Dan Cavey Creative

Tyler Perry's Too Close to Home

Tyler Perry’s Too Close to Home was TLC’s debut scripted series written, directed and produced by Tyler Perry. The series showcases a drama-filled cast of DC political elites and Alabama trailer park locals. Our concept focuses on selling the show with all of its sexy, powerful, primetime appeal – designed to tease just enough, while avoiding spoilers.

PHOTOGRAPHER RANDALL SLAVIN

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Behind-the-scenes look at the two sets from the shoot at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.

Creative Director - Dan Cavey + Writer - Sheila Hayes + Art Director - Allison Wolfe + Photo Producer - Kim Pazourek

Love Lust or Run

Fashion guru Stacy London returned to TLC with a whole new batch of over-the-top fashion disasters with an edgy, new make-under show to reveal the participants’ natural beauty.

PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN BOWEN SMITH

Key art for Stacy London’s series Love, Lust or Run.

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Alternate key art for Stacy London’s series Love, Lust or Run.

“Make-under” social post for launch of series.

Crew shot from shoot with photographer Brian Bowen Smith.

Creative Director - Dan Cavey + Writer - Sheila Hayes + Art Director - Allison Wolfe + Designer - Emi Cummins + Photo Producer - Karen Bovie, Kim Pazourek

Trading Spaces

Trading Spaces returns, with the original cast and several new designers. Homeowners have 2 days to complete the design on their neighbor’s house with a budget of $2,000. For this campaign we took over an entire Atlanta neighborhood for a 3-day still and live action shoot.

TRADING SPACE 2018 key art shot by photographer Gavin Bond.

CLICK TO WATCH PAIGE DAVIS TAKEOVER

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Brand portraits of the cast shot in Atlanta by photographer Peggy Sirota.

TRADING SPACE 2018 Paige Davis in a custom made couture paint chip dress, photographed by Gavin Bond.

TRADING SPACE 2018 Paige Davis in a custom made lampshade hat and chandelier earring, photographed by Gavin Bond.

Creative Director - Dan Cavey + Art Director - Allison Wolfe + Writer - Molly Green + Photo Producer - Jenny Lim, Kim Pazourek, Kiki Cardenas

The OG 2003 key art shot at Bathhouse Studio, East Village by photographer F. Scott Schafer.

The OG 2003 cast shot at Bathhouse Studio, East Village by photographer F. Scott Schafer.

OG 2004 Host Paige Davis photographed by George Lange.

OG 2004 Carpenter Carter Oosterhouse photographed by George Lange.

OG 2004 Designer Hildi Santo Tomas photographed by George Lange.

OG 2004 Carpenter Amy Wynn Paster photographed by George Lange.

OG 2004 Designers Hildi Santo Tomas & Doug Wilson photographed by George Lange.

OG 2004 Designer Laurie Smith photographed by George Lange.

OG 2004 Designer Kia Steave-Dickerson photographed by George Lange.

OG 2004 Designer Christi Proctor photographed by George Lange.

OG 2004 Carpenter Carter Oosterhouse photographed by George Lange.

OG 2004 Designer Frank Bielec photographed by George Lange.

OG 2004 cast photographed by George Lange in Atlanta.

Creative Director - Dan Cavey + Photo Producer - Kim Declaire

Cake Boss

The campaign leveraged our great talent and the authenticity of the extraordinary real-life characters found on the network. We were asked to look at ways to organically work the tune-in into the creative, as shown here on Buddy Valastro’s baking jacket. Buddy was shot on the cobblestone alley behind his Hoboken, NJ bakery.

PHOTOGRAPHER GEORGE LANGE

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Various sized rich media banners that clicked through to show promo and cake porn.

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Billboard as you leave NYC and enter Hoboken, NJ, home of Buddy Valastro and his bakery.

Cake Boss billboard in NYC. Half way into the placement we creatively added the Science Channel artwork to promote both shows.

“Batter Up” ad ran in a sports publication. Buddy was shot on the cobblestone alley behind his Hoboken, NJ bakery.

