Capturing the Spirit of Dutch Bros Arizona: A Year-Long Photography Adventure
When I got the call in June 2023 to photograph all 29 Dutch Bros locations in Arizona—the largest franchise in the company—I was stoked. For me, Dutch Bros isn’t just a coffee brand; it’s where I spent six and a half years making coffee, making friends, and, oh yeah, meeting my wife over a decade ago. Naturally, this felt less like work and more like revisiting an old hangout spot—with a camera this time.
This project took over a year to complete, and my goal was to capture each location at twilight. Why twilight? Because it’s magic hour—great lighting, interesting skies, and a vibe that makes every shot pop. I wanted these images to feel alive, so I made sure to include guests and employees wherever possible. After all, Dutch Bros is all about community.
Balancing Coffee and Cameras
Back in my barista days, I used to start shifts at 4:45 a.m. and be done by 11 a.m. leaving plenty of time to hustle on photography gigs. My coworkers were super supportive as I got my photography career off the ground, and I’ll always be grateful for that.
Fast-forward to this project, and that same hustle came in handy. Each shoot had its own quirks. I’d show up early to block parking spaces and wait for just the right people to walk into the frame. At one location, no guests showed up at all on the walk-up side, so I set my camera’s 10-second timer and became the “perfect customer” myself.
As an Arizona retail photographer, I kept things consistent by sticking to a 35-50mm focal length and framing each building similarly. Sometimes the skies needed a little help from editing, but most of the time, Arizona’s sunsets did the heavy lifting.
Highlights and Nostalgia
There were some cool full-circle moments during this project. I kicked things off by photographing Dutch Bros’ first Arizona location at Rural and Lemon (the ASU spot). It’s a piece of company history, so it was fun to give it the spotlight.
Later in the project, I got to photograph my wife’s former stand in Downtown Gilbert, which was a nice little throwback. And I saved the best for last: my home stand, McQueen. That’s where I spent six years slinging coffee and building memories. Seeing it through my camera lens brought back a lot of good times.
Got lucky and the last car moved right before I ran out of light.
This is me at the walk up!
A Snapshot of Dutch Bros History
Dutch Bros Arizona is big on its history, and this project was all about showcasing how the company has grown. The final images are now displayed at the Arizona corporate headquarters, arranged by the age of each location. It’s a visual timeline of the brand’s journey.
On the technical side, I used my Sony A7R5 with a Tamron 28-75mm lens and processed everything in Capture One and photoshop. Shooting at twilight added a cohesive look across all 29 locations. Plus, it pushed me to think outside the box about how to make corporate exteriors feel lively and engaging.
Wrapping It Up
As an architectural photographer—and someone who loves to tell stories through my lens—this project combined professional work with personal nostalgia. It was a blast revisiting the stands where I spent so much time, capturing their energy and personality in a way that celebrates both the brand and its community. For anyone looking to collaborate with an Arizona retail photographer, this project showcased how meaningful imagery can connect the dots between history, growth, and people.
If you would like to read about another retail photoshoot breakdown check out this!
Feel free to leave a comment or question below and I’ll be sure to respond!
