Notes from behind the camera — what we’re learning, who we’re working with, and how to get the most out of your next shoot.
The Medicine Shell journal is where we slow down and talk about the work in more depth than a gallery delivery email ever could. Some posts are practical — how to prepare for a headshot day, what makes a listing photo actually convert, how weather affects a drone shoot schedule. Others are simply reflections on a project we’re proud of, a client relationship we value, or a lesson learned the hard way on set.
We started this space because so much of what makes a photo or video work happens before anyone picks up a camera — the planning, the trust-building, the small decisions about light and timing. Sharing that process is part of how we stay accountable to the excellence we promise every client, and it gives future clients a clearer picture of what working with us actually looks like.
From aerial coverage to a clean floor plan, here’s the media checklist we walk every agent through before a listing hits the MLS — and why skipping even one item can cost you a showing. We break down what buyers actually look for first, how to sequence your gallery for maximum impact, and which shots consistently get the most engagement online.
Wardrobe tips, scheduling advice, and what to expect when we bring the studio to your office, plus a quick rundown of the outfits and colors that photograph best under studio lighting.
A walkthrough of a recent branding session, from the first email to the final delivered gallery, including a few of the on-set decisions that shaped the finished shot list.
Why context shots from the air can move a listing faster than interior photos alone, and how to know when a property truly calls for both.
A few thoughts on what it means to run a creative business with integrity as the priority, even when it costs us a little convenience.
How we plan a shoot list that actually reflects your company instead of generic office life, drawn from real conversations with your team beforehand.
How we choose shoot times around sun position, season, and a property’s orientation, so every listing gets photographed in its best possible light.
Our journal covers three main threads: the corporate side of the business, real estate media, and the values that guide how we work. New posts are added regularly, so check back or subscribe below to have new stories sent directly to your inbox.
Have a topic you’d like us to cover — lighting, prep tips, or a question about how a shoot works? Send it our way and it might become a future post. We read every note and genuinely enjoy the questions.
Every post here is written by our own team, not outsourced or generated to fill a content calendar. When we write about preparing for a headshot day, it’s because we’ve run hundreds of them. When we write about the best light for a listing, it’s because we’ve watched the sun move across that same neighborhood dozens of times.
New posts go up regularly, roughly every other week, split between practical guides for clients and stories from projects we’ve been proud to be part of. If you’re a current or future client, this is also a good place to see the range of work we do beyond what fits in a single portfolio gallery — real projects, real outcomes, and the occasional lesson learned along the way.
Corporate, real estate, or somewhere in between — reach out and let’s talk it through.
New stories go up roughly every other week.