Commercial Photography
Projects
By Nashville Photographer Chad Ziemendorf
Since 2009, I have partnered with some amazing and innovative companies that understand the value of premium photography and how it can amplify their brand to generate revenue.
Below are some notable current and past projects that I am honored to be a part of.
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Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
A world-class tribute to America’s 26th president featuring stunning architecture in a breathtaking setting.
Industrial + Landscape + Corporate Photography
In May of 2023, I was hired to document the construction progress of historic and unprecedented Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, ND. Each month until 2026, I will travel to North Dakota to capture the work, landscape and people that are working tirelessly to make this dream a reality.
For this project I’ll be able to leverage all of my skills and equipment to give the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library world-class imagery that not only tells the story of this magnificent construction project, but also cultivates public awareness about Teddy’s legacy and fuel fundraising efforts.
I am thrilled to be a part of the TRPL team and honored that they chose me to showcase the story of this world-class project. It will amplify the culture of Western North Dakota forever and be an amazing tribute to one of our country’s favorite presidents.
See the monthly updates of the construction progress here.
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Jelly Belly
Iconic maker of candies and confections | Fairfield, CA
Industrial + Manufacturing Photography
The storied and iconic maker of America’s favorite candy has called Fairfield, CA, home for many decades. In 2023, I was privileged to document their production process, commitment to quality and manufacturing proficiency in their corporate headquarters and distribution center.
Not only do they still make each batch by hand, they also continue to innovate and develop new flavors and products to elevate their brand and reach new consumers.
I was honored to be given unrestricted access to the production floor, testing facilities and packaging department to help tell the story of the passion behind the craft of this American icon.
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Anheuser Busch
Iconic American brewery and beer maker | Fairfield, CA
Industrial + Manufacturing Photography
Anheuser Busch is the parent company and brewer of some of the most iconic beer brands in the United States including Budweiser, Bud Light, Busch Light, Michelob Ultra and Goose Island to name a few. Their Fairfield, CA, facility produces more than 20 different brands and brews more than 4.5 million barrels of beer each year.
As part of a larger assignment for JStokes and the City of Fairfield, CA, I was tasked with capturing the world-class manufacturing, packaging and distribution facility sitting atop 170 acres to highlight not only their enormous scale but also their commitment to sustainability and environmental protection evidenced by generating 30% of their electricity from on-site wind turbines and 6,500 solar panels.
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Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Award-winning Architects | Pennsylvania | New York | Seattle | San Francisco
Corporate Headshots + Corporate Storytelling
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Architects are renown for marquis projects such as Pixar headquarters, Square headquarters, the Liberty Bell Center, iconic Apple stores and stunning residential projects.
Since 2012, I have had the pleasure of traveling to each of their offices multiple times to capture documentary-style portraits of their architects and behind-the-scenes imagery to showcase their creative process.
As a result, they have an ever-growing library of images that helps keep their marketing materials fresh, fill their proposals with ample visual variety and win more business.
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Proof Branding
Brand strategy and Design | Nashville, TN
Corporate Storytelling + Portraits
I was fortunate to meet the amazing crew of Proof in 2022 shortly after moving to Nashville. Their energy and authenticity was apparent from day one, not to mention their brilliant design and strategy skills. While their website and social media was loaded with gorgeous logos and case studies, they were short on photography that articulated their collaborative culture and joyful quest for constant progress and creative proficiency.
“We want our clients to understand how collaborative our team is and that our design process is the result of our intentional culture and constant communication between team members.” Creating pictures that showcase the passion behind the craft is my specialty, so I was excited to create images for Proof that provided evidence their collaborative culture and upbeat camaraderie.
I’m also proud to say that they designed my awesome logo system and helped me refine my own strategic vision for being a commercial photographer in Nashville and throughout the US.
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Wilson Sonsini
Global 100 Law Firm | Palo Alto | San Francisco | Los Angeles | San Diego
Seattle | Austin | New York | Boston
Corporate Headshots + Executive Portraits
Wilson Sonsini represents amazing companies from entrepreneurial start-ups to multibillion-dollar global corporations at every stage of development. They advise technology, life science, and growth enterprises worldwide, as well as the venture firms, private equity firms, and investment banks that finance them. As the firm’s principal portrait and corporate photographer since 2015 I have partnered with the Communications and Marketing Departments in 9 of their US offices to capture more than 500 portraits of partners, associates and scientists, and continue to travel on their behalf a number of times per year.
