A New Partnership with Verizon
It’s so great to be chatting with you, and a privilege to be invited to help shape what promises to be an impressive Holiday campaign for Verizon. As this is our first time collaborating together, we want to say how excited we are to bring fresh perspective, energy, and creativity to this partnership.
We’ve long admired Verizon's bold, human, and elevated approach to storytelling. The values expressed in your creative brief resonate deeply with the way we work—and the way we see the world. From celebrating the homemade to turning everyday moments into something cinematic and unforgettable, this campaign speaks directly to our hearts.
Let’s make something truly extraordinary together.
Day19 Director’s Reel
A Glimpse Into Our Vision: Images That Echo the Campaign's Vibe
We curated a range of stills and motion pieces from our archive that embody the tone we envision for this year’s campaign. Some were chosen for their mood, some for their composition or color, and some simply because they made us smile. Every one of them reflects the kind of work we hope to create with you: warm, honest, and alive with human connection.
These visuals are made with care, by us, because we genuinely love what we do. And when we shoot, we always shoot. So much of our favorite work has come from unexpected moments captured between setups—those spontaneous in-betweens where authenticity lives.
Emotional Core: Technology That Feels Personal
We believe in storytelling that empowers people by understanding their perspectives, intentions, and relationships. Any brand can show someone using technology—but Verizon tells a story. We want to capture the in-between moments that show how your technology enables authentic, charming experiences.
As you so beautifully put it: “Showing how much you care is the most empowering gift of all.”
The Perfect Trio: Collaborating with our cinematographer Justin Donais to Seamlessly Capture Motion and Stills
When we shoot together, we amplify our collective creative power—combining two unique perspectives to build a more textured, emotionally layered narrative. Our dual-camera stills approach allows one of us to shoot tethered for steady, reviewable compositions, while the other is free to move, direct talent, and collaborate closely with our cinematographer Justin to ensure everything aligns with the Day19 aesthetic.
We have worked alongside Justin for 15 years, he started out as our assistant before he moved into DP work for us and many others. This isn’t just about having two photographers and a DP whose styles may all differ. This is a tightly integrated team with a shared vision and a proven, cohesive rhythm. With two still cameras and one motion camera working simultaneously, we’re able to capture a wide range of emotion, energy, and context in real time—without sacrificing spontaneity or coverage.
While one lens might be capturing a wide, structured shot, the other is documenting an intimate, unplanned moment. Our male and female perspectives bring different strengths to the table. Jeremy often leads with bold, expansive compositions that anchor the story, while Claire’s intuitive, human-focused eye captures the soul of the moment. Even when our images are taken seconds apart, they offer complementary views that feel aligned but distinct.
Here’s an example from a New Balance campaign, one shot by Jeremy and one by Claire taken almost simultaneously all the while our long time DP captured it all in motion.
Through Their Eyes: Capturing Spontaneity and Connection Through Observational Filmmaking and Photography
We think the best visuals feel spontaneous and happened-upon, so we immerse ourselves in the moment with the talent, capturing the action as it unfolds. We play music, get silly, tell jokes—we’ll happily do whatever it takes to build positive energy and momentum. We shoot up close from within the scene to connect our lenses directly to the characters and their emotions.
We want everything to feel like it was taken by someone sharing the same moment, not just observing it.
Real People, Real Magic: Our Casting Philosophy
Our casting process is designed to find the real, the warm, the unforgettable. We collaborate with casting agents who know how to uncover talent that feels true to life. We often invite talent to bring friends or family to sessions—it helps them relax, and sometimes we discover magic we didn’t even know we were looking for.
We’re always on the lookout for real families and genuine relationships—people who may not be professional actors, but who bring something emotionally rich and undeniably authentic to the frame. Sometimes it’s in the way a father zips up his child’s jacket or how siblings make each other laugh without trying. These are the moments we live for, and the kind of casting we strive to build.
