Low-pressure and pleasant shoots are a core pillar at Steadfast. It matters to us because a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere allows room for true emotional nuance - not to mention, it's just more fun, too.

In many ways, we lit each scene like we would for a short doc - simple, wide, flattering light that allowed us to move around freely following every step of Jewel’s careful process.

Tools, jewelry, and the space were organized and adjusted, but we didn’t want anything to feel artificial, and strived for naturalism - just the right amount of real world asymmetry for authenticity.

Vibrance starts with contrast. Indoors, we shot the silver smithing in very warm tones while the beadweaving was a soft white. Outside, the red hues of sunset pop all the more when contrasted to the dark blue sky of dusk.