17 Ways to Get Your Clients to Love You: A Studio 3 Guide

Collage of Studio 3, Inc. team member employee portraitsWe’ve been in business a long time, working with some clients for a decade or more. To us, the client relationship is paramount, and we go above and beyond to nurture it. What would you experience if you were a client of ours? Here are some direct quotes from our Team Members about what we mean when we speak of “Studio 3 Customer Service:”
Client Relationship Manager Jessica Lynes:

We take the time to anticipate our clients’ needs, ensuring that they have exactly what they need/want before they even know that they need or want it!
We always have their “favorites” when they’re here: foods, drinks, music, etc. is met with a “Wow! Thank you so much, I can’t believe you remembered!”

Portland Producer Liz Swales:

We get the client’s job done: efficiently, flawlessly, and simply, while exceeding their their expectations.
We take care of them like royalty…AKA feeding them fun and amazing food!

Chaos Wrangler Niki Gillespie:

We streamline the behind-the-scenes details to ensure the smoothest client experience. Clients love our process but never are over-aware of it. No bottlenecks.

Seattle Producer Kaitlin McMillan:

We will do anything! If the client wants it done, we’ll get it done for them – no hesitation or questions. Any budget, any client, any person, any product… we have a solution for even the most difficult of requests.
We create an “atmosphere” while a client is on set: you can bring your laptop and do work, you can play ping pong when you’re just here tagging along for a shoot, you can watch the news and drink coffee with your feet up on a couch. We inspire creativity and hard work all while in great company.

Digital Artist Carl Beery:

Clients appreciate our experience in pre-media print and web production. Knowing how print collateral and websites are built helps me ask the right questions before problems arise.
Years of experience interpreting markup also helps us make the edits that clients want to see, ensuring a flawless final outcome for all.

Digital Artist Tom Radio:

We make the impossible POSSIBLE when it comes to post-production!

Video Director David King:

We care about building relationships throughout the creative process and we keep client satisfaction as our #1 goal.

Photographer David Bell:

Listen. Pay Attention. Make them the most important thing happening then and there. Make it fun.

Photographer Craig Wagner:

We always try to give our clients more than what they’re initially asking for (like different angles on the same setup), and we are ultimately flexible when working. We won’t consider the creative brief set in stone, and are bold enough to run with an idea, which clients appreciate on set.

Photographer and Studio 3 co-founder Henry Ngan:

By offering them any level of service they need to make their projects a success.
By thinking out of the box creatively to provide a unique vision and fresh look.

Photographer and Studio 3 co-founder Jim Felt:

We always follow through on our promises.
We care about the future relationship with every single client. We value their friendship and the ability to create fun images for them. We are proud of our relationship with each and every client, large or small.

Can’t wait to experience what it’s like to be a Studio 3 client? Reach out and bring us your next project. You’ll experience all of the above…and more.

Portrait Photography – Business Skydiver

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Entrusting your visuals to Studio 3 is forging a partnership with us where we plan and execute your project down to the smallest detail. We prepare for every possible contingency and never drop the ball. Every piece of the puzzle fits, because WE Check It multiple times before takeoff.
Just like this fun portrait shoot of an employee with an adrenaline-inducing hobby, Studio 3 takes care of every step, every prop, every piece of equipment, every model, every production logistic along the way. Skydivers check their life-saving gear religiously and pack the parachutes in the exact same way each time before the final jump, all in order to ensure perfect expansion once in the air. Studio 3 checks the shot list, scheduling, prop list, lighting, and equipment as many times as is necessary to ensure smooth execution. Once set up, on set we check the photo multiple times in-camera and on a larger screen to make sure every wrinkle, every line, every highlight, and every shadow is aesthetically pleasing and fits with the overall story. In this case, photographer Jonny Brandt worked with the model extensively to create just the right tangle of parachute cords and billows of fabric (which is quite difficult to do with a parachute that is meant to NEVER tangle!) and the exact angle of his arm checking his altimeter as if checking the time.
So what time is it? It’s time to call Studio 3, Inc. – and see how much effort we put into checking, and RE-checking, all aspects of your shoot to make sure it is smooth, stays on budget, and is executed on time. Check us out here.
 
 

Happy Holidays from Studio 3

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It’s all about the stylin’, baby!
Got your list? Checked it twice?
Taking a product photography shot like this doesn’t require much more than good lighting and professional hands on the shutter (and we can do both no problem!), but it’s the product styling that truly makes the photo shine. Accomplished by all-star commercial stylist Tristan Weholt, this photo took about 2 days to tweak the styling to that festively organized level. Producer Megan Nolan sourced the full array of holiday items from local stores, and Ms. Tristan set about fitting them all together like a puzzle, choosing where the bigger pieces fit and maneuvering smaller items to coordinate. Ms. Tristan says that she loves these creative briefs because “it really lets the creative mindset of styling flow…this is where my career meets my passion.” Photographer Chris Eltrich created the set and lighting, and ultimately captured the essence of spending Christmas morning at home with the fam.
For the above photo there was a specific creative brief, but for the company Holiday card it was just to come up with an idea and execute a shoot that encapsulated the Team here at Studio 3. Each studio location shot its own top-secret creative twist on the brief, with our Santa-hatted Portland office going head-to-head with our Hawaiian-themed Seattle office. Who did it best? You be the judge.

