Mission: Manage SALVEtoday (www.today.salve.edu), the newspaper for Salve Regina University (salve.edu).
Solution: I manage an editorial schedule, as well as coordinate with people all over campus to produce articles and photography to make sure that events and other news stories have coverage. I edit every story that goes up in AP Style, and I also write stories and take photos. I put together a newsletter every week that gets sent out to the whole campus with the news of the week, too.
Outcome: For almost two years during a worldwide pandemic, I’ve kept the University newspaper running smoothly—helping to keep the school informed no matter what.
Mission: To create a beautiful painting for a space located in Innovate Newport, a coworking space in Newport, Rhode Island.
Solution: I created an abstract realism painting that reflects the colors of a sunset bursting over the oceans water — a relevant theme for Newport, Rhode Island.
Outcome: A beautiful acrylic painting that is now hanging in a prominent space in a building here on Aquidneck Island.
Mission: Nakeesha McDowell is a successful woman with a career in HR who is starting her own coaching business. She needed high quality photos for a variety of purposes, including her social media.
Solution: I listened to Nakeesha about her career, new business, passions, etc. I then helped her envision what her photos might look like and came up with creative ways to help her achieve imagery that would capture her personality and the business she wanted to create.
Outcome:
Stunning photography captured in Manhattan.
Mission: Cole's Gourmet Popcorn & Treats (www.colespopcorn.com) needed a revamp of their website, including the photos. They were also looking to have someone write monthly blogs for their website.
Process: As the primary content developer for Mountain Air Marketing, I rewrote all of the website copy for Cole's Gourmet Popcorn. I took photos for their website that helped reflect a polished, professional look on their website.
Outcome: A new website with great photography (I did not take all the photos that are site; the ones below are an example of my work for them). I also wrote monthly blogs for them to help communicate with customers about everything going on with their store (2017-2018).
Mission: Manage Colorado Collective's (COCO) team of over 25 writers and photographers over the course of two years to create four beautifully crafted print publications with stunning photography and high quality writing that highlighted small businesses, makers, and creators that are putting Colorado on the map.
Solution: For two years as managing editor, I communicated with COCO writers and photographers to get stories in on time for our print publication, coached writers and photographers to make sure our storytelling and writing were above par, and edited every single article for each print publication. To help with organization, I made production schedules and print deadlines to ensure smooth publication. I also developed relationships with writers and photographers across Colorado to produce content for our print and web presence.
I also wrote and took photos for multiple articles, traveling across Colorado to interview and document businesses in person for authentic, engaging storytelling.
Outcome: Four beautiful publications that were shared across the state.
Mission: Create an abstract realism painting that depicted mountain scenery reminiscent of the Rocky Mountains for a client based in Colorado.
Solution: I drew up a few sketches to get the ideas, and client picked out the sketch they liked best. I then painted this scene with an abstract realism concept.
Outcome: A beautiful, lush landscape full of the warmth and aliveness of summer.
Mission: Kate Potvin (www.katepotvin.com) needed photos to use for her business social media and professional headshots. She is a women's wellness and fertility coach, as well as a yoga teacher. While she had plenty of yoga photos, she wanted some more photos that helped represent the woman's coaching side of her business.
Process: I met with Kate and talked about what she really wanted out of photography. She told me that she wanted light, warm photos, and she had a very specific look in mind. After brainstorming and planning for locations, I executed that specific look using lighting and backgrounds that were tailored to her desires through a two-hour photoshoot. I then edited her photos accordingly.
Outcome: Kate is beautiful, and the images we captured at several different locations were just stunning. She is using these photos for a variety of business purposes.
Mission: Document a distillery called 3 Hundred Days of Shine (www.3hundreddays.com) in writing + photography for the print magazine Colorado Collective in a unique way inside an edition already covering many distilleries and beverage industry stories.
Process: I decided to angle the story on 3 Hundred Day of Shine's already warm and steady regulars by telling stories as to how they heard about 3 Hundred Days. Photos would document these customers and their interaction with the space and owner. I coordinated a day to come by and meet regulars, as well as take photos.
Outcome: I wrote a compelling 1,200 page story with beautiful photography that captured the soul of 3 Hundred Days of Shine with an angle differant than other distilleries.
Mission: Breckenridge, Colorado, is known as a ski town to many. Still, there is rich history in this mountain town, as well as some fantastic food and drink, that many don't know about. I pitched to a newsmagazine called Pueblo Pulp to cover Breckenridge as not just a ski town. They said yes, and they wanted me to write a whole travel section on Breckenridge, including three pieces overviewing Breckenridge, its mining town history, and things to do there. I was also asked to take high quality photos to accompany the story.
Process: I wrote three different pieces on Breckenridge, its history, and things to do there. I also traveled to Breckenridge, took photos, and interviewed historians and locals so that I could get a true look into the town of Breckenridge. Photogrpahy included a wide variety of subjects, from bars to restaurants to historical sites.
Outcome: A beautiful newspaper travel section that highlighted multiple aspect of Breckenridge, including stunning photography. The story and photos were featured in their print monthly newsmagazine, and one section of it is online here.
Mission: My editor at a newsmagazine called Pulp Newsmagazine wanted me to do a story on taking a weekend getaway to Santa Fe, New Mexico. So a few friends and I piled into a car and took the weekend to visit this beautiful place, documenting the entire trip with photos.
Process: I strategized beforehand and asked a ton of questions to locals about some of the coolest things to do. However, I also believed that the trip should be organic as possible, so I tried to take the trip as it came and truly go on an adventure with my friends--documenting the trip through photography and the whole time.
