ACME Photography

Last year I discovered Valley PR Blog a Phoenix based blog brought to you by five local Marketing and Public Relations experts.

Their website was in the process of being re-designed by the web gurus at Forty Agency. I heard that the gang at Valley PR blog needed some more professional and professional headshots for their web presence. I was “online friends” with most of the contributers on facebook, linkedIN, and had met Dan Wool at some local Techie and Marketing type functions. I offered to help with photography for the new site. Below are some of their new images.

Have you heard of the mechanic with a broken car, the cobbler whose children have no shoes, or the plumber with the leaky sink? I have been doing my best to have current head shots of myself as well as keeping on top of sending current photos of our boys to my parents, the in laws, etc. (Good thing my mother isn’t an on line person, or there might be some comments below on this topic!) Yes, Photographers need photos of themselves and so do PR people. In fact I’ve made it a goal to post more photos of myself. I’m not stuck on myself or even a big fan of photos of me, yet neither are many of the business clients when they first call to book photography. Possibly me “going first” will make them realize that it’s really OK and that photography should not hurt.

Regardless of how much you like (or dislike) photos, a good portrait is key to telling your story and building a brand. People can relate to a happy, thoughtful, serious, or playful photograph. After the new Vally PR Blog site was launched Len Gutman posted a blog post titled “Hire Adam Nollmeyer” as he gave a review of the photos created for their project. The interesting thing will be seeing if PR and marketing folks will understand that I’m not a crazed maniac axe murder with a camera. Check out the photo of me that Len used!

[backstory: I had a minor accident involving a hatchet and my finger requiring a few stiches. I decided to ham it up and poke fun of myself through my own fun photo]

If you found this blog through google and you didn’t know about VallyPRBlog, then do check them out and get involved in networking online and in person with those in your industry. If you found ME through valley PR website and are thinking about hiring me…. I promise that I can leave my axe at the studio. I promise I’m not (quite) as crazy as I look.

Speaking of crazy, stay tuned for an article on how you can use crazy to promote your brand while NOT getting fired.

Adam Nollmeyer
Phoenix Photographer
http://acmephotography.net

Did you see the new T-shirt that reads:

I flew 7500 Miles to thow dirt at ACME Photography!

We haven’t seen one of these, but maybe should I should have some printed.

Giora Ackerstein and his son flew from Herzlia, Israel to Phoenix, Arizona to attend a ground breaking ceremony for their company, Acker-Stone. AckerStone manufactures advanced environmental and construction products which are marketed throughout the US.

Here is a PR photo of Giora and his son:

The land is owned by the Gila Indian Community, and they are leasing the land to Ackerstein Industries. Ackerstein will also provide jobs to members in the Chandler and Gila River Community.

Because the sun was very bright I wanted to keep the sky blue, but also use a fill-flash to overpower the sun and light up the executive’s faces. I would normally have used  strobist techniques utilizing a powerful battery powered flash, however there was a generator nearby, which supplied power for the PA and lights in the tent where the reception has held.  I simply  ran a 100 foot extension cord and plugged a studio strobe into a white lightning x3200 monolight strobe, attached a beauty dish as a light modifier, then metered to light the group photo.

Here is a setup shot:

During the ceremony a Rabbi as well as an Indian spiritual leader blessed the land. The event concluded with the groundbreaking then a light lunch. The day after this event the Ackerstein’s jumped on a plane and headed back to Israel, and I sent a few high resolution photos to them for a press release in Israel.

It’s great to see new businesses come into the valley and I’m always a fun of any groundbreaking that is NOT in 100deg + temperatures.

Until next time,

Adam Nollmeyer - Acme Photography
acmephotography.net

Lauren Editorial Photography in Phoenix

Editorial photography for a magazine.
More Lauren photos from this shoot here

On location I like to use strong lines in architecture and create something visually appealing by giving the viewer’s eye some strong lines to make the photograph interesting. It’s also important to place the person in the photo in a place that will be visually appealing as well.

This is another example of shooting a little wider than a traditional headshot as the photo also illustrates what the person does, their environment, and this helps to define their role in what the article is about.

Lauren is a Realtor servicing the north Scottsdale and Phoenix area and showing part of a home is a great way to tell her story. I placed a light from behind to create the shadows on the ground from the gate. More lighting information is below.

*strobist*
1 622 Sunpak strobe (slightly) right of camera, up high.
2nd 622 Sunpak about 45 deg behind Lauren as an edge-light
(see the shadows from the vertical bars?)

Scott Editorial in Mesa Arizona

Portrait of Scott for an Editorial Magazine Article.
Being an on location Photographer is great because I like the outdoors and I am a people person. Creating an environmental portrait can be a challenge showing not only the person, but where they are. I like to incorporate some of the lines of the environment and create some visual art that tells a story as well.

You may notice that Scott is not very large in the photo. I could have zoomed in more so he would be larger in the frame. I did in some a few other photos, however in editorial photography it’s important to leave some room for cropping (A magazine cover is not full frame, some will be lost on the top or bottom) as well as leaving some negative space for the magazine title, copy, etc.

Thanks Scott for a great photo shoot!

*Strobist Lighting Information*
One Sunpak 622 from camera left.(tilted slightly up and zoomed to barely skim the grass)
2nd strobe = sb800 CLS on manual from right, possibly shining up on tree branches as well.

Phoenix Arizona Editorial Businessmen

Two Arizona Businessmen who also know how to jump on their Harleys and ride through the desert in the Valley of the Sun. I think these guys would know how to get things done for their clients.

This photography was for a Phoenix based Realtor magazine. How much better is this photo than having Realtors sitting around a conference table wearing ties pretending to be in a meeting. Work hard and play harder = a great Realtor.

*Strobist*
Sunpak 622 to camera left.