This image documents the careful balance of storytelling and technical craft behind a campaign for Mecklenburg County focused on addiction awareness. Designed to humanize a deeply complex issue, the imagery centers on individuals alongside a single, powerful object: the prescription bottle.

The final image is the result of a meticulous creative process. The subject was photographed separately from the pill bottle, requiring a detailed compositing workflow in post-production to seamlessly bring the elements together. This approach allowed for greater control over lighting, scale, and composition ensuring that both the person and the object carry equal visual weight and symbolic meaning.

The resulting photograph is striking and intentional, pairing portraiture with conceptual design to reflect the tension between personal identity and substance dependence. The image underscores the campaign’s message: addiction is multifaceted, deeply human, and deserving of attention, empathy, and awareness. The image was used on billboards, flyers and brochures.