Posts tagged Maine corporate photographer

The Soul of Work: Unveiling Authentic Brand Culture

August 1, 2023 0 Comments read Blog, Business, Marketing, Shop Talk, Storytelling

© Brian Fitzgerald

I’m not just a location portrait photographer. I’m a storyteller who crafts narratives that blend stills and motion. My interest lies somewhere even deeper: capturing the culture of work, the heart and soul that beats within every office, workshop, or studio.

It’s about more than just taking pictures. It’s about showing how people work in their environment, and revealing their authentic energy. Pulling back the curtain. Peering into the hidden machinery within, and revealing how the work gets done. That’s where the magic happens.

I thrive on telling the story of the ‘real’ company. No staged smiles. I’m talking about the laughter, the teamwork, the small moments that make a workplace come alive. The behind-the-scenes connections that feel real because they are real.

Brand image isn’t just about words or colors on a website. It’s far more profound and yet as simple as the feeling you get when you walk through the doors.

When you think about your brand, remember this: It’s more than a logo or a tagline. It’s a living, breathing entity. Don’t be afraid to show the world your company’s authentic personality.

© Brian Fitzgerald

A Tradition Forged in Iron

July 25, 2023 0 Comments read Blog, Client Work, Creativity, Industrial, Mainers at Work, On Location, Projects, Video

The artists and craftsmen who call Maine home share a cultural heritage with those who have gone before them. This link to the past is epitomized by Sam Smith, an aptly-named blacksmith who operates several forges across the state as guildmaster of the Maine Blacksmith’s Guild.

Smith and the guild use and teach 19th-century techniques and practices and have an active apprenticeship program. Smith also teaches and works his trade in Germany and Brazil for months each year.

“Preserving the skill set of working iron by hand and not allowing machines to do the work is my mission,” says Smith.

I spent time with Smith last year as part of a larger project on Maine craftsmen and artists and am happy to be able to show it here. Smith was crafting a Brazilian Churrasco BBQ knife with a handle made from Peroba wood reclaimed from a 120-year-old home.

*Brazilian Churrasco Knife, © Sam Smith*

Rituals That Preserve Energy and Creativity

July 18, 2023 0 Comments read Blog, Creativity, Education, On Location, Shop Talk, Tips, Tools

Gear Checklist © Brian Fitzgerald

With years of commercial and editorial photography under my belt, I’ve learned that the devil is truly in the details. Never mind the big stuff, like bustling locations or fickle weather. It’s the little things that make or break a shoot. Like the old proverb goes, “for want of a nail, the kingdom was lost”, small errors can lead to big problems.

Photographers and videographers juggle a lot. From equipment to location details, timing to names—keeping track of it all is a Herculean task. That’s why experienced pros systemize their workflows to preempt surprises and minimize errors.

My pre- and post-shoot rituals are a must. Sure, they’re mundane and time-consuming, but not skipping them is a lesson I’ve learned the hard way. I always kick-off each location shoot with a gear checklist. Once packed, I tick off each item once more lest I wind up forgetting a digital card or battery. Post-shoot, the list doubles up to check off used items and note gear needing servicing.

My other post-shoot ritual is a comprehensive review—think of a military-style After-Action Review. This step is vital to noting both wins and areas for improvement. Only then can I truly learn and progress. This entire process adds about an hour, but it’s saved me ample headaches and led to constant refinement of my processes.

Over the years, I’ve used everything from journals and paper checklists to Evernote templates and now, Notion. The tech isn’t important—consistency is.

Challenge yourself to identify places in your workflow where you can add checklists and simple procedures that will free you up to focus on your creative (and more valuable) work.

Shoot Post-Mortem by Brian Fitzgerald

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The Essential Role of Professional Photography in the Healthcare Industry

June 27, 2023 0 Comments read Healthcare, Marketing, Showcase

At its core, healthcare is personal. Anyone who has visited a doctor or made an unplanned trip to the emergency room knows the feeling of wanting to be seen as an individual, as a person. Healthcare without compassion is like a library without books: a beautiful structure missing the things that give it meaning and purpose.

Nothing captures the values of healthcare — trust, connection, and compassion — like professional photography. Images are a powerful tool, shaping how we perceive healthcare institutions.

Consider the first impression of a healthcare facility. This is where photography shines. It allows a sneak peek into the establishment. The waiting room, treatment areas – every space has a story. Capturing these narratives fosters familiarity and eases apprehensions.

Staff portraits are next: the faces behind the masks, scrubs, or white lab coats. Warm, relatable portraits of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals create an instant connection. They show the world real people ready to care for them and promote a welcoming image.

Patient testimonials are also crucial. Instead of showing patients in a medical setting, it’s powerful to depict them enjoying their families and living lives that, thanks to timely and quality healthcare, they now can enjoy. Seeing individuals overcoming health obstacles is inspiring, fosters hope, and resonates deeply with potential patients.

Done well, professional photography and video in healthcare go beyond aesthetics or content marketing. It’s about creating connections and building trust. It’s more than a statement of purpose. It’s a promise of care and compassion.

Doctor with child

Healthcare patient — *© Brian Fitzgerald*

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Triumph Over Trauma: Isaac’s Journey

June 21, 2023 0 Comments read Blog, Editorial, Inspirational, Personal, Portraits, Projects, Storytelling

Male Cancer Survivor — *Isaac, testicular cancer survivor. © Brian Fitzgerald*

A recurring theme in my work has been narrating the stories of those who battle adversity, survive and even thrive despite the trauma or disease they’ve encountered. This piece is part of an ongoing series featuring men who bear the physical scars of their trauma.