We also maintain a roster of past talent and real people we’ve loved working with, constantly mixing fresh energy with familiar faces. This allows us to foster continuity while also staying open to surprise. It’s about building trust, creating comfort, and letting authenticity shine—on and off camera.
Framing for Flexibility: Designed for Versatility
We understand that campaigns today require flexibility across formats—from billboards and in-store displays to social media carousels and vertical mobile placements. That’s why we always shoot with different crop needs in mind.
Whether it’s 16:9, 4:5, 9:16, or 1:1, we approach each frame with an eye for how it might live across platforms. Our composition, blocking, and camera placement are all planned to ensure maximum usability, so you're never locked into a single layout or constrained in post.
We aim to give you the most freedom possible to use the work in any way needed. Every moment we capture is crafted not only with aesthetic integrity but with practical adaptability in mind—so the work stays as flexible as your distribution needs.
The Power of Detail: Wardrobe, a Killer Glam Team, and Real-Life Locations
When it comes to bringing a campaign to life, the details make all the difference. That’s why we put just as much care into our glam team as we do behind the camera. They’re a huge part of making everything feel real and relatable.
We’ve worked with some amazing partners over the years. With over 15 years of experience on big campaigns, we’ve built a team we know and trust on both sides of the country.
From wardrobe to glam to the places we shoot, every piece plays a role in telling a story that feels honest. Outfits should reflect the talent and the moment. And the right location? That’s where the magic happens. Real spaces bring depth and help the viewer feel like they’re stepping into something real—not just looking at a set.
When everything works together, it just feels right—natural, vibrant, and full of life.
Process & Flexibility: Building Momentum on Set
This opportunity gives us room to experiment and explore—moving through the shoot with flexibility and intuition. Together with our production partners and your creative team, we’ll build a schedule that allows creativity to breathe while staying nimble and efficient.
We also want to acknowledge the strength of our production team—particularly our long-standing collaboration with Miyazu. We've worked with Miyazu on campaigns around the world, and they understand exactly how we shoot, how we move, and how we think. They’re more than just logistics experts—they’re true creative partners who know what it takes to produce a shoot the Day19 way. Their efficiency, professionalism, and understanding of our rhythm help create a seamless environment where creative exploration thrives.
A Real Celebration
The holidays aren’t about what’s under the tree—they’re about who’s around it. At their core, the season is about love: the joy of being surrounded by family and friends, the little rituals that bring us closer, and the shared laughter that lingers long after the gifts are opened.
This campaign is an opportunity to highlight those true emotional moments—the hugs in the kitchen, the bundled-up walks through the neighborhood, the quiet togetherness of watching a movie or sharing a favorite meal. It’s a celebration of presence over presents.
Verizon plays a subtle but essential role in these moments—helping people feel closer, share memories, and express love in all the small, meaningful ways.
We imagine a multigenerational family of makers skipping commercial flash for a more soulful celebration. We picture potluck karaoke with chosen family. We see joyful giving—coat drives, cookie walks, handmade ornaments hung with care. We see the real holiday: full of life, color, meaning, and personality.
This is about bringing people closer through the magic of tech, creativity, and shared experience.
This campaign is rooted in generosity, creativity, and togetherness—with Verizon as the subtle but essential spark in every scene.
This is about bringing people closer through the magic of tech, creativity, and shared experience.
The Heart Behind the Hardware
Having worked extensively with technology companies over the years, we know how to strike the right balance between showcasing innovation and honoring human emotion. Our goal is never to highlight technology as an isolating force, but rather to show how it enhances the lives of real people. It’s not about staring at screens—it’s about what happens because of them: the video calls that bring families together, the playlists that set the mood for an unforgettable night, the quick texts that say 'I’m thinking of you' when it matters most.
We aim to reflect how technology quietly empowers moments of togetherness, helping people feel more present, more supported, and more loved.
Following are some examples of what we mean and how we shoot technology— always with a human-first lens that prioritizes emotion, environment, and the relationships that
make these moments matter.
