-by Jules

What a way to ring in the New Year…a new project…in new media…it’s motion alright!  Shot in a part day in our studio, edited on another day. See the description below for more info.

Carol Engler/ Originator, Empathic Education from George C. Anderson on Vimeo.

George C. Anderson and Julie Schirmer take their years of enthusiasm and experience creating memorable still photography and step into video production with their first client-sponsored project, shot in George’s studio with sound captured by Jay Alton. Helping Carol convey her passion for Empathic Education, George and Julie consulted on script-writing, studio set, lighting, wardrobe/hair/makeup and of course, on-camera direction, to portray Carol as the authentic person she is: professional, informed and approachable. In support of Carol’s message, George and Julie licensed music from stockmusic.net and also selected and sequenced stock images from Shutterstock. They offered creative direction working with freelance video editor Eric Ringquist to finalize their collective vision.

-by Jules

Summer is a great time to capture evocative images. Everyone can relate to the sweet simplicity summertime brings to mind.  School’s out, days are long, temperatures are pleasant.  The livin’ is easy!

It doesn’t get much simpler than fun times in the sprinkler.  Just ask this boy.  Hopefully you won’t have to, maybe the picture tells it all.

-by Jules

©2011 Julie Schirmer

A recent article in the New York Times advertising section reports a new nomenclature in the ad agency and PR firm setting.  Of course, reorganization and renaming are nothing new to our industry. But some of the monickers that we’ve come to know, love and understand are being replaced with more current, relevant titles. Here’s a primer so we might recognize who we’re working with.

Out with the Old, In with the New!

Out: Account Executive, In: Strategist
Out: Account Supervisor, In: Catalyst
Out: Designer and/or Writer, In: Creator
Out: Vice President, In: Executive Director

GolinHarris, a PR firm with 700 employees and owned by Interpublic Group of Companies, is formalizing this shift as of this week. They say it is in response to changing consumer behaviors “most notably the public’s fast and fierce embrace of digital and social media.” Apparently, new hires had the skills to be useful, productive team members, but the old job title system just didn’t seem to fit the bill anymore.

No mention of a new title for Photographer. Any ideas?

by Jules

There is no denying that texting can be efficient, emailing unobtrusive and smoke signals…well, uh…pretty?

But as visual collaborators, there is nothing to beat a good phone call or personal meeting to hash out the how-to’s in a shared creative endeavor. As photographers, it is typically our role to execute others’ vision, research and layouts. A good conversation can go a long way to making this whole experience more satisfying and successful overall.

When interpreting others’ aesthetics, can we really get the full description as quickly and thoroughly via text rather than talk? Let’s admit it, most creatives got into this business because they are image people, not necessarily word people (our friends, the Copywriters, aside of course). Many times, they are also hunt-and-peck keyboardists who struggle to scratch out a few lines of text. How dreary it must feel to attempt tapping out all the subtleties they could better describe in even a brief chat!

So, when you are working with someone and are going to be the photographer who ultimately stands with your trusty camera at that critical moment in time and “makes it all happen,” I hope you’ve been able to have a previous conversation with your client. There will be things you’ll discover that simply can’t be communicated and discussed any other way. And you’ll do a better job for having a better understanding of your client’s wishes.

I know we’re all pressed for time and the natural inclination now for so many entering the working world of the communication arts may be to reach for their inter-planetary mobile device and send a message, even if the recipient is just across the hallway.

I encourage us to seek conversation. Audio, visual, person-to-person. We can keep it short, to the point, and in the process, perhaps we may remember that in fact, the spoken word can be more efficient than we ever realized.

-by Julie

Our interns often look surprised when they read our list of “dos and don’ts” and just what activities are appropriate when nothing directly billable is at hand.  Item #21 is “Have fun and laugh.”  Many of them have never considered a work environment where seeking fun, laughing and sanctioned play time is not only accepted but encouraged.  Seriously  kids, lighten up!

Because what we’ve learned in our business is that being creative is fundamentally what it’s all about.  And having a wellspring of personal energy to dedicate to maintaining an at-the-ready-creative stance is worth cultivating.

And that toys help.

Fortunately, our friends and family understand this too.  Just this past Christmas, Geo received these totally nifty ExecuHelis. RC, with dual blades…pretty sophisticated engineering for $25 a pop.  Thanks, brother Don Anderson (and Best Buy).

The flight path in our hulking studio’s free space is ideal for unencumbered helicopter action.  (And boomerangs, and Red Ryder BB targets…not to mention the indoor swing hanging from our rafters on 12′chains …)

So- play is good.  We’ve got the toys, and when time allows, you bet we get serious about having fun.  It makes us happy, it inspires us to lofty ideas.  OK, well not always lofty per se.  But a playful mind is a resourceful mind and that’s what it seems our clients want time after time..brains in gear with good ideas to offer.

Pardon me, I want to get back to messing around with the ‘copters.  Just trying to properly get this New Year off the ground (excuse the pun)…

by Julie

If I’d ever been a Boy Scout (mighty difficult since I’m a girl), I’d have been the poster child for their motto, “Be Prepared.”

I was the school kid with the burgeoning backpack loaded with nearly every classes’ book just “in case” I wanted to reference one once I got home, even if there was no imminent homework assignment.  Yeah, the spinal scoliosis was worth it.

I am also the international traveler who carries dry laundry detergent in a baggie (so liquid won’t leak and so much lighter), an index card with exchange rates and equivalents for USD $1, $10, $50, $100 for at-a-glance market negotiations, and pre-addressed labels to expedite the postcard writing process. All packed in my carefully researched mini pack with just the right pockets (and style quotient).

Some might call this OCD. Little did I know I was simply in training for my career.

As a producer, prop and wardrobe stylist, my job is to have anything anyone could need on a shoot, even if they have not requested it. Anticipating needs. And, it is also my job to have packed this stuff in a way that any of us can find “it” once we do realize we need “it.”  Because when the need arises, it will be immediate!

The same goes for my photographer. Forgetting a critical piece of gear can be a major drag.

When I get ready for a big trip, I make lists weeks in advance. When I wake up in the middle of the night with another idea for something I want to be sure to take, I simply grab my tablet on the bedside table, jot down the note, and return to peaceful slumber- with a clear conscience and trusty list.

So, when we are prepping for a big shoot, particularly when it’s a location shoot away from the studio, we keep lists too. Depending on how anal retentive you are by nature, you may want to prep some lists with the basics, have categories pre-designed, maybe even include an inventory list of sorts to jog your memory. You may be less likely to forget that extension cable if you have a box next to it on your list to check off?

Be prepared. Be ready. Be a good Scout. Once your ducks are in a row, your mind can be free to do your best work.

And have a great trip!

Here’s a few pix to illustrate just some of the “stuff” required on a recent shoot….what you don’t see is the photo van loaded with gear plus more “stuff” like you see in these shots!

Packed Up Day Before Shoot

Just a sampling of some of the props/wardrobe (photo gear unpacked elsewhere) that got hauled to a recent "fishing buddies/lifestyle" shoot.

Looking across just some of our production items to where the shoot was actually occurring at the lake.