreate the floating effect from the original image. Using a truss system, counterweights, and a seamless white backdrop, we brought the entire scene together and created an icy world fit for the Iceman himself.

A sequence showing the construction of a light blue foam wall with San Antonio Spurs logo and design elements.
A person wearing black sits on light blue steps holding a rugby ball in a stylized photo series.
Behind-the-scenes photo shoot setup in a studio with lighting equipment, white backdrop and turquoise chair.
A sequence showing blue ice blocks arranged in a wall-like structure against a white studio background.
A series of five similar photos showing someone sitting against a turquoise tiled wall with a basketball.
A series of three vintage Nike Ice Man promotional photos showing a person in light blue athletic wear holding basketballs.
Person in black clothing sits on a chair against light blue wall with two disco balls on either side.
A person wearing a black shirt sits against a blue wall while holding a Wilson football and smiling.
A person in a black outfit smiles and gestures while sitting against a blue-tinted background.

****

 

Collaboration with local artist

Ryan created a collection of 25 individual illustrations and logos inspired by the club and the city, including the Tower of the Americas, the Alamo, and our team crests. We brought them together into a custom-built set that became the backdrop for our player portraits. The artwork extended well beyond media day, appearing on merchandise, signage, and digital content throughout the entire season.


Explore more of Ryan Hunter's work here:

 

STUDIO RH

Three isometric views of a dark room with scattered objects and furniture shown from different angles.
Basketball player in black and white striped referee jersey against dark background with dramatic lighting.
A black and white artistic collage featuring San Antonio basketball team branding elements and player silhouettes.
A panoramic view of a chalkboard wall covered in white hand-drawn doodles, sketches and text against a black background.
A sequence of five photos showing a person sitting against a dark wall with sports-themed illustrations and diagrams.
Artistic lettering and typography displayed on a dark surface with glass bottles and objects in the background.
Three people stand together in front of a black wall with white chalk-style drawings in what appears to be an indoor venue.
A person in dark clothing works on a project at a counter with a black wall featuring sports-themed graphics and logos.
Soccer player in light blue uniform sits on ground with blue cleats against dark background with chalk drawings.

****