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One of my favorite things is working with photographers over the course of many years. Buff and I first did a print promo together in 2015. This fall, we worked on a Volume II of her How We Live zine. The zine is designed by https://beckyplante.com/ and beautifully printed by Paper Chase Press.
It was the middle of an endless summer in Austin when AFAR reached out asking if I’d be interested in working on a travel guide for Visit California, one of the nation’s largest and most successful tourism boards.
With the blazing sun and 90% humidity beating down on my home office, I happily said, “yes!”. If I couldn’t spend the summer in California, at least I could distract myself with a deep dive into some of the most beautiful images of its mountains, beaches and beautiful cities.
The brief:
Source unique, stunning, and high quality imagery from over 500 points of interest across the state. Find images that evoke a sense of quiet luxury, focusing on unexpected experiences.
Manage permissions, model releases, and licensing.
The sources:
Favorite California-based lifestyle photographers, including Amanda Friedman who captured the beautiful poppy field moment featured on the cover
PR firms
Hotels and restaurants
Regional and city tourism boards, including Visit Palm Springs, Visit Anaheim, and Go North Lake Tahoe, Santa Monica Travel & Tourism, and many others
The results:
A beautiful, antiqued copper wire-bound source book, as well as a stunning digital experience.
The bonus:
Appreciating the beauty of the images alongside the playful and fun illustrations of the amazing Libby VanderPloeg!
Kate Benson is a New Hampshire-based product, lifestyle, and fashion photographer with an elegant style that feels fresh and modern while giving a nod to timeless beauty. We updated her website to showcase the variety of client work she’s produced and tell the story of the kind of work she is passionate about.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with the Texas Tribune Festival since 2016. Of course, Covid really put a damper on large scale events like TribFest, so I appreciate the event even more now that it’s back in full force.
For the 2022 festival, I focused on producing all of the sponsorship and marketing-related photography coverage, managing the budget, scheduling and photo assignments for the team of photographers and photo editors.
See more of the photos, including those produced by the editorial team.
Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
Erika Rich for The Texas Tribune
Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune
Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune
Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune
DC-based photographer Rebecca Drobis was awarded a contract by FHI 360 to create a custom image library for the CDC to use for its diabetes prevention campaigns. CDC realized that traditional stock photography just wasn’t connecting with their users, and wanted to focus on real people talent and situations that would resonate.
I served as the project’s creative director. My priority was ensuring that the CDC’s missions and goals were furthered through Rebecca’s photography.
I reviewed CDC focus group findings, brand guidelines, and other marketing documentation in order to arrive at a list of key themes the photos should touch on.
We approached the project in phases over the course of 14 months, collaborating on what locations, talent, and situations would help the CDC achieve its goals. I created mood boards to help hone the creative direction, and once that was finalized, I created shot lists with location, art and talent direction.
Rebecca and her rock star producer Nancy Swenton took the months of prep and turned into shoot day magic, creating relatable, authentic imagery.
Kate Medley is a fantastic, North Carolina-based documentary storyteller and filmmaker. Her work is focused on social justice, the environment, agriculture, and life in the South. We worked together to revamp her website to feature the kind of work that she is most passionate about doing.
I got to work with the rock star photo crew for the Texas Book Festival again. Everyone was so happy to be IN PERSON and enjoying the beautiful, fall weather. Thanks to Bob and Janis Daemmrich for having me be their photo editor and to the amazing photographers: Laura Skelding, Stephen Spillman, and Bob Daemmrich.
Here are a few of my favorite photos from the weekend.
Attendees pose on Congress Ave / Laura Skelding
Xelena González / Stephen Spillman
Volunteers / Stephen Spillman
Sandra Cisneros / Bob Daemmrich
Jacques Pépin / Laura Skelding
Texas Writer Award boots / Bob Daemmrich
Beautiful weather and good eats / Bob Daemmrich
Chef Chris Scott / Laura Skelding
Rabia Chaudry poses with a fan / Laura Skelding
Capitol rotunda / Bob Daemmrich
Omar Epps / Laura Skelding
Capitol / Stephen Spillman
Aaron Dougherty is a Dallas-based interiors and architectural photographer. The spaces he photographs are so beautiful, and he lights them with the most gorgeous, luxurious light. His attention to detail and collaborative working style make him a favorite of designers, developers, and showrooms.
