Behind the Laffs: Documenting Comedy, Culture, and T-Pain at Zanies

Some gigs just hit different. I got the call to shoot a launch event for Laffy Taffy at Chicago’s legendary Zanies Comedy Club and the headliner? T-Pain. Yeah, that  T-Pain. The event was for their “Your Jokes, Our (W)rapper” campaign, where fans could submit their own jokes for a shot at being printed on those iconic candy wrappers. Simple idea, good energy, and a room full of laughter what more could you ask for?

I’m Andrew Harris lead photographer at DH Pixels and this was easily one of the sweetest gigs I’ve worked. No pun intended (okay, maybe just a little). Plus, I left with a ton of free candy. That classic Laffy Taffy? Still slaps.

We rolled into Zanies just as the crew was locking in the final details. The lighting was on point, the stage was clean, and the setup gave us everything we needed to capture the vibe without overthinking it. That’s the kind of flow you love to walk into smooth, dialed in, ready to go.

T-Pain came in relaxed, all smiles, and completely locked into the moment. You could tell he was having fun, which made my job easy. He wasn’t just there to pose he was part of the show. Reading jokes, talking with fans, retiring the OG wrapper lines like a hip-hop comedy legend.

The event was lighthearted, but the team behind it didn’t miss a beat. From the producers to the set designers to the Laffy Taffy crew, everything ran tight. That’s the kind of behind-the-scenes rhythm that makes capturing the real stuff the in-between shots, the genuine laughs possible.

What made this one special was how laid-back and real it felt. No overproduction. No forced moments. Just a cool idea with the right people, done right. Laffy Taffy opened the door for fans to leave their mark on a brand that’s been around for decades and they brought in T-Pain to help pass the mic. Can’t really go wrong with that.

At DH Pixels, that’s the lane we live in. Telling real stories, catching the energy, keeping it honest whether it’s brand work, music moments, or culture-forward campaigns.

Let’s make something dope.

📸 Andrew Harris@dhpixels | #AndrewHarrisPhotography #DHPixels #TunedInWithTPain #YourJokesOurWrapper #ChicagoNights