Blog

Shooting in working facilities can be a challenge, especially hospitals. You have to be uber considerate of patients, staff and visitors. So how do you capture their personality? I suggest making friends first and shooting second. The employees know a photographer is coming. So I shift their perception about how the “photo shoot” takes place. “Where would you like us to stand?” asks the nice lady. I politely say, “Give me a few minutes and I’ll let you know when I’m ready.” The marketing director smiles. Soon most folks forget I’m there. That’s when my work begins, and the authenticity shines through, naturally.

My job takes me to a variety of cool places. One spot near and dear to my heart is a little beach town just up the coast called Emerald Isle. One thing you might not expect to find on the island is a thriving corporation called Transportation Impact. Their story of growth (which began in a surf shop closet) is truly impressive. TI had seen my work and wanted some fresh photos of their ever-growing list of employees. A big meeting on a hot summer day provided the perfect opportunity to capture some of their out-of-town staff along with the locals. Need engaging images of your team at work?

I love shooting people in their element. So when the marketing director at Airlink/Vitalink reached out for some fresh images of their fleet and first responders, I jumped at the chance. Their hangar at ILM provided the perfect playground. My client wanted something a little different than before so I suggested a photo technique combining natural light and flash with camera and subject movement. This style perfectly complements the urgency of the work these heroes do every day. She loved the idea and especially the final images. Does your company’s marketing content need rescuing? Dial CDP for help!

Monteith Construction has been calling for a few years now. The project managers have a friendly competition over who gets the best pics of their finished work. When they told me the Live Oak Bank Hangar was completed, I couldn’t wait to see it. We coordinated a pre-dawn visit to capture golden light on the facade and the daily operations. Focusing on the architectural elements, plus the way the building is utilized, was my goal. Monteith can’t bring everyone to all of their finished properties, but the right shooter can make it easy to share great pictures these state-of-the-art structures with prospective clients.

When Atlanta-based internal communications agency Tribe needed updated images for their Chicago client Ensono, they wanted a veteran shooter who specializes in contemporary corporate photography. They needed a pro who could blend into high-level meetings and capture the kind of authenticity the company would be proud to share. Knowing how to compose images for website banners didn’t hurt either. When I go into corporate environments, the photographic challenges are many – fluorescent lights, people who don’t enjoy being photographed, etc. That’s when experience counts.

Remember when you were a kid and you went to a friend’s house to play for the first time? That’s kind of how it feels to be on location with a brand-new client. I prefer to scout my locations in person if at all possible, but when your client is almost 1,000 miles away, that doesn’t always work out. The friendly folks at Silveredge Consulting in Chicago were very accommodating and made me feel super comfortable. After a while, they went back to work and almost forgot I was even there. In my aim to capture authenticity, this is the best scenario. Why pose people who aren’t models? Why force something that is already there? With the right demeanor and respect, you can get the shots while feeling right at home.

My marketing friend at New Hanover Regional Medical Center said they needed pictures of their new CEO, John Gizdic. “Man of the people, but still CEO-like” was the direction given. And it wasn’t long before we were on a quick trek through the hospital with the boss. There is a certain pressure to perform in circumstances like this, and that’s when I find comfort in sticking with the authentic style I’ve been nurturing. After all, they hired me for my eye. Here are a few of my favorite images from our walkabout.

There’s been an awareness lately regarding the value of dedicated employees. You read about this company or that giving praise and recognition to the folks who actually make the wheels turn. This dovetails beautifully with my latest offering: custom photo packages of your company at work. In my last post, I featured a few images from a local client , but there were so many more I wanted to share. These pictures shouldn’t be hidden on a hard drive — just like hard-working employees shouldn’t be hidden behind the scenes. Are you proud of your team and what they bring to the table each day? Let’s start building your library of authentic employee photography.

A longtime client and leading global research group decided it was time to refresh their corporate image. Their marketing team wanted to move away from overused stock and create fresh photography that reflected a more personal side to their company. At first they were reluctant to photograph their own employees, but using models was counterintuitive to their goal. So I shared several samples where companies around the country had brought me in to capture their own workers in their element. My client loved the idea of getting great shots of folks who were the actual fabric of their organization, without a bunch of lights, staging or hassle. The results made them believers.