Outcome: The trip ended up being a huge success, and the article that was written (along with the photos) reflected a genuine weekend experience that was able to capture New Mexico and peak people's interest in the area. You can see the story and photos here.
Mission: I pitched the idea to a newspaper called Pulp Newsmagazine of documenting the rise of coworking spaces in Southern Colorado, coworking's history both nationally and in the state, and the changing environment of working.
Process: After conducting multiple in-person interviews with coworking space owners in both Denver and Colorado Springs, as well as taking pictures and documenting each space visually and doing extensive research on the topic, I wrote a story about the brith and growth of coworking spaces in Southern Colorado.
Outcome: A well researched and written narrative on coworking spaces in Southern Colorado, their purpose, their history, and their ongoing contribution to the growing number of remote and freelance employees. You can find the story and photos here.
Mission: In 2017, Mountain Air Marketing (MAM), a digital marketing agency, needed website writing for their newly launched business.
Solution: I listened to the founder of MAM about her career, new business, passions, etc. I then came up with creative copy that centered around the founder’s vision and goals for this digital marketing agency. I also write articles for their blog every month.
Outcome:
Mountain Air Marketing is one of the top digital marketing agencies in Colorado Springs, and has won several awards.
Mission: Capture the wondrous world of Meow Wolf, an art collective and 3D immersive fantasy story land located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, that was funded by G.R.R. Martin. Write a story about Meow Wolf's inception and somehow convey the weird, strange, beautiful art installation they've created for an arts & pop culture magazine with writing AND photography.
Solution: I coordinated weeks in advance to make sure I could get interviews with staff members, artists, and others. I took a trip there to experience Meow Wolf's art installation House of Eternal Return in person, experience the installation, interviewed people, took photos, and wrote a compelling narrative about Meow Wolf's magical success story.
Outcome: Photo and story were published at Crixeo, an online arts magazine.
Mission: Kerry Favara is a professional model based in Colorado. She wanted some updated photos for her portfolio that captured a sophisticated, yet somewhat gritty/edgy side. She wanted images to be have a fine art quality.
Solution: We played around with several locations, including an urban setting and a setting with some mountains in the background. Using a strobe light, I was able to capture edgy, beautiful images that look straight out of a magazine for her portfolio.
Outcome: Edgy, beautiful photos for a model's portfolio.
Mission: Create a painting for a home that reflected a fun, vibrant color palette. My only direction was to do a sky and sunset of some sort with maybe stormy weather.
Solution: With very little direction from the client, I created a sunset bursting forth from the clouds of a storm as a symbol of the hope and wonder of life.
Outcome: Client was very happy with it, and the painting is now hanging in their home.
Mission: Marion Clawson is starting a yoga business called Balance Your Strengths Yoga. She wanted to take some yoga business photos that captured an element of balance and poise that she can eventually use on social media and a website.
Process: I brainstormed location and visual ideas, and I found the perfect spot to shoot. I was able to help direct her to play among the unique landscapes and rocks in the Paint Mines in Calhan, Colorado. We drove over there and spent a few lovely hours playing in the rocks and taking some really unique photos.
Outcome: Some gorgeous imagery that captured the essence of Marion in a beautiful way. She was very pleased with the photos.
Mission: Roasters and indie coffee shops are hugely popular in Colorado Springs--so much so that this relatively small city is sending baristas to national championships. So why is there such a thriving coffee culture in the Springs? This was the question I hoped to uncover through an article + photos for a local newsmagazine.
Process: After interviewing multiple roasters/coffee shops in the area--including some of the oldest ones all the way to the newest coffee shop on the block--I discovered the answers I was seeking.
Outcome: An interesting narrative on why coffee culture is succeeding in the Springs, along with beautiful photos to accompany the story. You can read the full story and see photos here.
Mission: Joule Fitness Studio (www.joulecolorado.com) was a new cycling, hot yoga, and TRX fitness studio that had opened in Colorado. They needed photography to use on their website and social media. They wanted headshots of instructors, group shots, and action shots of classes. They also wanted to portray the fun, friendly vibe of their studio.
Process: I interviewed the owners at the studio to make sure I understood exactly what they wanted, talk through a budget, and to experiment with lighting, etc. Then I scheduled a six-hour shoot day that incorporated headshots of all the instructors, group instructor shots, and classes. Joule Fitness asked some of their members to attend, and it became a great shoot full of amazing photographic moments.
Outcome: I got some incredible photography of their space and instructors that highlighted the studio's unique atmosphere and personality. After everything was done, I was able to accomplish everything that they wanted, and they were very happy with the outcome. The photos are on their website as well consistently shared on social media.
Mission: Capture the exquisite outdoor wedding of Logan and Perry in Crested Butte, Colorado.
Process: I traveled to Crested Butte, Colorado, to spend a weekend documenting Perry and Logan's wedding. I followed them closely throughout the process of getting ready, the ceremony, and the reception. I also helped brainstorm some creative locations to take photos of their wedding party and the newly married couple after the ceremony.
Outcome: This was an amazing wedding to take photos for, and the visuals are beautiful and speak to the love this couple has for each other. It was great to get the bike shots, which they were game for; it made for a really fun touch.
Mission: Capture Aerial Aura (www.aerialaura.com), an acrobatics group that performs across Colorado, in a stylistic and artistic manner. They were tired of photos from shows and wanted to try something outdoors, capturing the art behind what they do through unique angling, lighting, and editing.
Process: Using my creative eye, I took photos of three performers from Aerialist Aura and edited them in a way that was artistic, bold, and unique. I purposely edited many of these with an impressionistic, airy, dancer quality to them.
Outcome: Extremely beautiful, artistic photos of three performers that they used on their social media, websites, and promotion.