Industry Highlights Archives | Page 3 of 4

Commercial Lifestyle Photographer Matt Jebbia Summer Fun!

Posted on July 2, 2013

This shoot was a fun collaboration between many of us here at the studio. What made it work was having access to some great vintage props, a great model and a perfect morning of Seattle summer weather. A few words from Commercial Lifestyle Photographer Matt Jebbia!

We came up with the concept of using Dick’s burgers due to the upcoming 60th anniversary of “Dick’s Drive-In”, and we were lucky that fellow Studio 3’s Commercial Product Photographer David Bell had the perfect vintage VW that he allowed us to use.

Since we were a bit worried about taking this awesome vintage car on location I decided to use the Studio 3 parking lot. It provided a nice backdrop and allowed us to utilize some studio equipment that would have been harder to use out on location.

We set up a 6×12 foot sail in the parking lot that helped to diffuse the harsh noon sun, added a medium soft-box to add some light to our models face, and played around with some different camera angles and props to bring this shoot to life. We use a variety of camera systems at Studio 3 but for this shoot I opted to use the Hasselblad H2d with an 80mm lens. It’s not my camera of choice for location shoots but since we were 10 feet from the studio door it made it easy to use and allowed us to shoot tethered for quick image review.

I have a coca cola image in my portfolio already and decided to add the coke bottle at the end of the shoot, just to add a different prop and I felt that we had the perfect model, vehicle, and location to make it work. It was a bit stressful working so closely with a vintage convertible owned by our Senior Photographer. But once we all got into the flow of creating the perfect shot, it all seemed to come together. And luckily for all of us no vehicles were damaged in the process!

To view more Commercial Lifestyle images created at Studio 3, Inc. click here!

Studio 3 Films highlights Stanley Hydraulic product!

Posted on June 21, 2013

We are so excited about our continued partnership with Stanley Hydraulics Tools! Check out the video below and stay tuned for more to come! For a little bit of insight into this video shoot check out words from the Director and head of our video department, David King.

So who knew, that up until now, it was impossible to use more than one Hydraulic tool at a time, using the same power source? Me neither! That’s the great thing about life here at Studio 3 Films. You learn something new with each project whether you thought you needed it or not.

Our long-time client, Stanley Hydraulic Tools, came to us with another product launch and a desire for a video to generate excitement within the sales force. The HP TWIN8 Hydraulic Power Unit is unique in the industry in that it can run two tools at once without a drop in power output. An important feature if there’s a water main break and you need to break up the asphalt and start pumping water simultaneously.

The Stanley folks wanted some consistency in style from the video we did for their railroad spike puller – the SPL-31, but needed to have the whole thing shot in studio. Dramatic lighting on wet concrete and camera movement mixed with rotating the unit on our industrial strength turntable gave us the look they wanted. Combine that with some existing footage from an actual job site, a rocking score and a killer voiceover and we were able to launch the HP TWIN8 in style.

Have a look at our latest production for Stanley Hydraulic Tools and tell me you don’t want one.

To view more of Studio 3 Film’s video reel click here!

To view more visual assets check out our website at www.studio3.com

Film Director David King What a beautiful campus!

Posted on April 5, 2013

One of our favorite places to visit and shoot, is the beautiful campus of Washington State University, Vancouver. The scenic views from the campus’ hilltop location are breathtaking and change dramatically through out the seasons. Our crew visited the campus again for our second video collaboration with WUSV’s marketing department. Here are a few words from our Film Director David King.

For the second video in our series for Washington State University Vancouver, we were asked to help the university highlight how “non-traditional” students thrive at the Vancouver campus. With an enrollment of just over three thousand students, an average class size of twenty, and a student to faculty ratio of 1:14, WSUV truly caters to the student that is serious about furthering their education without sacrificing the whole university experience.

For this video, we directed our focus at transfer students, students that have families, those that hold down jobs outside of school, and those that are looking for help with financial aid. We spent the day on campus, interviewing five students with very diverse backgrounds and career aspirations. The common thread for each of them was how easy it was to be a student at Washington State University Vancouver while working and in some cases, raising a family. It was great to hear them talk about what makes Washington State University Vancouver so special.

We were able to utilize some of the scenic footage we captured on our earlier visit in the fall, before school had started for the year, as well as shooting some new footage with the campus bustling with student activity. The video ultimately ended up on the WSUV website and is viewed often by prospective students who may be looking for a university that will fit their unique circumstance.

Check it out here, or visit the WSUV website at http://www.vancouver.wsu.edu.

To view more Videos created at Studio 3 Films please click here!

Product Photographer David Bell and Leatherman!

Posted on November 26, 2012

We are ecstatic to hear the great news about the Leatherman Raptor shears being featured on Uncrate. Designed for uniformed medics these scissors aren’t messing around. Our very own Product Photographer David Bell was lucky enough to get up close and personal with these cutting edge shears. Spending years with the Leatherman crew and their innovative products, David Bell is nothing short of awestruck! He enjoys making Leatherman’s products appear beautiful by highlighting their unique design and materials. David’s thought on Uncrate’s write up are easily wrapped up in one sentence:

The article, the product, the company it’s all COOL!