Jasmine Anwer is a Dallas-based interiors, food and product photographer. Her work has a bold, graphic sensibility and was a joy to curate.
Melanie Grizzel is an Austin, Texas-based portrait, travel, and food photographer. Her work has a sophisticated but approachable approach, and she makes the people she photographs feel comfortable and confident.
Hard to believe it’s been over 10 years since I joined the Big Weekend Calendar team as their photo editor. The 2023 edition was a joy to produce. From vintage clothes shopping in Austin’s North Loop neighborhood to hot rods and chihuahuas, this year’s calendar had something for everyone.
Here are a few of my favorite photos.
I’m excited to share Salt Lake City-based Kim Raff’s updated website. Kim is a frequent contributor to The Washington Post and The New York Times.
Ilana recently launched her new website, featuring a variety of her commissioned work as well as personal projects. Visit at ilanapl.com. Ilana is based in Austin, Texas and works with clients around the world, frequently collaborating with the New York Times and Netflix’s hit show, Queer Eye. Follow her on instagram for all the latest!
Always a pleasure to collaborate with DC-based Rebecca Drobis. Rebecca creates image libraries, custom stock, and marketing imagery for healthcare, education, agriculture and public sector clients. I especially enjoyed editing her ongoing Farmer Girls project. Visit her site at rebeccadrobis.com.
One of my favorite annual projects is the fun, quirky, and always visually delightful Big Weekend Calendar. This year we licensed and commissioned photography from some of my favorite Austin photographers, including Thomas Meredith, Bee Creek Photography, Lori Gola, and Kenny Braun, among others.
Photo production and editing for the most recent issue of Dell’s magazine, Realize.
We produced these shoots in March, right the country started to lock down due to Covid-19. Seems like so long ago!
A Robot to Fix Us All
Photographer: Jeff Wilson
Location: University of Texas
Chief Digital Officer Jen Felch
Photographer: Bryan Kuntz
Shot on location at Dell Headquarters in Round Rock, Texas
Photo Research and Licensing
Photo by Maggie Steber/VII/Redux
Endangered Wildlife Trust
DUSTIN CHAMBERS/The New York Times/Redux
I recently had the pleasure of working with Kate Benson, a commercial photographer based in the Boston area. She also travels frequently to shoot in New York City, Miami, Dallas and Charleston. Her new site is full of sparkle (in the form of jewelry and dishware), bright and poppy product photography, and warm and inviting fashion work.
Kate’s work has been featured in magazines such as InStyle Magazine, Food & Wine, The New York Observer, BBC, Luxe Interiors, Allure, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and more.
Check out her website at katebenson.com
I’m so jazzed by how this portfolio turned out for Houston-based Todd Spoth!
I love the energy and emotion in Todd’s work, and the bold portfolio colors make a beautiful backdrop for the images.
The book and case were made by Kristin Dunn of KD Books and the layout was created by Jenn Hair.
Adventure and documentary storyteller Deleigh Hermes’ work has been published in Yahoo!, National Geographic, Backpacker Magazine, Roads and Kingdoms, and the Wall Street Journal. We built her new website using Photoshelter.
I had the pleasure of working with Audra Melton on her new website, which just launched last week.
Audra is an Atlanta-based storyteller and portrait photographer who often focuses on social issues.
Some of her clients include AARP, Oxfam, The Atlantic, The Coca-Cola Company, The New York Times, UPS, and The Washington Post.
For her website, we used PhotoFolio, and organized her work into a few main theme-based galleries, as well as featuring individual commissioned editorial, corporate, and commercial projects.
I love the new look. Please take a look at audramelton.com.
