Steady Focused Interview: Going Full Circle

Chicago Photographer John Gress Steady Focused Interview

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!

Chicago Nightlife Advertising Photography: World Of Chocolate Ad Campaign

Chicago nightlife advertising photography lifestyle ad campaign photographer John Gress

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.

AIDS Run & Walk Chicago Charity Integrated Marketing Campaign

Integrated Marketing Campaign Chicago Sports Lifestyle Video Youtube online buses charity

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.

Sports Lifestyle Advertising Photographer: T2 Campaign

Chicago Sports Lifestyle ad campaign

I’m so glad that I can finally share these images with you now that the ad campaign has been released!

At the end of winter, on a day when the temperature didn’t reach 10 degrees, I needed to create an ad campaign to promote an organization that competes in summertime athletic events to raise money for charity. Even though it was sunny on the day of our shoot, if I dared take the athletes on location, in no time at all it would have resulted in frostbite and frozen pained expressions.