Creative Director - Dan Cavey + Writer - Sheila Hayes + Designer - Matt Ostrom + Photo Producer - Susan Wetherby

Leah Remini: It's All Relative

Leah Remini is widely known for her role on the King of Queens and for her affiliation with Scientology. Her TLC show began filming soon after her controversial split from Scientology. The show followed Leah and her family as they rebuilt their lives outside the church and in front of the cameras. Despite this we wanted the campaign to feel like a fun family sit-com.

PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN BOWEN SMITH

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Since an actual bathroom was too small to shoot in we turned a bedroom into Leah’s home spa. Leah’s expression is priceless.

Original comp for key art, sketch by Jeff Norwell.

Creative Director - Dan Cavey + Writer - Sheila Hayes + Art Director - Allison Wolfe + Photo Producer - Kim Pazourek

BBQ Pitmasters

We shot this campaign on a 1940’s dude ranch somewhere in West Texas during a BBQ competition. The talent was photographed against an old wooden door on the ranch using tools-of-the-trade as their props. In the high steaks world of pit barbecue competition, the personalities are larger than life, and the trash talk is well-done!

PHOTOGRAPHER GEORGE LANGE

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Creative Director - Dan Cavey + Writer - Sheila Hayes + Designer - Matt Ostrom + Photo Producer - Susan Wetherby

My Big Fat Fabulous Life

Whitney Thore's “Fat Girl Dancing” videos had more than eight million views on YouTube. She’s the fat girl dancing who is uncensored, uninhibited, and totally relatable. The season premiere campaign was shot in Greensboro, NC, home of Whitney Thore.

PHOTOGRAPHER MARY ELLEN MATTHEWS

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Creative Director - Dan Cavey + Writer - Sheila Hayes + Art Director - Allison Wolfe + Photo Producer - Karen Bovie, Kim Pazourek

American Chopper

When American Chopper, well-known to fans of the Discovery Channel, moved to TLC, it meant an opportunity to rebrand the show for a different audience. The Teutuls were rock stars in the motorcycle world, therefore we pitched the idea of shooting them that way. Their "instruments" were made from the materials in their Orange County, NY shop. A Rolling Stone foldout in the January, "Rock 'n Roll Rebels" special edition was the perfect fit.

PHOTOGRAPHER F. SCOTT SCHAFER

Rolling Stone foldout in the January "Rock 'n Roll Rebels" special edition issue.

Alternate “Horsepower to the People” outtake from shoot.

Creative Director - Dan Cavey + Writer - Sheila Hayes + Designer - Greg Stein + Photo Producer - Susan Wetherby

Tyler Perry's If Loving You is Wrong

Secrets, lies and deception lie behind closed doors for a group of husbands and wives that live and love on the same street. The HOOK for show - These five women are too gorgeous not to be front and center in this campaign.

PHOTOGRAPHER JEREMY COWART

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Creative Director - Dan Cavey + Writer - Sheila Hayes + Art Director - Allison Wolfe + Photo Producer - Robin Scofidio

Best of Network Shoots

These are original concepts I directed while working with some of the most amazing photographers, creatives, stylists and producers. These are real people, most of whom were up for anything we asked of them. But a few needed a bit of persuasion.

Animal Planet’s “Taking on Tyson”, photographer Eric Ogden.

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Photographer George Lange

TLC’s “My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding”, photographer George Lange.

TLC’s “Craft Wars” with Tori Spelling, photographer George Lange. She was very pregnant here.

TLC’s “Pete Rose: Hits & Mrs.”, photographer George Lange

TLC’s “Welcome to Myrtle Manor”, photographer George Lange.

TLC’s “Totally T-Boz”, photographer George Lange. The lights never fired creating this moody shot.

TLC’s “The Good Buy Girls”, photographer George Lange.

TLC’s “Something Borrowed, Something New”, photographer George Lange.

TLC’s “Extreme Couponing”, photographer George Lange.

TLC’s “Leave It to Niecy with Niecy Nash”, photographer George Lange.

TLC’s “Craft Wars” with Tori Spelling, photographer George Lange.

