Every once in a while we need a little reminder that most of us have it really, really good. New Hanover Regional Medical Center called and needed an environmental portrait it in a hurry, so I didn’t get a lot of background on my subject. All I had was a name, a time and an address. I like to go into my shoots a little more prepared than that, so I dug a little deeper. Come to find out my subject had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Some women are very self conscious in front of a camera, but not her. I only spent an hour there, but her bubbly personality and positive outlook on life were nothing short of inspirational.

 

You might have seen those posts that show “What people think you do” vs. “What you really do.” Well, this is not what I typically shoot, but somebody has to do it, right? When a local entreprenuer needed promotional pics for his niche business Custom Woven Towels, he knew I would give it my best shot. These luxurious towels are customizable promotional products; your company or team logo can be weaved directly into the the fabric for added durability. The main challenge with this job was that the shoot took place in March. It’s pretty chilly here in early spring, and a sea breeze coming off the 55° ocean didn’t help much. Here’s to the ladies (including former Miss North Carolina – Jessica Halso) who made it look easy!

Every photographic assignment has its challenges. One product category that I’ve always considered especially challenging to shoot is window coverings. Not only are you dealing with the dynamic range of light inside versus outside, but the blinds or curtains have to be the star of the room. For more than 75 years, Strickland’s has been helping Wilmington homeowners “dress” their glass and needed a few updated images for new branding efforts. Careful lens selection, camera position and of course proper lighting came together to create this three-part series.

When I was a kid I was enthralled by trains. So when I got the chance to go see how a hopper car was built and create a series of images for Vertex, I was in heaven. Photographing in a factory is super challenging. When you combine constantly changing lighting conditions, huge pieces of machinery dangling overhead with dirt and noise galore — most shooters would call that hell. But to me, industrial locations are “target rich environments.” You get to find art amid the enterprise. Hopefully this is only my first trip to this railcar birth place. It’s also where great photos are born.

One of my many business trips last year took me to Cleveland, Ohio — the home city of KeyBank. My role there was two-fold: director of photography for corporate short films and still shooter. Since we had been filming for several days, I grew very familiar with the folks and the many floors in their multiple buildings. It definitely didn’t look like any bank I was familiar with. Corporate America seems to be striving for a more hip, contemporary vibe in their workplaces. Which begs for fresh marketing materials to match. If you’ve got a similar need, wherever you (or your client) are located, let’s talk about how I can help.

The other day I found myself on the set of yet another movie being filmed here in Wilmington. This time I had the pleasure of watching Isaiah Washington, Michael Ironside and Lisa Anderson display their talents for the camera in the 2015 release of “The Sin Seer.” Lisa plays Rose Ricard, who uses her gift of reading minds to solve crime cases and bring closure. Even after all these years, it’s still fun seeing famous faces on both my camera’s LCD screen and the silver screen. Here are a few choice moments of the actors in their element. Director: Paul D. Hannah

No wonder their employees are so happy. The main office of Clayton Homes in Knoxville, Tennessee, is very impressive. Not only do they have their own workout facility (including a full-size basketball gym), but a “no walls” policy keeps the interactive aspect alive. Everyone can see and speak with anyone, anytime, even the boss. My assignment to capture happy workers engaged in collaboration went very well. Light-filled rooms and sincere smiles made for a great shoot. I love capturing the real faces of today’s corporate America. Why settle for cheesy stock photos when you can have authentic pictures of your company’s own people?

As part two of my assignment for newly acquired Lumina Station (see previous post), the client wanted to show a fresh, modern look for those who frequent this retail oasis. I suggested pairing two models I had worked with before, and the agency pulled the trigger. The challenge was telling the story without featuring a particular store since the materials were designed to market the entire property. Shop owners kindly provided the season’s latest looks and we scored a beautiful day. Special thanks to Melanie and Hannah for making this shoot one of summer’s best!

Since the Sotherly group owns hotels all over the Southeast, their agency Big River in Richmond also wanted to show a taste of life by the sea. It just keeps getting better. With Matt’s excellent casting, the perfect little family was created. And we pretty much let them interact and play in the salty air. The trust that both Matt and I had built with creative director Geoff Stone was there. His confidence in the professionals he hired could be an example to others. And his approval came through with words like “stunning” and “remarkable.” Let’s hope this leads to many more southern adventures!