Hey there!

 

I believe that I would be a perfect fit for the Event Photography Intern position on the Rock Central Marketing creative team. Here’s why:

After I graduated college with a degree in photography and graphic design, I joined the Family of Companies in 2020 after not finding a photography position that felt right for me. I knew that something would come along at some point, it was just a matter of waiting while looking through open positions and working with an internal recruiter. This position feels like a perfect fit for me, and I would really appreciate the chance to thrive in this role.

If you have any questions, please message me on Teams, shoot me an email, or call my cell phone at 734-624-3743.


Qualifications? You bet.

Strong written and verbal communication skills

  • I have over seven years of experience in both photography and written publications.

  • I was thrown into photography working for my high school yearbook and I worked for my college newspaper throughout my time at Saginaw Valley State University.

  • After graduation, I worked for multiple news sites and freelanced in the Greater Detroit Area.

  • Throughout all of these positions, I’ve learned so come out of my shell speaking with people in person, and I have improved my written communication skills.

Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite

  • I started with Photoshop as most photographers do, but I branched out into Lightroom after seeing the organizational advantages and non-destructive editing techniques available.

  • Outside of PS and LR, I have experience in InDesign and Illustrator, with additional exposure with Premiere, Animate, and Dreamweaver.

  • I also have IT experience.

Solid foundation of photography basics

  • I shoot in manual mode taking RAW images.

  • I like to have full control with my camera, and I shoot in RAW to take away as much detail and editing flexibility as possible.

  • Two things I do leave in Auto, however, are my auto focus points where I set them in the frame, and auto white balance, because my camera typically does a decent job at getting the basics right, and I’m adjusting it later anyway in Lightroom.

Ability to work on multiple projects at once

  • I have a ton of experience juggling multiple projects, leads, and ideas at once.

  • When I worked at my college newspaper, I would assign photo assignments to other photographers while shooting events myself, while also editing the paper and making changes to the paper the night it’s sent to the printer. I wouldn’t say its my strongest aspect, but I can handle a lot of work at once.

Ability to work with tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment

  • Throughout college, I was always taking multiple photography courses at once. Portrait, film, photojournalism, etc. I had photo assignments due twice a week in each class, along with working for the college marketing photo and video team, the newspaper, and other general education classes.

  • I continued that outside of college, working for the the Family of Companies while freelancing for multiple newspapers past 5 o’clock and on the weekends.

Willingness to stay current on photography trends

  • I thoroughly enjoy staying up to date on what’s new and what’s trending photography-wise.

  • Whether it’s a film-inspired look or a vintage retro vibe trending on social media, or the style of rim lighting models in professional marketing and portraiture, I notice these trends and I allow them to affect my work.

  • Internally, I keep up to date on the tech behind the scenes. Personally, I’m a big fan of battery powered studio strobes and EVFs, and I look forward to upgrading my main shooter to a mirrorless body.


Responsibilities? Lemme at ‘em.

Shoot and edit photos of events

  • Whether it’s a company wide meeting, lecture, or a concert, I’ve shot it before.

  • I have experience in shooting and editing my own photos, as well as shooting for companies that prefer I just hand them my RAW files.

Assist with photoshoots

  • Listen, I know how to hold a mean reflector. Need that hair light repositioned? I got you. Want to review these photos before we move on? Let me grab my computer.

  • I’m well versed in shooting as a primary photographer, as well as shooting as a second. I can shoot images while they’re looking at you, or I can help you with anything else you want.

Shoot other types of photography like headshots, lifestyle, workplace culture, etc.

  • Need some promotional images of a new building or freshly renovated office? I’ve done it. Need a few hundred headshots, all similar in a uniform style? I’ve done it.

  • I’ve worked with multiple teams in all of these areas.

Manage assets on the internal digital asset manager

  • I did the same thing when I worked at Saginaw Valley. My responsibilities ranged from organizing to key-wording to updating and anything else needed to keep the website organized and clean.

Perform general administrative tasks

  • Sounds good!

Produce and manage personal shoots and schedule

  • This is something I’ve always done when working with companies and organizations.

  • I think it’s important to further my personal portfolio, as well as keep my clients or fellow team members happy.



Some quick about-me stuff

What do I shoot with?

  • I’m currently shooting with a Canon 5D Mark IV as my main camera body, usually paired with a 24-70, 70-200, 85 1.4, or a Sigma 14-24 if I wanna get a little crazy.

  • My main personal camera is a Fuji X100V. I like that the Fuji offers a large sensor, EVF or OVF, face detection auto focus, and fun retro styling in such a small form factor.

What do I edit with?

  • I’m a Mac and Adobe guy. I store, organize, and edit my photos in LightroomCC, where I recently moved away from Lightroom Classic.

  • My editing computer is an M1 Mac mini connected to an outdated but color calibrated Thunderbolt Display.

Favorite events to shoot?

  • I really enjoy shooting concerts and live shows. The stage is usually flooded with fun colors that can bring images alive, and I like having access to the pit, backstage, the balcony, anywhere I need to be to get the shot I want.

Other interests?

  • I have a few other interests outside of photography. I enjoy bleeding edge technology, I like electric cars, and I love a good nap. I would say traveling is another interest, but I feel like everybody says that, and I don’t actually travel as much as I would like.

 

My Work

Below are some examples of my work ranging from event, lifestyle, and portrait photos, then composite team portraits. Some of it is shown elsewhere on my website, some of it isn’t. This is a collection of images that I think would be most appropriate for this position, but I have a LOT more if you want to see something specific.