Portland

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Seattle

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Need a fun and unique interpretation on your company’s creative brief? Give us a ring and see the amazing and wonderful happen with Studio 3.

Happy Holidays from Studio 3!

 

Pick Up The Phone!

Stressed about your company’s visual needs? Would you rather spend time having fun in the sun? Let Studio 3 ease your mind this summer. We’ve been smashing out countless videos back to back, while continuously providing outstanding photography and flawless production. Oh, did we also mention that our digital team is amaze balls? Trust us, you don’t want to be the only tanless, overworked one at the company party because you didn’t know about Studio 3. Save the embarrassment of all the “are you kidding me?” looks. We’ll make sure you meet that crazy deadline. There’s no reason to miss out on all the perks of working with Studio 3. And no reason to keep on reading, you’re wasting precious beach time – make a Pina Colada, and start dialing!! Make that golden phone call!!!
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And to make it that much easier, if you didn’t have our number yet, here ya go:

Portland Studio 503.238.1748, ask for Dalcetta

Seattle Studio 206.282.0939, ask for Marcella

 
 

#TBT: Old School Legends, New School Talent!

In the honor of the Portland Trailblazers’ new–school talent like Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews and team fighting their way into the NBA playoffs this year, we thought it would be fitting to showcase a shoot we did of a couple of Rip City legends! Clyde Drexler and Sam Bowie are not just your average NBA players (which is a huge accomplishment in itself.) No, these two changed the game.
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Effortlessly earning the legend title, Clyde Drexler was not only a trailblazing star; he’s a Gold Medalist and key player in the 1992 US Olympic Dream Team, and also happens to don one of those shiny NBA Championship rings. Drexler laid the foundation down in Rip City for incoming stars like Sam Bowie, who was second pick in the 1984 draft. Bowie showed up and showed out during his first year, earning him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Team. You can only imagine how ecstatic Studio 3 was to receive the opportunity and honor to capture these stars in their prime.
At Studio 3, we honor icons of our own – the ones behind the camera. Studio 3 legend, Craig Wagner, had the amazing opportunity to work with Drexler and Bowie. Sharing the responsibility as they do to lead the way, many have come after Craig and learned much of what our All Star has to offer. Studio 3 is lucky to have it’s own Dream Team consisting of its founders and original shooters, Jim Felt and Henry Ngan. To our lead shooters that have played for our team for almost 30 seasons now, Craig Wagner and David Bell. Not to mention our up and coming rookie squad with explosive talent, Chris Eltrich, Jonny Brandt, and Erik Knudsen. A team can’t be complete without it’s bench and it’s cheerleaders, which is the role that the rest of this squad proudly inherits! Studio 3 is the NW All Star Team of Photography, and we look forward to those Championship opportunities, one shot at a time.

Keep Calm and Take Care of Business!

Rushing through your week? Constantly busy with day to day errands and to-do lists that need checking off? No time for a breather? Well, Studio 3 is here to spread a little wisdom —

KEEP CALM AND TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS!

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Studio 3 is constantly busy finding ways to stay on our creative toes while making sure we’re taking care of business smoothly. Inspired by this outlook on life, our amazing Portland Studio Assistant Jonny Brandt speaks on what moved him to come up with this concept:
“I wanted to take the concept of multi-tasking in the workplace and exaggerate it in a fun way. By combining this with meditation, my goal was to remind the viewer to always keep a good balance in your life.”
From time to time we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the constant work flow and we forget to remind ourselves that taking a deep breath and break for ourselves is just as important as staying on top of our daily duties. Finding balance is key, whether it be a rolled up yoga mat tucked under your arm next to your briefcase, 5 minutes of mediation during lunch hour, or a martini after a meeting – whatever floats your boat.
With summer weather inching its way closer and closer to the Pacific NW, there are tons of Yoga conventions hitting cities near you! Now is a great time to take advantage of the outdoors and show off those yoga poses!  Grab everyone at the office and take a field trip to finding inner peace, “Auuuummmmm……”
 

Erik Knudsen: Our Newest Team Member

We are so thrilled to inform you that someone has joined the fun house! Welcome our newest team member, Erik! He has a great story and we are excited to be apart of it.  Read below to learn more about Studio 3 Seattle’s new Assistant!

