By FP1 Strategies
We’re excited to kick off our new “Travel Tales” blog series — a behind-the-scenes look at the FP1 production teams’ adventures across the country as we help candidates tell their stories and connect with voters.
While 2025 may be considered a political “off year,” it’s been anything but quiet here in our offices thanks to the state of Virginia. With control of the General Assembly on the line, our team has been on the move planning, producing and filming some of the most competitive races in the Commonwealth.
From the mountains of Southwest Virginia to the bustling suburbs of Northern Virginia, our crew has logged hundreds of miles (and more than a few cups of coffee and energy drinks) in our rental car of choice — the Chrysler Pacifica. Over the course of twelve shoots, we captured hard-hitting ads and evergreen B-roll designed to resonate with voters across every corner of the state.
The stakes are high this year as millions of dollars have been poured into races up and down the ballot as Democrats are working to expand their majority. While Virginia Republicans, energized by President Trump’s 2024 victory, are pushing to advance conservative priorities like protecting girls’ sports and lowering taxes for families. FP1 is proud to partner with these campaigns to craft compelling messages that highlight those values and deliver results.
We saw many members of our team step up, including new creative leadership behind the camera. Managing Director Kyle Klase stepped in as director of photography for two key shoots, bringing his vision and expertise to set, and helping us raise the bar for production quality across the board.
This cycle on the road in Virginia has also been a valuable opportunity for FP1 associates to gain hands-on experience in both politics and production. Graydon Davies, an associate at FP1 who coordinated logistics for more than half of this year’s Virginia shoots, reflects, “These shoots allowed me to understand the entire production process through the lens of the political work our bullpen has done for Virginia clients over the past year. It’s rewarding to see how our candidates’ ads and B-roll libraries are tailored to specific voter needs across all advertising mediums.”
Graydon was often joined by Senior Associate Zach Stein, FP1’s in-house camera operator and a proud Gainesville, Virginia native. “It was a great experience shooting in every part of the Commonwealth for such great clients,” said Zach. “Filming in my home state made it that much more exciting — and I never realized how much wildlife there was in my own backyard!”
2025 is turning out to be a challenging year for Republicans in Virginia. Our candidates have been outspent significantly by their Democratic opponents. But our production team has left it all on the field to deliver the best advertising for our clients. We can get outspent, but we never get outworked. As our candidates finish strong in Virginia, we’re grateful for their trust in our process and team, and optimistic that with a few breaks down the stretch, we can defy the odds.
Take a look at some of our favorite behind-the-scenes moments from life on the road this year — from early call times and scenic drives to a few unexpected (wild)life encounters along the way.
Stay tuned for more stories in our Travel Tales series as the FP1 team hits the road in 2026 and beyond — capturing the people, places and purpose behind every campaign.
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