Chase Ink

The Chase Ink image library represents an incredible four-year journey. Dustin set out to capture small-business owners who are authentic Chase Ink customers across 16 cities, including NYC, Chicago, New Orleans, Austin, Dallas, Atlanta, Nashville, Philadelphia, Portland, LA, and numerous small towns along the way.

Throughout the project, Dustin had the opportunity to photograph a diverse range of individuals, including veterinarians, brewers, butchers, chocolatiers, juicers, winemakers, florists, chefs, restaurateurs, bar owners, hoteliers, commercial electricians, theater owners, interior designers, bicycle manufacturers, furniture designers, and many others. Each day was dedicated to one business, with the team capturing 7-10 scenes that told the unique story of that business in a way that felt genuine and natural.

The biggest challenge with a project like this was stepping into these businesses and capturing their authentic stories. These were real people doing real jobs—no models, no art department—just a small and nimble crew working with whatever the location offered. The crew moved quickly and efficiently, adapting to each environment to ensure that the imagery remained honest and true to the spirit of the businesses.They covered everything from portraits and documentary-style images of employees in action to setup shots of transactions, and even some still lifes of the Chase card in the environment.

Dustin believes the success of this image library stemmed from establishing a connection between himself and the subjects—those fleeting moments when they felt entirely at ease and immersed in their work. By embracing each individual’s true character, quirks included, he was able to create images that reflect the uniqueness and authenticity of the businesses themselves. The final collection of images has been used across all of Chase Ink's media channels, bringing the stories of these small-business owners to life.