            I grew up on a skateboard in a small, Florida town. Constantly exploring my area and other cities, I met interesting people and saw many sides of many cities. With so many places to skate, trick combinations to experiment with and attempts gone wrong, I realized that skateboarding was a mental game. Those experiences pushed me to be creative and persistent – which is a great starting point for someone entering photography.
 
            Another personality-molding factor was that while I skated around in Florida, my mother was living in The Netherlands. Almost every year I would spend a month or two overseas. Being exposed to alternative cultures and ways of thinking at such a young age made me realize how much the world has to offer – and that Florida could never be my last stop.
 
            What I hadn’t yet mentioned, was that my father constantly talked to me about photography. Most of the time I didn’t know what he was talking about. I was more interested in skateboarding. Years later, I now realize his plan was flawless. The black-and-white film class in high school was my favorite. Followed up with a host of photography and video classes, I was hooked. Graduating with a photojournalism degree, I was well on my way to a career in photography.
 
            Realizing that my true interests reside in commercial photography and that the world was a giant place to explore, I convinced my fiancé to fly with me to Seattle. Without any idea of how it would work, we bought a couple of one-way tickets and headed west to crash my friend’s couch. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
 
            After a suspenseful interviewing process, I was brought onto the Studio 3 Seattle team and couldn’t be happier. It just seems right.

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Throwback To The Future!

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“Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need roads!”
We’re taking a flight back in time with Fluke Manufacturing! This week we’re busting out the film strips and having a flashback to the days of pre-digital shooting. Our Lead Shooter Henry Ngan captures the era in this classic Fighter Pilot Tech shot on film! Henry and the rest of the Studio 3 crew had a blast working with Art Director Val Kurita, who now Product Manages Chaudiere Design, Inc. in Seattle, WA.  And with retired successful Graphic Designer Gary LaComa who is currently creating Fine Art Photography , you can check out his gallery at Saatchi Art and shop on Zentopia to snag some of his beautiful art work. Gary hops in the time machine to share a few words with us about his tenure with Studio 3…
“This image was a core brand image for a new product introduction for Fluke Manufacturing. It was designed to be the visual icon for this new product in advertising, print collateral, and point of sale posters. The overriding concept of the product was “speed” which lead to a vision loosely visualized in my head and sold to the client. The client’s trust in us to deliver the goods was the primary reason we got this project. It was a very important introduction that the company had invested in heavily. The stakes were high. 
…It was always exciting working with The Boys and getting the results we did on this and many other projects. This campaign, built visually around this image, was a huge success for the client.
I would like to add however that I chose to work with Studio 3 on many of my clients projects over a decade of effort for 3 primary reasons. First their technical expertise. Henry and his support crew were, and always has been, technically way ahead of their time (even back then). This image was actually created in the camera and on film, unlike today where a computer screen and digital manipulation reign supreme. Second reason was their attitude about working as a team. Unlike many photographers, they allowed me to work with them in the trenches. We worked together hands on… as a team. Many photographers are less than enthusiastic about this collaborative style of work and prefer that you sit in a chair and yes/no “their” creations. Third my confidence in them to deliver. I knew they/we would deliver the product we sold and to do it efficiently and within my client’s budget and schedule. “

It’s always fun sharing these stories from way back in the day!

A Trip Down Memory Lane, In Freightliner Trucks! #TBT

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A trip down memory lane takes us back to summer of 1983, and we’re in the middle of the Alvord Desert. For a few years around this time, we’ve been shooting calendars for Freightliner Trucks in-studio. These trucks were a work of art, show-trucks that were built and painted particularly to collaborate with the themes of each year’s calendar. But it was time for something new and fresh! This was our first attempt to shoot the calendar on location. Tom Stuart, our lead photographer at the time, scouted a few places that’ll be a great large flat space to offer beautiful surroundings to match the hues and beauty of the models and show-trucks we were shooting. So we arrived at Alvord Desert! Tom Stuart and our current Lead Shooter Craig Wagner, geared up, packed the studio van, grip truck, two RVs, and three 1984 Freightliner beauty trucks. They headed to the desert with two clients, three assistants, three models, a hair and make up stylist, and 3 truck drivers in tow.
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For a week, our crew, clients, models, truck drivers, and stylist camped in the dessert shooting at sunrise and sunset and finding time in between to soak up the scenery and it’s activities. While our clients, models, and stylist camped in the two RV’s, the truck drivers slept in the semi-truck sleepers and Studio 3 rolled out our sleeping bags without hesitation, and slept under the stars.
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The fun didn’t stop with shooting during the beautiful hours of sunrise and sunset. Thanks to the wind and rain, most of the day was spent getting equipment set up, with our crew jogging for a quarter of a mile at a time to retrieve our belongings. When we weren’t running for our lives, or shooting with the sun’s timing, the crew was enjoying BBQ’s, the local farmers hospitality with horseback riding, and dipping into the hot springs. With that said, take us back to the summer of 1983!
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