Photographer/Director Eli Meir Kaplan was thrilled to team up with PBS last year, shooting stills and video for the network’s new branding campaign. Working with an incredible creative team, he captured real families and local kids for the elementary-school scenes—parents even stepped in as teachers—bringing an authentic warmth to every frame.
Middle and high-school segments featured professional talent, yet the moments remained wonderfully natural. Even the event portion, produced with just Eli, a producer and an assistant, exceeded expectations when the assistant sourced friends as talent, resulting in unexpectedly rich visual moments.
The final day took Eli to Richmond, VA, where he and his assistant documented a local PBS affiliate event with striking honesty and ease. Throughout the entire project, the involvement of real families allowed Eli to capture the unguarded, heartfelt moments he’s known for—making this PBS collaboration both memorable and deeply rewarding.
See a selection of images from the project below. To view more on Eli’s work, visit his Workbook portfolio.
Represented by Freda Scott Creative and Ah Ha Represents / Canada.
