​Welcome to STORY LAB #02 | Presented by MIXED*

​​SESSION OVERVIEW

​Award-winning photographer and director Dan Saelinger—whose commercial clients include Target, OLLY, and Google—has built a career on conceptual craft and magical execution. In this workshop, he opens up the timeless fundamentals of image-making—color, composition, and lighting—and shows how they translate into a modern, hybrid workflow. At its core, the session is about vision, intent, and storytelling—ensuring that craft remains high even as the tools evolve.

​From concept to execution Dan will talk about the importance of the ideation process in crafting visuals with impactful storytelling, diving into his post grading and refinement process to produce stills and motion pieces that feel both intentional and elevated. Embracing and blending the use of traditional camera and lighting setups to set builds to generative tools like Photoshop, Runway, and Midjourney, Dan reveals how analog and digital can work together.

​​SKILLS YOU’LL GAIN

• ​​How to harness color, composition and lighting as the foundation of every story—moving or still.

• ​Practical ways to blend traditional production tools (PhotoShop) with AI platforms (Midjourney)

• ​Techniques for moving fluidly between stills and motion—from color grading to post workflows.

​​MEET YOUR HOST

​Dan Saelinger is a director, photographer, and visual collaborator whose work bridges high craft with bold experimentation. Raised in the era of MTV and 8-bit video games, he’s drawn to all things graphic, colorful, and slightly surreal. His imagery has powered campaigns for clients like Target, OLLY, and Google, blending conceptual rigor with striking visual execution. Whether behind the camera or exploring AI-driven workflows, Dan’s focus remains the same: creating visuals that feel intentional, elevated, and unforgettable.

​​TO LEARN MORE

​​Visit MIXED* | Presented by AI Portland + db clay

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