SELECTED WORK
PROOF IN PRACTICE.
Work organized by what the assignment needed to accomplish. A record of production decisions, creative roles, and finished results.
Not a beauty reel. A record of decisions.
Strategic Creative Direction / Ahren Steis
Production / Black Crowe Productions
SELECTED PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE:
Ralph Lauren, We The Free, Kentucky Ballistics, Print Shoot Repeat, What The Kicks, Armstrong Williams.
These are selected brands, collaborators, and productions. Individual relationships and roles are identified below.
THE WORK, BY THE JOB IT NEEDED TO DO.
Build Trust
Explain Complexity
Demonstrate Proof
Launch or Promote
Document a Story
Support Sales
01
RALPH LAUREN DOCUMENTARY
Document a Story / Build Trust
“Our portrait of American style, and our vision of the American dream, would be incomplete without Black experiences like this.” —Ralph Lauren.
From Ralph Lauren’s official introduction to the film.
The Assignment
Film an interview segment for A Portrait of the American Dream: Oak Bluffs while preserving the natural character of the subject and location.
The Production Decision
Use restrained, motivated lighting and the existing environment to keep the interview intimate and visually consistent with the documentary.
Production Context
Directed by Cole Brown. Coyote Ranch Films was hired to produce this interview segment. Ahren served as director of photography and camera operator for the segment.
Role
Director of Photography / Camera Operator
PRODUCTION SEGMENT / COYOTE RANCH FILMS / 2025
02
Build a Content System /
Launch and Promote
WE THE FREE
ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING BUILT AS A CONNECTED BRAND SYSTEM.
Developing a production model that could support original programming, advertising, promotion, streaming and live production without allowing each show to feel disconnected from the larger We The Free brand.
The Problem
We The Free wanted to develop original shows but did not yet have the creative, production or marketing framework required to turn those ideas into distinctive, repeatable programming.
The Approach
Concepts, visual identities, production systems, and promotional strategies needed to be designed together; giving each program its own character while strengthening the larger We The Free brand.
The Work Included
Original shows, advertising and promotional content, streaming series, social assets, live-event recording and broadcast, editorial, visual effects and audio.
Ahren’s Roles Across the Work
Creative Development / Director of Photography / Camera Operator / Director on Selected Episodes / Editor / Visual Effects Editor / Audio Engineer / Live Production and Broadcast
Production CONTEXT
We The Free engaged Coyote Ranch Films during the foundational development of its original programming. Ahren worked across creative development, production, cinematography, directing, post-production, and live execution.
“ONE PRODUCTION SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO MORE THAN ONE JOB.”
Planning the show, its promotion, and its supporting assets as one production.
PRODUCTION PARTNER /
COYOTE RANCH FILMS
KENTUCKY BALLISTICS × BALLISTIC DUMMY LAB
03
DOCUMENT THE TEST / PROMOTE THE EPISODE
The Assignment
Co-shoot an episode produced in conjunction with Ballistic Dummy Lab and capture material that could support both the episode and its promotion.
The COVERAGE
Episode footage captured in collaboration with the existing production team.
Ahren’s Role
Camera / Editorial
THE RESULT
Kentucky Ballistics later used Ahren’s footage and edit to advertise the episode.
Why It Matters
The production material remained useful beyond the finished episode, giving the release its own promotional asset.
EPISODE COVERAGE AND PROMOTIONAL EDITORIAL BUILT FROM THE SAME PRODUCTION.
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE
Selected projects where Ahren contributed in specific production and post-production roles.
PRINT SHOOT REPEAT
PSR Uncensored and With a Budget — Director of Photography / Camera Operator / Creative Development / Visual Effects Editor / Production Support, uncredited. Additional filming with Print Shoot Repeat at Finnish Brutality.
WHAT THE KICKS
Pimp My Pew, featuring Xzibit — Director of Photography / Camera Operator / Production Support, uncredited. Ahren also directed a separate What The Kicks episode.
ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS
Documentary Editor. Director of Photography and Camera Operator for a masterclass-style production developed through We The Free.