TLC’s “DC Cupcakes”, photographer George Lange.

Tika Sumpter as Candace in OWN’s “Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots” photographed by Jeremy Cowart at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.

BTS of Jeremy Cowart shooting Tika Sumpter. Ringlit always looks amazing and so does Tika in that red gown.

Tika Sumpter as Candace in OWN’s “Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots” photographed by Jeremy Cowart at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.

John Schneider & Tika Sumpter from OWN’s “Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots” photographed by Jeremy Cowart.

Velocity’s “Wheeler Dealers” with Ant Anstead & Mike Brewer, photographed in their Huntington Beach workshop by Noah Schütz. This concept was an 80s throwback to old cars and British rock.

A few outtakes of Ant Anstead & Mike Brewer from the “Wheeler Dealers” shoot playing with the 80s British rock concept.

Senior, Junior and Mikey TLC’s “American Chopper”, photographer F. Scott Schafer.

TLC’s “Cake Boss” with Buddy Valastro, photographer Brian Bowen Smith.

Lori Allen & Monte Durham from TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta”, photographer Brian Bowen Smith.

TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress” with Randy Fenoli, photographer Brian Bowen Smith.

TLC’s “Cake Boss” with Buddy Valastro, photographer Brian Bowen Smith.

TLC’s “Long Island Medium” with medium Theresa Caputo, photographer Brian Bowen Smith.

TLC’s “LA Ink” with Kat Von D, photographer George Lange.

TLC’s “Angels Among Us” with medium Rosie Cepero, photographer Brian Bowen Smith.

TLC’s “American Chopper” with Paul Teutul Sr., photographer George Lange.

TLC’s “Food Buddha” with Chef Rodelio Aglibot, photographer George Lange.

“What Not to Wear” was moving to Tuesdays so we had Stacy London wrap Clinton Kelly in bubble wrap for the big move. Photographer George Lange.

We all helped with the bubble wrapping…which of course didn’t breathe too well, oops.

Eden Wood from TLC’s “Toddlers & Tiaras”, photographer George Lange.

Fashion experts Stacy London and Clinton Kelly deciding if these accessories are “What Not to Wear, photographer George Lange.

TLC's "Ultimate Bake Off" with George Duran shot by George Lange.

Author James Ellroy photographed by David Johnson for ID’s “James Ellroy's L.A.: City of Demons”.

Stacy London & Clinton Kelly from “What Not to Wear” 50K special shot by Matthias Clamer. Real money was used to create these “ones” of a kind outfits.

Discovery Channel’s “Amish Mafia”, photographer Jason Elias.

OG cast of TLC’s “While You Were Out” with the original sketch used for shoot, photographer George Lange.

Supernatural best friends from Destination America’s “Ghost Brothers” - Dalen Spratt, Juwan Mass, and Marcus Harvey, photographer Ryan Gibson at Ambient Studio in Atlanta, GA.

Who wore it better? Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson or a not so thrilled to be there “Mama June”? Photograph by George “Sugar Lips” Lange.

Key Art

All images are original shoots that I directed working with some amazing photographers and talented creatives. Together, we produced images that showcase the personalities and the spirit of a wide range of shows.

Ami James shot in NYC by photographer Richard Phibbs for the series premiere of “NY Ink”.

Shot in a Punxsutawney, PA barn by photographer Miller Mobley.

The “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro shot in the alley behind his bakery by photographer George Lange.

The Duggar sisters shot in Houston by photographer Peggy Sirota.

The final season of the “What Not To Wear” campaign with hosts Stacy London & Clinton Kelly shot in NYC by photographer George Lange.

The final season of “What Not To Wear” campaign with hosts Stacy London & Clinton Kelly shot in NYC by photographer George Lange.

Eden Wood from “Toddlers & Tiaras” shot in NYC by photographer George Lange.

“Here Come Honey Boo Boo” photographed in a tub of cheese balls by Brian Bowen Smith, Atlanta, GA.

Magazine spread of the cast of "Miami Ink” shot in Miami by photographer Anthony Mandler.

