On a snowy winter day, we crammed 18 people into a Chicago barbershop built for a dozen, so we could shoot the foldout magazine cover of Positively Aware’s annual HIV Drug Guide. It is always a challenge when you have to work with 13 subjects and have them all engaged, while maintaining the identity of the space and leaving room for the magazine logo, text, and the fold.
For the third year in a row the AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s Team To End AIDS (T2) hired me to photograph their major sports competitions. The resulting lifestyle images have been used in their advertising and fund raising ad campaigns.
A few weeks ago I had the great pleasure and honor of spending the lunch hour chatting with Simeon Hendrix, and recording an interview for his Steady Focused web series. Which covers photography, filmmaking, lighting, lenses, cameras, etc…. discussing how to identify weak points, overcome struggles, how to succeed and how to live a fulfilled life. Their most important rule is to work hard, love yourself and have fun!
I first stepped into Chicago’s Union Station in 1996.I was 18 years-old and traveling through on my way to check out colleges with my mother. What possessed me to take a train clear across the country is beyond me, but I did really enjoyed the experience of seeing so much of our country first time.
Fast forward 18-years and I am back in Union Stations cavernous great hall, creating a Nightlife lifestyle ad campaign for the Aids Foundation of Chicago’s World of Chocolate. A charity event that raises money for people living with HIV and AIDS.
If you haven’t already seen them, this video and print fundraising ad campaign is now appearing online, in print and on buses all over Chicago. Shooting an integrated marketing campaign with both videos and stills for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago gave me a great opportunity to create effective visuals that I hope will allow this charity organization to exceed their fundraising goals! It was also been another opportunity for me to work with talented graphic designer Dan Paterno.