Now a few words from Product Photographer David Bell about shooting the Leatherman products all these years…

I try to make these as interesting and aggressive looking while showing all the great features and details. Getting to shoot the newest Leatherman tool is always very interesting. Being able to see the product before it’s released is one of the many benefits. These particluar shears are geared for EMTs and field medics in the armed forces. They are designed to cut through anything and help the medics do a better faster job. When it’s an emergency that is exactly what you need.

I prefer to shoot with a Hasselblad H – 39, using wide angle lenses with HTS tilt shift adapter. I have the camera tethered to an iMac so I can view the images immediately during the shoot. When I am creating feature shots I shoot to a black or white background. For lighting I use Speedotron Studio Strobe Lighting – Grids, Spots and Floods. I look forward to many more years working with the Leatherman team and being first to view the latest products!

To view Uncrate’s write up on these life saving shears follow the link: http://uncrate.com/stuff/leatherman-raptor/

To view more Products Photographed by the Studio 3 team please click here!

Or go directly to: www.studio3.com

Studio 3 has eyes on Bill Cunningham!

Posted on April 25, 2012

While Portland may not be perceived as a fashion epicenter like NYC or LA, the fashion buzz surrounding the Pacific Northwest is undeniable. Our independent, eco-friendly atmosphere has led to three of the nine winners of Project Runway to call Portland home at one time or another. As our city gains notoriety in the fashion world, we decided to look back at the long career of photographer Bill Cunningham and his decades of work documenting New York fashion trends.

Feast your eyes on these candid images from Cunningham’s column “On The Street” and be sure to watch the Times produced documentary “Bill Cunningham New York”, click here to see the trailer!

— Studio 3, Inc.

ASMP Seminar: Blake Discher

Posted on April 20, 2012

We are still buzzing here at Studio 3 after hosting last night’s ASMP seminar No More Grumbling – Get Out There! by Detroit photographer and National ASMP board member, Blake Discher. We love having the ASMP in studio, especially when it’s a conversation we so firmly believe in: getting photographers work seen & how to protect yourself once you are hired. All in all it was a great talk and fun party.

The seminar featured topics, such as:

How to “work a room”
Positioning yourself to be successful
The reasons photographers fail
Starting an Accountability Group
Learn the value in aspiring to be second
Overcoming the fear of the sales process
Celebrate Effort not just Victory
Learn what it means to be a professional in sales

Blake Discher at Studio 3

Blake presented an inspiring look at the value of overcoming your fear of the sales process and how to succeed as a photographer by celebrating effort over victory. It was refreshing for the audience to hear that a win isn’t the end all be all. It was also an important message of never releasing raw files, nor should you be contracted as work for hire. Your work is your work and the ASMP strongly upholds the value that photographers/image creators hold on to the original copyright. Blake nailed the idea home, by presenting the pros and cons of both.

Blake Discher presenting to the Oregon chapter of ASMP

Blake taking questions from the audience!

The ASMP did nothing short but deliver a great presentation. Blake was a success and had great advice that any photographer should consider. Blake Discher is a photographer specializing in people with his studio in Detroit. He has a long list of clients and is continuously growing his client base.

To find out more about Blake and his sales strategies visit www.blakedischer.com

For more ASMP events check out the website: www.asmp.org

Location Scouting: Finding the Perfect Photo Spot!

Posted on April 3, 2012

Caffe Vita has been one of our long time FAVORITE cafes, so naturally photographer Dana Jonas would turn to this fabulous string of coffee shops in search of that “perfect” feel. It got us thinking, what does she look for in a location and why? So we asked!:

One of the main things I look for when location scouting is versatility. Most often a businesses will need to remain operational, which can lead to more than a few dilemmas when customers enter the picture. You could wait hours for a guest to move to get the shot. The best way around this is to find a location that has many possibilities, and hope that one or two will be available.

With this location in particular, I absolutely adored the look and feel. Warm, vibrant, open, clean, this shop just screamed out to me as soon as I entered. It didn’t seem very busy when I scouted and I also consulted with the owner as to what the best time would be to shoot as far as their “hot” times for coffee service. She was extremely accommodating and made us feel more than welcome to shoot at her shop.

Another thing I considered was weather and what direction the front bank of windows faced. Even though I was shooting indoors, it is extremely helpful to know what type and direction of available light will be falling through the windows. Sometimes I want harsh lines from sun and sometimes I want clouds. Most of the time, I would prefer clouds, and just make it look sunny to give me more control. In that case I need access to the outside of the windows, which this place had as well! Amazing location, amazing shoot, amazing models. Loved every minute of it.

Check out Dana’s location scouting photos and final image below:

Enzo's: A Meal to Remember

Posted on March 29, 2012

Lee Mendelsohn, Portland’s Photography Representative, gives her two cents on one of Portland’s culinary gems, Enzo’s:

“Without hesitation my favorite restaurant in Portland is Enzo’s Italian Cafe on Alberta in the northeast. Every time I go it feels like I am at home which is one of the many reasons I have brought my entire family, all of my friends, and many of the wonderful people I have met while working at Studio 3. This is a neighborhood restaurant where everyone knows your name! Enzo lives a satisfying life and it shines through his food.

