After my internship ended I was hired as a night desk sports editor and got my first taste of layout. There are a surprising amount of rules that to be considered in layout in terms of flow and what you want your audience to take away from your publication. It is easy to be caught up in an amazing design but produce something that is disorganized or confusing. From fonts to image size and resolution, every night at the sports was an awesome learning experience. Working the sports desk is one of my favorite jobs that I have ever had (right under movie projectionist) but the graveyard shift was not for me.

So I moved on to the Community Newspaper Company (now Gatehouse Media) as a Pagination and Prepress Technician where I did less editing and more layout and design. At CNC I switched from the news of one section to laying out advertisements and designing whole publications. I produced 18 weekly newspapers for towns and cities in MA, meeting about 12 deadlines a day. This was an interesting position because even though the publications were for the same company, every town was independent and each editor had separate requirements and expectations for their paper. Here I got to work with, and more importantly learn from, design experts such as Kate Dempsey Knowlton, Jason Angel, and John Lockwood, who are all insanely talented.

At this point I knew for sure that I wanted a career in publication and technology. So I went back to school for Photography (which changed my life and perspective completely) and became educated on the best lighting practices, the best Photoshop techniques, event shooting, studio design and management, digital story telling, digital work flow and file management, etc … Although I no longer work for the media I have not stopped designing and paginating. Now I temper my photo skills with layout for musician album design, flash videos, web design, photo album design, and flyers and advertisements. Also I layout publications for organizations like Friends of the Fells and volunteer my services for non-profit organizations like the Point After Club. Below are a few samples of work that I have done. Enjoy!

Jason, Neil, and Greg are so talented and each of them brings their own unique humor and personality in a collaborative environment serving commercial and creative videography/editing needs. Jason and Neil have performed in stage productions throughout the Boston area. Greg is an aspiring fiction writer. Together they write, direct, produce and perform in numerous films and shorts as well as service the wedding and event industries.

Here are their head shots:

I look forward to working with them again soon!

It’s going to be okay.

I’ve been working with Erin for 4 years, doing lighting, set design, carrying the heavy stuff, and holding people up when in dangerous places.  When Erin was in school I was also her go to test subject, so there’s quite a few frames of me out there.  I hope I’ve learned a few things I that can help you at your photoshoot.

Photo Shoots 101

1-  To smile or not to smile, that is the question. The answer is both.  Try to stop worrying about which shot will look good.  We’ll take a whole bunch.  At the end of every session you are able to pick the photos you want retouched.   It’s pretty simple and usually fun.

2- Location, location, location.  Headshots in the studio are great.  Come to ours at Vernon Street in Somerville, Ma.  Or think of a great spot you’ve always to have a shot.   A favorite park, a cool room in your house, etc.  Photographers can come to you for something unique.

3-  Bring music, especially if we’re going to be doing studio shots with us.  An ipod/MP3 player works best.  People usually end up dancing.

4- Ironing is your friend! – Most of the time you won’t know what to wear.  So you’ll want to bring a few options.  Sometimes a few is a lot.  And a lot if hard to carry. So you throw them all in a bag..  they fit well in the bag.. and then you add more!   Wrinkled mess.   Clean, ironed/wrinkle-free clothes work best.

5-  Looking through the Lens – Many times the amount of focus in your eyes can make a major difference in a good photo and a great photo.   It is important to understand that the lens of the camera is picking up the image at the back of lens, not right at the front.  Many people like to look at the front of the lens creating a slightly “off” look in their eyes.   This can be remedied by looking “through” the lens (often times you can see where the shutter hits the sensor in camera.. look there!).  A good way of describing it is that you want your eyes to connect with the viewer’s eyes on the other side of the photo.

6-  Relax.  Seriously just relax.

7-  Bring a bunch of changes of clothes. The same shirt in 2 colors works, but doesn’t really show off your different sides.  Get creative.

8- Are you a band?  Come up with a concept.  We can help too.  Bands look good in fronts of walls, but even cooler painted blue.  Also, unlike normal photos, wrinkles can be good.  Think about it.

Check out some examples on our portraits page.

Hope all has been well,

Joe K.

The White Roses is the musical project of Heather Rose, a blues-rock-psychedelic-funk band coming out of Boston.  Heather writes her own songs, sings and plays guitar. She also co-produces and co-engineers all of White Roses’ recordings. In 2010 she graduated with a degree in Professional Music from the Berklee College of Music, focusing on Songwriting, Performance, Business and Engineering. In 2009 her song “Big City Blues” won first place for blues in the West Coast Songwriter’s Competition. White Roses are currently signed under the indie label Retro Rocket Records located in Half Moon Bay, CA. Check out her work at http://www.whiterosesrock.com/

Inspired by the life and legacy of Rose T. Coppinger, ROCKN 4 ROSIE is a benefit event to help raise support for the Point After Club (PAC). Founded by Rose 25 years ago, PAC is a clubhouse that provides support services to adults with mental health disabilities. PAC is a program of MHRP Inc., a non-profit 501-C-3 agency.

All proceeds and gifts made through ROCKN 4 ROSIE will go to PAC’s “Home of Our Own” project. After 25 years of service to the greater Lawrence, MA community, the PAC has outgrown its current location and is looking to purchase or renovate a building that they can proudly call their own.

Come to Rockn’ 4 Rosie … it is my favorite annual event and supports one of the best causes in Massachusetts. Booze … Music… Food… Art … and the most amazing view of Boston imaginable … it doesn’t get better than that. Also, be sure to plan time to attend the after party!

Buy your tickets here: http://www.rockn4rosie.com/Home.aspx

http://www.rockn4rosie.com/Home.aspx

Erin doubled the rent in 1 shoot.

It was a closet. Well bigger.  But it was small.  It was also less than a 5 minutes walk from our apartment.  It was just a few months.  But it was great.  We had a place to leave things setup so a shoot didn’t always include setup and break down.   Erin put her name on the waiting list.

About 3 years later she got the call.  The studios have opened a new floor so space had opened up.  We looked at a few of the studios and really liked ours.  So, we’re back in Somerville at Vernon Street Studios. What’s nice about working an industrial space is that we get to do pretty much anything.  It’s also rough because we took over a space after years of painters it would seem.  Hardened piles of paint, dust, grime, dust, plaster dust and more.   After a bunch of coats paint, a few trips to furniture shops, some pulleys, paper stuffed mini-car and more than one near ladder death experiences, we finished hanging the lights as we opened the doors (and after an all nighter… I thought those ended in college).

Check out the photo gallery of us making the most of our space.  We’d like to give a special thanks to my parents and Noah Bidgood for helping out building the place.

-jk

Here are some images from the Deli Launch Party held at the The Middle East Upstairs – November 28th 2009