A lit candle labeled 'Desert Motel Nights' sitting on a table next to a clock radio showing the time 8:14, with various objects and an empty glass in the background.

Strange Gent

Editorial product photography translating the cinematic atmosphere of Strange Gent’s Desert Motel Nights candle into a visual world.

The goal of this series was to create a library of images that reflected the scent’s world while remaining practical for brand use across web and social channels.

Visual direction

For this series, I built a visual world around the experience of staying at a desert motel. Sun filtering through blinds, red alarm clock numbers cutting through the dark, plastic cups of cheap booze, and an ashtray always within reach.

The Brand

Strange Gent creates unusual scents, each meant to represent a character or location, and designed to transport you into the world of Strange Gent.

The Atmosphere

These images create the emotional environment around the scent, helping customers imagine where the fragrance belongs.

A white motel sink with a few scattered keys, a pack of cigarettes, a red ashtray, and a box of candles on top.
A lit candle in a glass jar labeled "Strange Gent Desert Motel Nights" sits on a black surface next to an alarm clock displaying 1:08. A partially visible plastic cup with beer and an ashtray are in the background.
Sunlight casting horizontal shadows through blinds onto a wall.

Product Storytelling

These images bring the candle into the scene, balancing atmosphere with clear product visibility.

A lit candle labeled 'Desert Motel Nights' placed on top of a white surface with a glass of water and a key nearby.
A lit candle labeled 'Desert Motel Nights,' a red ashtray with a cigarette, a plastic cup with a drink, and various matchbooks on a white surface.
A lit candle with a label reading 'Desert Motel Nights' on a bathroom sink, alongside a small container with a business card, a pen, and a plastic cup filled with amber-colored liquid.

Clean Product Assets

In addition to narrative imagery, the brand received clean product photos designed for e-commerce, launch announcements, and social media.

A lit amber glass candle labeled "Desert Motel Nights" on a white coaster, with a green key fob nearby, on a light blue surface.
A lit amber candle with a label reading 'Desert Motel Nights' and a small ceramic vase with a cactus plant.
A lit candle in a brown glass jar labeled 'Strange Gentry Desert Motel Nights' on a wooden surface, with a white box of the same candle, a key with a green keychain, and some paper receipts or notes nearby.
A lit amber glass candle labeled 'Desert Motel Nights' on a round stone coaster, with a key and small book or pamphlet nearby, on a green surface with a textured background.