Immediately upon entering, you are greeted by name and served homemade delicious warm bread right out of the oven paired with authentic olive oil from Italy. I personally recommend the Cavatelli with Basil – WOW – out of this world! The antipasto, his homemade sausage, and tiramisu are must-haves as well. When asked about his favorite menu item, Enzo responded without hesitation, “Orechiette e cimedirape” which means “little ears” in Italian. Intriguing. If it’s Enzo’s favorite, this will be my next meal for sure!

Enzo (owner/chef) grew up in Puglia, Italy and learned the art of cooking from his mother at a very early age. Prior to introducing his restaurant he spent many years opening coffee shops, traveling, and working in manufacturing. Enzo always dreamed of bringing the flavors of Italy to a restaurant environment and now that dream is a reality.”

Stay tuned for Enzo’s upcoming events in April! Easter Brunch, Special Wine Dinner (introducing 6 new Italian wines), and an event where he will be discussing an upcoming trip to Italy. He will be inviting 25 lucky guests to tour his hometown. Also, Enzo will be hosting a one year anniversary party during the Alberta last Thursday Event on April 26th. A must visit for any Portland resident or tourist!

Be sure to visit their website and like them on facebook!

Camera Envy: Canon 5D Mark lll

Posted on March 28, 2012

We are like kids at Christmas when it comes to our new favorite toy: the Canon 5D Mark lll. It has been a blast playing around and learning all about it’s new capabilities. With two studios full of tech enthusiasts we couldn’t wait to learn all about the new camera’s impressive capabilities. In order to share our enthusiasm, along with our new found knowledge, we thought we’d let photographer Matt Jebbia say a few words about the research he’s done over the past few days :

One of the perks to working in a large commercial photography studio is getting the chance to utilize some of the latest and greatest equipment on the market. We’ve been obsessed with the Canon 5D Mark ll for some time now. Last week, our obsession began to wane, as we were lucky enough to acquire one of the first to market Canon 5D Mark lll’s. At first glance the 5D Mark lll has some real physical advancements over the 5D Mark ll. The camera grip has been slightly redesigned, giving it a more solid, user-friendly feel. The power switch has been relocated to the top of the camera next to the mode dial. And who can argue with the new 3.2 – inch LCD display! It is a definite plus over its predecessor, more screen real-estate is definitely a bonus.

Where the new Canon 5D Mark lll really shines is with the new improvements added to the menu, giving this camera an increased depth of character. First of all the Canon 5D Mark lll delivers a substantial increase in ISO sensitivity with the ability to shoot up to ISO 26,500 and with an expanded ISO range that tops out at 102,400. Canon has also redesigned the 5D Mark lll full-frame sensor to use pixels that work better in low light conditions. A marked improvement is the new 61 point AF (Auto-Focus) system, a huge improvement over the 5D Mark ll ‘s 9-point-auto-focus system. Although, personally I hope this feature isn’t more hassle than it’s worth. When it comes right down to it, the fast paced nature of being on set doesn’t really allow for time to make your way through 61 points of focus.

When it comes to the concern of shooting state of the art video, the new 5D Mark lll delivers dramatic improvements to it’s audio capabilities. The addition of an audio headphone jack will surely make our videographers ecstatic. The added feature of an on screen audio level indicator allows the user to monitor and adjust audio levels while recording video. Truly a great addition to a strong family of cameras.

We are so excited to start producing new, fun work with this Canon 5D addition to our camera family. We look forward to sharing everything we learn about this awesome photography & videography tool. 🙂

5 Client Habits Commercial Photographers Love

Posted on March 23, 2012

Of course, commercial photographers love each and every one of their clients. Clients help bring new ideas to the table and keep commercial photographers shooting what they love, the client’s product. With that being said, there are a few habits that make the process of commercial photography just that much happier for everyone 🙂

Inspiration Pictures: They are extremely helpful when working with visually driven people. Think about it in terms of a musician. If you wanted him or her to play a song at your wedding, they would acquire the song, listen to it, dissect it, emulate it, and ultimately make it their own masterpiece. Inspiration images allow the photographer to understand the lighting and feeling the client is ultimately going for.
Detailed Shot Lists: Be as detail oriented as possible; right down to the facial expressions or angle of the drink on the table. A detailed list helps everyone, from stylists to assistants, get on the same page. You can include images, product #’s, really anything specific to get the detailed message across.
Patience: This goes for everyone on set. In-order to keep a positive, motivated, passionate crew, everyone must be given adequate time to handle their end of the production. Nothing leads more quickly to an unhappy working experience then frustration or rushing everyone involved.
Clear, articulated feedback: Trying to use positive, instead of negative statements, with your co-creators, will lead to positive results. Instead of simply saying “This isn’t working”, it helps to say “Could we try this amazing outfit?” or “How about this angle, the light looks so great from there.”. It’s a more specific, positive statement.
Know what you want: This goes hand in hand with the first 2 topics, but it can’t be stressed enough! This is ultimately the key factor in getting the best out of your extremely talented commercial photographer!

Commercial Photographers — Studio 3, Inc.

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