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Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass
Historic and celebrated law firm | San Francisco, CA
Corporate Headshots + Executive Portraiture
Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass is one of San Francisco’s oldest and most respected law firms and continues to serve marquis clients throughout the Bay Area such as AT&T Park, SFMOMA, the Exploratorium, the San Francisco 49ers and others. The firm’s 2012 rebranding effort was spearheaded by the brilliant Rob Duncan of Mucho Design Studio and featured authentic, documentary-style portraits of their 100+ attorneys that I was asked to capture in a relaxed, conversational tone.
Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass
Historic and celebrated law firm | San Francisco, CA
Abstract fine-art photography for advertising and marketing materials
In 2018, Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass wanted to refresh their website, digital assets and print collateral by building on the success of their award-winning 2012 rebranding effort. As a result, they hired me to not only continue my efforts of authentic and conversational portraiture, but also to capture the magnificent city of San Francisco and their storied clients in an interpretive, abstract manner. To do this, we focused on obscure details and patterns in some of the most famous SF locations that represented their clients. All of images were created with black & white, medium-format photography under compelling light and striking compostion. This unforgettable assignment took me to high-rise rooftops, harbors and shorelines, the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, world-class museums and countless city streets in an effort to give this amazing law firm one-of-a-kind pictures that illustrate their passion for their clients.
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JLG Architects
Award-winning Architecture and Design Firm | North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota
Architectural photography
As one of MSN Money/BestLife’s 50 Most Admired Firms in the US, and Inc. Magazine’s 50 Best Places to Work in America, JLG Architects continues to set the standard for exceptional design and exceptional company culture. All 150+ JLGers are “driven by the belief that what they do is more than just a job; it’s about making life better for their clients and communities.”
Since 2016 I have partnered with JLG to document their award-winning designs and capture world-class images for their portfolio, proposals and award submissions so that they can continue to “create solutions that increase their clients’ well-being, brands, and bottom lines.”
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Box
Global leader in cloud storage | Redwood City, CA
Architectural photography of corporate headquarters for 7 different stakeholders
Box is a global company that specializes in Cloud Content Management and corporate storage solutions. They count over 70% of the Fortune 500 as their customers and exist to help organizations “accelerate business processes, power workplace collaboration and protect their most valuable information.” In 2015 I was hired by NOVO Construction, AECOM Engineering, Kilroy Realty, Hunter Storm, Korth Sunseri Hagey Architects, Pritchard Peck Lighting and Box to document their new 334,000 square-foot corporate headquarters in Redwood City, CA. Aside from the impressive finishes and grand scale of the new headquarters, the bigger story included its proximity to Caltrain public transportation, the walkability of Redwood City and employee-centric amenities that make it a joy to come to work everyday.
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Jones Contractors
Heavy industrial construction company | Tennessee | North Dakota | Nationwide
Industrial Photography + Corporate Storytelling
Based in Tennessee, Jones Contractors operates in 27 states and has more than 900 employees. During their recent website refresh they commissioned me to document their work ethic, company culture, construction expertise and commitment to safety while building a 25-mile pipeline in Western North Dakota. In 2019, I embedded myself with the team over four days, getting to know their routine, their equipment and work patterns so I could safely and unobtrusively capture authentic moments of their progress. As a result, Jones Contractors now has a library of custom, world-class photos for their ongoing marketing efforts.
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E&M Services
Energy construction, Fabrication, Facilities Management | North Dakota
Industrial Photography + Corporate Storytelling
E&M Services is a multi-disciplinary energy services company whose expertise spans virtually every aspect of oilfield construction, maintenance, fabrication and facility management. Based in Watford City, ND, E&M needed to effectively communicate their vast array of proficiencies to potential clients while showcasing their commitment to the local community and family culture. As is the case in most situations, it’s better to show than to tell, which is why they hired me to document all 12 of their departments with beautiful imagery that highlights their expertise in each specialty.
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NEW
North Dakota Fine-art Prints
Landscapes of Resilience - A celebration of Western North Dakota’s rugged terrain and the unrelenting beauty that inspired Teddy Roosevelt’s hardy lifestyle.
From the desk of Chad Z.
I’ve been writing a lot lately, especially after I’ve had time to think during my travels between assignments. Life is only getting more complex, it’s our job to be more intentional than ever to build a life that lets us thrive. Most of my thoughts revolve around 1. Creating room for things that have eternal significance (purpose, family, loved ones, etc.), 2. That the best is yet to come and 3. How my camera is a tool to be fully present amidst countless distractions.
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