Billboard of tattoo artist Ami James shot in Miami by photographer Anthony Mandler.

Senior, Junior and Mikey from “American Chopper” shot in their Orange County, NY shop by photographer F. Scott Schafer.

Ryan Friedlinghaus shot at the West Coast Customs shop in Orange County, CA by photographer Florian Schneider.

Ryan Friedlinghaus from “Inside West Coast Customs” shot in Orange County, CA by photographer Florian Schneider.

Shot in an abandoned parking garage in Hoboken, NJ by photographer Miller Mobley.

The original cast from “Trading Spaces” in Atlanta by photographer Gavin Bond.

Stacy London from her series “Love, Lust or Run” shot in Brooklyn, NY by photographer Brian Bowen Smith.

Cast of “The Little Couple” shot in St. Petersburg, FL by photographer George Lange. Chalk art by Valerie McKeehan.

“Honey Boo Boo” shot in Atlanta, Ga by photographer George Lange.

Original cast of “Trading Spaces” shot in NYC by photographer F. Scott Schafer.

Leah Remini and her family shot in Beverly Hills, CA by photographer Brian Bowen Smith.

TLC’s late night fashion talk show, “Fashionably Late” with Stacy London photographed Justin Stephens.

Key art for the TLC series “Addicted” photographed by Matthew Welch in Silver Spring, MD.

All Things Honey Boo Boo

For a while Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson was America’s Sweetheart! Here’s a few reason why we couldn’t stop watching her, Mama June, Sugar Bear, Pumpkin, Chubbs, Chickadee and the rest of the gang. Smell ya later!

PHOTOGRAPHER GEORGE LANGE

TLC’s Summer Campaign with Honey Boo Boo. Photo: George Lange.

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Photographer George Lange

People Magazine ad and insert promoting a new season of “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo'‘ with the "Smell-a-vision" stunt.

Photographer George Lange preparing to spend a day shooting Honey Boo Boo, Mama June, Sugar Bear, Pumpkin, Chubbs and Chickadee.

All New New Year campaign key art with Honey Boo Boo. Photo: George Lange.

West Side Highway billboard, NYC with Honey Boo Boo.

All New New Year digital banners with Honey Boo Boo.

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Honey Boo Boo glasses were distributed in Times Square and worn by Kathy Griffin and Anderson Cooper during their New Year's Eve broadcast.

All New New Year social images of Honey Boo Boo.

Family matriarch “Mama June” from TLC’s “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” celebrates the new year.

Interactive game that showcased humorous videos. The popularity of this interactive allowed tlc.com to incorporate ads to generate additional revenue.

Creative Director - Dan Cavey + Designer - Nancy Bell, Matt Ostrom + Writer - Sheila Hayes + Photo Producer - Karen Bovie, Sheri Wake, Kim Pazourek

OutDaughtered

When the terrible twos attack, times five, will their parents survive? I still can’t believe I did. One thing I learned after shooting for 10 hours with 5 toddlers was that two-year-olds don’t take direction. At all.

PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN BOWEN SMITH

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Creative Director - Dan Cavey + Art Director - Allison Wolfe + Writer - Blair Staurch + Photo Producer - Kim Pazourek, Jenny Lim

TLC'S Red Door Campaign

As TLC moved beyond voyeurism into a more open-hearted and inclusive space, the red door launched the network rebrand and became a metaphor for welcoming everyone. Introduced at Upfront, the door served as a useful device for talent to interact with, as well as for digital, print and on-air executions.

PHOTOGRAPHER GEORGE LANGE

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Key art with interchangeable talent, shot separately, standing in the doorways.

TLC’s “Red Door” brand campaign from Discovery Network’s ad sales upfront presentation at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Practical “Red Door” set build.

Creative Director - Dan Cavey + Writer - Sheila Hayes + Art Director - Matt Ostrom + Designer - Nancy Bell + Photo Producer - Karen Bovie

TLC Talent Shoot

Twice a year TLC brings our talent together for a two day video and live action shoot. These images are used for digital, social, press and print campaigns throughout the year.

PHOTOGRAPHER PEGGY SIROTA