Building Authentic Brand Stories
Behind the Lens with Photographer & Director Morgan Ione Yeager
By Mara Serdans
We recently caught up with Chicago-based photographer and director Morgan Ione Yeager to learn more about some of her recent projects and where she finds inspiration.
Capturing Authentic Moments for Gvoke
Over the past year, Morgan had the opportunity to collaborate with Xeris Pharmaceutical and marketing agency Dept. 11, on a project for the Gvoke Hypo Pen that was both exciting and creatively fulfilling. The brand was looking to move beyond traditional product photography and build a lifestyle-focused image library that would feel authentic and approachable.
The agency first discovered Morgan’s work through a campaign she shot for Asutra, which featured clean, well-lit imagery with a warm, relatable tone. That style resonated with them, and it became the foundation for how they approached the Gvoke project. What started as a still photography brief quickly grew into a combined photo and video production, and culminated into a full-scale content library that the brand could continue to utilize across various channels.
A Seamless Production from Still to Motion
To bring the vision to life, Morgan worked closely with RAD Productions with whom she often partners in Chicago. Together, they managed everything from casting and location scouting to coordinating crews for both stills and video. While she does not personally shoot video, she loved directing and collaborating with Koi Media Productions to capture the video. To manage budget and ensure content across formats felt cohesive, the team approached the project as a single seamless production.
Expanding a Brand’s Visual Identity
The shoot spanned two days: the first focused primarily on still photography, while the second day balanced finishing stills with transitioning into video. Because Gvoke previously relied almost entirely on stock imagery, it felt rewarding to help them establish a tailored visual identity that reflects their brand. Since then, they’ve been in discussions with Morgan about continuing to expand their library further with additional projects.
Collaborations Beyond Gvoke
Of course, Gvoke isn’t the only brand she has been working with lately. Her client roster continues to be a mix of direct brand relationships and agency collaborations. A significant portion of Morgan’s work comes directly through companies like Marriott, where she captures a range of properties for the hotel brand. She recently collaborated on two cookbook projects including long-time client Malai, an East Coast ice cream brand, as well as a book for Dana Pollack of Dana’s Bakery, a well-renowned gluten-free online bakery. Book projects are always creatively demanding (and yes, marathon-length shoots), but seeing the full body of work is incredibly rewarding in the end.
When people ask about her dream clients, Morgan says that it is less about a specific brand and more about the type of storytelling involved. Morgan is drawn to projects where she can capture a sense of place and people – whether that’s a vineyard during harvest, a boutique hotel in a historic building, or a lifestyle campaign that feels more like a story than an advertisement.
Finding Inspiration in Everyday Moments
Morgan constantly observes what brands are doing, pays attention to design trends, and follows the work of other photographers she admires on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn. Inspiration can be found everywhere – walking through an airport, flipping through magazines, or watching the way sunlight sparkles through a water glass on a table. For Morgan, it’s about staying curious, staying engaged, and finding fresh ways to tell stories through imagery.
Working with Gvoke exemplifies why she loves her career: the chance to collaborate, problem-solve, and create visuals that bring a brand’s story to life in a way that feels honest and human – the kind of work Morgan is always striving to create, no matter the client or the industry.
See more of Morgan’s work on her full profile in the KOMYOON directory.
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