Blog

Ensono – Chicago

June 13, 2018 / Editorial

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.







    


Silveredge Consulting

March 19, 2018 / Editorial

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.




  



NHRMC CEO

February 21, 2018 / Editorial

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.






PPD – Your Own People – Part 2

December 18, 2017 / Editorial

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.





PPD – Your Own People

May 22, 2017 / Editorial

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.







CDP’s Silver Anniversary

March 30, 2017 / Editorial, News

A quarter century. That’s how long I’ve been making a living with a camera. As I reflected on this milestone, I decided it was time to get back to my roots. To strip away some distractions and concentrate on “pure” shooting. What makes it pure?

Looking back, I found a thread that ran through my recent work. That thread was the ability to see differently. To find the art amid the chaos. Whether it be in a plain old office, at an event or in a visually stimulating factory with sparks flying. No fancy lighting, no crew, no hair and makeup artists. Just one backpack of gear and experienced eyes.

Pure shooting.

To celebrate this anniversary, I shelved my old website and started over from scratch. All images on my new site are composed entirely in camera, shot with available light and there is little to no retouching. So they’re pure.

I’m reaching out to small businesses and large corporations who need a little purity in their marketing mix. Authentic images from shoots that require very little effort from the client side.

If this sounds like something your business could use, email me — chris@cdphoto.com.

Check out the NEW cdphoto.com!

Wilmington Gastroenterology

November 16, 2016 / Editorial

“Hi honey, how was your colonoscopy?” isn’t something you hear very often, as people tend to put off those types of exams. Wilmington Gastroenterology decided to combat that procrastination by creating a new website featuring their beautiful offices and caring team of medical professionals. The idea was to show the friendly faces that make your visit there a better experience. That’s where I came in. Their new site lets you “meet” their staff in the privacy of your home and softens the stigma around the services they provide.

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A Safe Place

October 22, 2016 / Editorial, Film

In the summer of 2016, I got the opportunity to tell a very powerful story. A local refuge for human trafficking victims called “A Safe Place” was having a large fundraising event and asked me to craft a video to encourage donations. Through my research I learned that trafficking of women and men isn’t just something that happens in larger cities. In fact, 25% of all trafficking victims who enter the U.S. end up here in the southeast. For our production, I was given unprecedented access to a safe house and spoke with a young lady (renamed “Natalie”) whose life trajectory had been altered due to the efforts of this organization. I bonded with Natalie over our love of soul food and her fictitious name came from her fondness of singer Natalie Cole. My approach was to tell Natalie’s story using her own unscripted words and pepper it with statistics to both inform and inspire those in attendance to open their wallets for this nonprofit. The video caused a haunting hush to come over the event’s room and now lives on the front page of their website.

 

A Real Reason to Smile

September 27, 2016 / Editorial

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.

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Custom Woven Towels

July 29, 2016 / Editorial

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!

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