Jan82013

Chicago lifestyle advertising Photography portrait

Chicago lifestyle advertising Photography: B Creative Bridal Photoshoot

Recently, B Creative Bridal, part of B Creative Talent, asked me to shoot advertising photos for the launch of their website. Because I was tasked with shooting a web commercial, lifestyle stills and beauty headshots of three different couples and one wedding party on location in the span of ten hours, I asked my friend Jeff Haynes to come and lend a hand. He shot the headshots, while I worked on the behind-the-scenes video and the lifestyle photos. Thank god he was there, because there was no way one person could shoot everything.

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Advertising, Headshots, Video
Dec312012

Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith reacts while playing the New England Patriots during the second quarter of their NFL football game in Chicago, December 12, 2010. REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES)

Fired: No love lost on Bears Smith

Its hard to believe that Lovie Smith was the coach of the Bears during my entire tenure working in Chicago. Ive seen them choke in regular games and the Super Bowl. I’ve seen them win too, but I don’t know anyone who thought they were a powerhouse as it seems their quarterbacks of late have been sacked more times than they have thrown touchdown passes.

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Photojournalism
Dec142012

Chicago, comp card, compcard, Photographer,head shot, Headshots, lifestyle, female, model, commercial,studio,Photography, portfolio, poses, shoot,photo

Headshots: Cosette Tomita’s Compcard

I am always searching for new ways to light my subjects, and with every shoot, I seek to perfect my technique. Recently I started using a Westcott ‘7 Parabolic Umbrella. After a few test shoots, I rolled out the umbrella for this headshot with teen female model Cosette Tomita. Using a giant softbox overhead to give Cosette’s hair a little kick and some overhead fill, I had the model strike several different poses, including this jumping shot below.

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Headshots
Dec112012

Barack Obama strategist David Axelrod poses in Chicago April 25, 2008. John Gress/for The Washington Post

David Axelrod slashes stache

When I met David Axelrod in 2008 at Obama for America campaign headquarters I instantly wanted to photograph him in front of this iconic Obama image. I decided to light Axelrod with light similar to what was in the Obama portrait, only from the opposite side, to create symmetry and contrast all at the same time.

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Celebrity, Portrait
Dec82012

Chicago Advertorial Photographer Black & White Photo

Chicago Advertorial Photographer: Powering People

I was so excited ten years ago when an advertising agency asked me to shoot nine day-in-the-life photo essays featuring utility workers in Wyoming for a public relations ad campaign. The December 2002 project was such an amazing opportunity to not only take some really cool pictures, but experience quite an adventure. Every day we visited a new small town, each different in their own way.

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Advertising, Lifestyle, Photojournalism, PR
Dec22012

Newborn piglets suckle at Whiteshire Hamroc farm in Albion, Indiana March 16, 2012. REUTERS/John Gress

Bacon Anyone?

After the worst drought in half a century hammered livestock producers like Hoelscher with record-high feed grain prices, there is renewed interest in raising pigs, an indication that the struggling hog industry is on the cusp of a recovery.

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Photojournalism
Nov302012

United States Postal Service mail clerks sort packages at the Lincoln Park carriers annex in Chicago, November 29, 2012. REUTERS/John Gress

Chicago IL 60614

Every day I walk through the front door and step over my mail. When I pick it up, I never think about where its been or how its made it to my home… God only knows, I guess.

Well sort of. After spending most of yesterday with United States Postal Service employees, I know a lot more about how it made its way to my door than ever before.

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Photojournalism