Cade Martin “Teas” It Up for Starbucks
Many artists make an effort to inject whimsy into their imagery, especially in work done for advertising clients. However, few are able to combine that free-spirited creativity with an unmistakable promotional message as well as Cade Martin can.
The Washington, D.C.-based photographer has shared this talent with a wide range of clients including dozens of companies, products and organizations you know like Cadillac, the National Geographic Society, Grey Goose, Merrill Lynch, Tommy Hilfiger and many others. Recently he brought his unique view to bear for Starbucks, helping the ubiquitous coffeemaker promote the opening of its first Tazo Tea store in Seattle.
“It was an amazing project and the Starbucks team was a dream to work with,” Cade says. “They contacted me last spring and I happened to be out in Seattle on another project at the time… They really seemed to like the body of my work and the magical, cinematic-narrative nature of my images.”
The first half of about a dozen “Alice in Wonderland”-esque images – each sprinkled with Martin magic, like a touch of cinnamon atop a pumpkin latte – has already been released through Starbucks, with more to come. The images, each depicting the tea as a sort of enchanted elixir, will be used for various promotional platforms, including wall-sized murals inside the new store, digital ads and Tazo Tea packaging.
Collaborating with the creative minds at Starbucks to “create a magical world was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had,” Cade notes.
“The client couldn’t have been more supportive of everything that I wanted to do,” he says. “We all got along great, worked hard and really had a good time.”
Click here to see more of Cade’s imaginative work.





