Not every video project needs to end with a fully polished edit. Sometimes the most valuable outcome is a versatile content library with polished visuals that can be repurposed across future campaigns, even before these marketing assets are clearly defined. That was the case when the Nature Conservancy of Canada approached us for support. They needed a collection of high-resolution photographs and cinematic video footage to strengthen their communications year-round. The goal was to build a flexible visual archive that would show real Canadians enjoying protected natural spaces.
We captured over 1 hour of usable b-roll footage and 2,000 photographs in just one day.
A New Focus on People in Nature
The Nature Conservancy of Canada, or NCC, is one of the country’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to land conservation and biodiversity protection. Over the years, they have built a strong visual archive featuring forests, lakes, wetlands, and other landscapes. However, much of that content did not include people. What they needed was imagery that reflected the human connection to nature, along with a more diverse and relatable representation of the people who visit and enjoy these hiking sites.
This content would be used across NCC’s fundraising materials, reports, public campaigns, and social channels. It needed to feel honest, inclusive, and flexible enough to serve different purposes across formats.
Planning a Shoot with Range and Flexibility
The idea was to capture a variety of natural moments in a real NCC conservation area near Montreal. We worked closely with the NCC team to understand their goals, then developed a plan to create a full day of visuals, covering photo and video, that would give them a wide range of usable material. This meant casting a multi-generational family of five and creating enough variation in scenes, pairings, and settings to reflect different use cases.
Some moments focused on the whole family walking together. Others showed just the children exploring a stream, the parents walking along a path, or the grandmother sitting quietly by the water. These combinations would allow the NCC team to use different images depending on the tone and message of their campaigns.
Choosing the Right Location
We selected Réserve Naturelle Alfred-Kelly in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec. This conservation area includes forest trails, stone steps, a flowing stream, a scenic lake, and a dramatic lookout point. It offered everything we needed without requiring traveling to multiple conservation areas. As part of the production, we scouted the location ahead of time to map out a loop that allowed us to hit all key backdrops efficiently on the production day. As part of the production process, we scouted the location in advance and mapped out a loop that allowed us to hit key backdrops efficiently on the shoot day.
The schedule was also carefully designed around the light. We started later in the day to take advantage of golden hour and sunset lighting, capturing the forest scenes around noon when the overhead sun was at its harshest and saving the lakeside clearings for the late afternoon, when the lower sun created more flattering, cinematic light.
An Experienced Canadian Crew
Our team was small, but everyone brought deep experience in filming outdoor content. The project was directed by Josh Usheroff. Our two camera operators, Jean-Marc Abela and Richard Mardens, captured everything from tight natural textures to smooth tracking shots on a gimbal. Photographer Justin Desforges worked alongside them to capture simultaneous stills. The drone team, Julien and Jean-François, arrived for magic hour to capture sweeping aerial footage of the family at the lake and at the cliffside lookout. Makeup artist Alyssa Iasenzaniro helped keep the on-camera talent fresh and camera-ready, especially during the later hours of the day. Our production assistant Alec Phinney kept things moving smoothly throughout.
Because of our familiarity with shoots like this across Canada, we knew what to expect. We built the schedule to allow time for hiking between sites, maintained flexibility for lighting changes, and ensured that the team was prepared for a full day outdoors.
Producing Content That Works Beyond the Shoot
While the client did not require a final edited video, we approached post-production with the same care and intention we bring to larger campaigns. We captured over 2,000 images, then reviewed, curated, and color-corrected 400 for archival use, and delivered a final set of 40 versatile, high-resolution photos. Images were provided in horizontal and vertical formats, with several framed intentionally to leave negative space for future headlines or text overlay.
On the video side, we delivered a set of one hour of fully organized and color-corrected B-roll footage, broken down by scene and setting. We grouped shots from the forest trail, lakeside, lookout point, and stream into labeled folders so that any future editor would be able to access, sort, and edit quickly. This will allow NCC’s internal editing team to move forward without needing to sort through raw files. This collaboration is an example of how Black Box Productions can act as an extension of your in-house video team, supporting production needs even outside of full end-to-end campaigns.
This project reflects the kind of strategic, efficient, and intentional work we pride ourselves on at Black Box. We understand that not every organization needs a full commercial shoot. Sometimes, they need high-quality content that they can rely on for the long term. By combining thoughtful planning, deep local knowledge, and a highly experienced team, we helped NCC build a powerful media archive in just one day.
Because we're based in Canada and have extensive experience working in both urban and rural environments, we know how to get the most out of local sites. We understand what conservation organizations need and how they use content. Beyond capturing beautiful imagery, we made sure the footage would serve practical needs, flexible enough for a range of media uses throughout the year. In the end, the Nature Conservancy of Canada did not just walk away with images.
They walked away with a content foundation they can build on. One that reflects their values, connects with their audience, and brings people into the picture, literally. It was quiet, focused work. And that is exactly what made it valuable.
Whether you need a full campaign or a one-day shoot that delivers lasting value, Black Box has the experience, production knowledge, and creative team to make it happen. Let’s talk about how we can support your next project.
