Tin Can Metaphor 5 Art Show

Pencilbox Studios is hosting the fifth (not quite annual) fine art show featuring the artists collectively known as TinCan Group, plus an invited guest artist. This year's show, an eclectic blend of photography, painting, and mixed media, is entitled Tin Can Metaphor 5. Live music will be provided by Peanut. Snacks and refreshments will be served.

The Value of Hiring a Professional Photographer — A Design Photographer’s Reflection

Lately, I see more and more graphic designers either using their own high-quality cameras and modifying self-shot or using stock photography to fit their design needs. Taking a picture has become easier than ever with availability of affordable and uncomplicated cameras.

I may be a bit biased (seeing as I’m a professional photographer), but I believe that in many cases there are a few key sensibilities missing from the do-it-yourself photographer’s arsenal that will influence the final image’s effectiveness.
“Quick Fix” Shortfalls
In no particular order, some areas where point-and-shoot and stock photography fails:

Assessing mood.
A professional photographer is trained to take into account the visual unity of a group of images within a design as it relates to mood. Ignorance of this can devalue an image even if it is perfectly exposed.
Future use.
A professional researches the project thoroughly, and shoots with the future in mind. Usually, not enough consideration is being given to what happens to the image after it outlives the original design. Deep and careful thought is needed at the point of capture, because it ultimately can be re-purposed in multiple ways if it is true to the brand.
Light and Composition.
A professional will carefully consider light and composition, which work with the image to support the intended style. Amateurs and stock photography often don’t, or can’t, consider this, so the simplified photograph becomes just an element within the design or a background that just frames typography, which now has to work alone to deliver an aesthetic style.
Wider scope — literally.
Amateurs often don’t know to consider the entire composition — even areas outside the crop. Other areas of the composition can be used later; giving cohesiveness that can’t otherwise be achieved. Often, stock photography is cropped for one reason: to get the client to sign-off on the image. This severely limits the usefulness of the image, and is an indicator that the image isn’t really right.

Mental Checklists: Experience is Invaluable
Professional photographers have experience. They spend a great deal of time capturing images — hey, it’s their job, after all — and that experience can be worth more than you might expect.
Some Items on a Pro’s Mental Checklist
Knowledge of:

Pre-production
Industry awareness
Location expertise
Maximizing a shoot location

Experience to:

Shoot both horizontally and vertically (a “guaranteed” horizontal image today could be a vertical image tomorrow!)
Avoid minor, yet costly, mistakes (like knowing to remove the belts from the auto service technicians to prevent scratches on an expensive vehicle
Bring life and believability to any shoot (like knowing to tilt the camera for realism)

Professional photographers also have liability insurance, photo releases, and experience managing talent on set — all things that make a professional shoot go smoothly. These experience checklists usually prove more valuable than the up front cost that you appear to save. A photo shoot may sometimes feel costly, tedious and unimportant, but the true image-maker is working to do exactly that: image making.
Strong Design Thought
To be a great designer you must apply strong design thought to all aspects of your work; in the same way you specify a paper (for it’s eco-friendly nature) or the way you specify a color or type face (for it’s psychological strength), you should be specific with your photography. Don’t let your careful work and reputation be undermined by weak photography!

We have a saying around our office, “the screw in the doorknob matters.” It’s an image that conveys meaning and a story — every detail matters.

Creating great images takes planning, consideration and pre-visualization to really best serve the client’s needs. At Pencilbox Studios we believe custom imagery is worth every penny. Imagery helps us tell better stories, and build stronger brands.

Scott McGregor :: Broadcom Photo shoot

Can you really control your corporate branding and look? I know the Broadcom Corporation is.

When Broadcom hired us to produce 2 portraits to have for editorial use in the future it seems as if the MarCom Director was thinking his answer if asked was going to be absolutely yes. If some magazine out there was going to use a picture of the Broadcom CEO it was going to be a specific look approved by this brand steward.

Casting for Stiefel Labs Inc.

Over the last two weeks we have been preparing for the Stiefel photo shoot. One of the major milestones for this project is finding the right model, the casting process. In a nutshell it is a test in staying organized with names and contact information and keeping focused while juggling agent personalities and client schedules. This all leads up to a live casting interview, where we take reference pictures and explain the objectives of the client to the potential talent. For this project we held our casting call at the Pencilbox Santa Ana office. Here are some of the pictures.
Next step hiring the favorites and setting the shoot date.

KIA Portrait Project

This was a project that required  I be part photographer and part ringmaster. We shot executives at the KIA Corporate offices in Irvine, CA in loose natural light situation and again with a more formal look. One of the executives took some pictures of me taking pictures. That was very cool, now I have proof for my family and friends that I actually do work.

Owl Foundation Production

We were commissioned to shoot portraits for the new Owl Foundation website. It was a cloudy day but Nick Marley and I brought in the sunshine. I absolutely love shooting  CEOs and Presidents of companies they always see the value of a good portrait. They always have great stories and interesting commentary on current business conditions.
In this picture is Greg Burden, really good guy to meet. His company, The Owl Companies have been around since 1919. The rocks in the picture came from his quarry, the building was covered with them. A rock building, unusual for a building in Irvine.

Little Company of Mary Photo Shoot

Another feel good day. We ended up shooting the Healthy Kids Van and some new nuclear imaging equipment.

As always working with these folks at LCM is an experience full of laughter and fast action. We skipped a shot on our list due to the immediate patient need of one of the new pieces bought with the donation dollars raised by the Foundation.

This is what we at Pencilbox do best, help our clients help others. I have a great job.

I Hope Medical Van at Saddleback Memorial

Kathleen and I went out to Saddleback Memorial Hospital in San Clemente this week and shot for the iHope Foundation. Our main objective was to help build a library of images to help promote the work the foundation does for the underinsured and the homeless. This is Tim, I liked him. His smile was big and carefree but his eyes told another story.




This Doc was running around very busy but we stopped her anyway. I shot 12 frames and walked with 12 users.




This little girl was also very busy. Just like this little one we all walked away feeling better. I think I even saw Kathleen smile once.

Kia Motors Arizona Production

We drove out to Prescott Arizona to shoot for our client KIA. The people out there are very nice I got a lot of good help. Worst part of the shoot was I had to drive back and teach my class at Cal State Fullerton the next day. So my day started in Arizona and ended in Fullerton California. WoW what a day that was.

Master Meter #4

Tight to Comp production. We got a really nice comp from Steve Forbes. We added some of our own style to it and made it a reality for the client. This was the fourth photo project completed for Master Meter.

So Cal Hospice Foundation Production

May 20 2009. I saw the SCHF printed brochure. It looks really nice. I worked with Joe Banuelos and Roxy from the office on it. I hope it works hard for the client. We cast/hired 7 models for this shoot, two of them I had worked with before.

Stiefel Production

May 16 2009. I helped one of my favorite Art Directors on a branding project he was working on. He sent me the comp on Tuesday night and we shot on Saturday that same week. We had some issues with the fabric background but eneded up doing a pretty thorough job for the client.