Commercial Director, Bay Area

Dawn Heumann is a Bay Area commercial director creating brand films, campaign spots, and social-first video for national brands, wineries, and agencies. She grew up on set, raised by a filmmaker and producer, and directing is in the foundation of how she works.

She directs motion and shoots stills within the same production, so one shoot delivers a full campaign library with one look. Recent motion work spans consumer brands, wineries, and hospitality across Northern California and beyond.

Her sets are known for calm: decisions get made, the team is supported, and talent has room to give something real. Reach out to start the conversation.

Family kitchen morning on a Kellogg's campaign, dad lifting his daughter overhead while mom packs a lunchbox, photographed by Dawn Heumann Chef setting a platter of grilled chicken on an outdoor dinner table set with Hanson of Sonoma organic vodka Cellar worker in a harness turning the must inside an open top tank, seen through the porthole Smiling woman in a white sundress carrying a paddleboard down a leafy creek path The Salmon Sisters laughing while cooking salmon over a driftwood beach campfire at dusk in Alaska Smiling man in a denim shirt slipping a card into his shirt pocket outside a bank Documentary frame of a crowd of swimmers laughing in a dark blue ocean Man carrying colorful cases of Goodmellow functional beverages stacked on skateboards at the beach Harvest bins tipping pinot noir grapes into the stainless hopper in motion Chef in a leather apron carrying a glass of white wine and a bowl of fig leaves at golden hour

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Dawn Heumann direct video as well as shoot stills?

Yes. Dawn Heumann is a commercial director as well as a photographer, and she often does both within a single production. Brands get a campaign photo library and video content that share one visual world, from one set, one team, and one budget.

What kind of motion work does Dawn direct?

National brand spots, winery and hospitality films, product videos, and social-first content. Her directing style matches her stills: warm, human, and story-driven, with real moments over stiff perfection.

Why hire a director who also shoots stills?

Efficiency and consistency. Combining stills and motion in one production saves budget, halves the scheduling, and keeps the campaign visually coherent across every channel, from a billboard to a fifteen-second social cut.

How do I hire Dawn Heumann as a director?

Reach out through the contact page or email contact@dawnheumann.com with a note about your project, what you need the images to do, and your timeline. Dawn responds personally and will put together a clear, itemized estimate after a short conversation about goals.

Planning a Shoot?

Tell Dawn about your project, your timeline, and where the images need to live. See her video and motion work.