Isaac, a native of Auburn, Maine, recalls experiencing a persistent dull ache in his lower abdomen during his teenage years and early twenties. As he attempted, yet failed, to complete a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail at 20, the discomfort continued. But he kept his pain hidden. “In my childhood, if you weren’t seen, you weren’t getting beaten,” he said. “So you never voiced any concerns.”

At 22, Isaac received a diagnosis of testicular cancer, a disease often affecting younger and middle-aged men. The prospects for recovery can be favorable if the cancer is detected early.

The following years were a blur of chemotherapy sessions, numerous surgeries, including a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in Boston requiring an incision along his entire abdomen. His weight plummeted from 180 to 110 pounds, his body branded with two feet of surgical scars. Faced with an uncertain future, the 23-year-old grappled with the harsh reality of potential permanent disability.

But for Isaac, resigning to such a fate wasn’t an option. “I could have been milking the system like some people, but what kind of life is that? There are people who legitimately can’t care for themselves, but I’m too stubborn,” he said. Instead he returned to school to became a certified nursing assistant, a role he maintained for the next eight years.

A decade after his initial attempt, Isaac made his way back to the Appalachian Trail. This time, he embarked on his journey from Maine, and after eight months of backtracking, pausing, and restarting, he finally completed the hike.

“Things have happened to me that I didn’t choose,” he reflected, “but I tried to find my own way.”

First, Give Value

June 13, 2023 0 Comments read Blog, Business, Inspirational, Personal, Shop Talk

Dairy farmer with cow and son — *© Brian Fitzgerald*

I was raised by Irish Catholics, which might explain why I have a deep-seated belief that anything good in my life must be accompanied by an equal-or-greater amount of suffering.

Not a great belief, as beliefs go. But here’s one that I’ve found is completely true: if you want to receive good value or get good results—satisfying assignments, great clients, a good paycheck—then you have to first give great value.

What does ‘value’ mean? It means doing your best to be remarkable in your work, your attitude, your professionalism. It means that before you offer help, you ask how you can help. It often means giving more value than others expect. For photographers, it means going that extra mile on a shoot: looking for an extra angle, taking creative risks and pushing for something different once you’ve satisfied your client’s stated needs. Sometimes you’ll end up with images that surprise you and delight your client.

If you consistently do this and have the attitude of giving more than you are getting, you’ll find—like I have—that you get an amazing amount of value in return.

It starts with you.

The Business of Life with R.M. Davis

June 6, 2023 0 Comments read Blog, Business, Client Work, Marketing, On Assignment, Showcase, Video

Home-buying couple

In 2022 I had the opportunity to shoot and produce video footage for a fun campaign for a longtime client, R.M. Davis. RMD is a financial advisory firm based in Portland with deep roots. With a 45-year track record of working with wealthy individuals, estates and businesses, they worked with Burgess Advertising & Marketing to create a concept called ‘The Business of Life’. My job was to create images that illustrated the concept; basically a series of vignettes showing transitional moments like college graduation or building a new home as well as individuals and business owners meeting with financial advisors.

Here are a few of the final images as used in the campaign. As is more often the case with my advertising clients, we built the shoots so we could take video footage as well as stills. This was later incorporated into a Business of Life video.

I think the campaign is a powerful example of people- and client-focused marketing that really works.

College Graduate

Industrial business owner

Couple in coastal home

Dirty Jobs, Good Pay: Photographing Blue Collar Workers

May 30, 2023 0 Comments read Blog, Editorial, Industrial, On Assignment, On Location

It’s hard to miss the rising star of blue-collar work in this world reshaped by a pandemic and advancements in artificial intelligence (A.I.). Anyone struggling to hire a plumber, a carpenter or other tradesman since 2020 has seen the effects of this first-hand. Previously overlooked as somehow ‘less than’ white-collar jobs, blue-collar work has become a beacon of resilience and growth, sustaining the economy amidst major layoffs in the tech industry, as reported by Business Insider.

The reason for this is clear: blue-collar roles, which are often hands-on, technical, and require plenty of problem-solving skills, resist replacement by automation or outsourcing. They are firmly rooted in the physical world, characterized by their tangibility and practicality.

This sense of authenticity and grit is what continually draws me to photograph people who work with their hands. There’s a strong sense of narrative within these images, both of resilience and tenacity. I am inspired by their skill, focus, and commitment to doing the job right.

My goal is not merely to capture an image, but to pay tribute to the meticulous nature of blue collar work and its practical impact on our daily lives. Whether it’s the skilled hands of a carpenter shaping a piece of furniture, or the attentive gaze of a mechanic resurrecting an old car, each image tells a story of profound usefulness and necessity.

In our post-pandemic world, tradespeople are more than just workers. They are keepers of a time-honored tradition of skilled American labor. Their work stands as a testament to our collective ability to adapt, persevere, and endure.

Automotive Technicians — *© Brian Fitzgerald*

Industrial Worker — *© Brian Fitzgerald*

The Art of Location Portraits: Conquering Constraints

May 16, 2023 0 Comments read Blog, Client Work, On Location, Portraits

Throughout my career as a photographer, from my earliest days as a newspaper stringer to the present, one thing has always been necessary: the capacity to create impactful, engaging portraits on location, quickly (if not sooner).

Epic and breathtaking locations lead to epic, breathtaking portraits that incorporate background elements to tell a compelling story. Typically, I’m faced with a problem: how to minimize a busy background and transform it into something less distracting and more aesthetically pleasing. It’s the ability to make cinematic, impactful portraits—often strapped for time and without the ability to see or choose the location—that has served me and my clients best year after year.

The adage goes that if you want more interesting images, shoot more interesting things or places. That’s true. What’s also true is that being a professional photographer means delivering consistent results despite constraints imposed by less-than-interesting locations.

When there is no background, or when it’s too busy or distracting, I try to create more cinematic, shallow-focus images that pop from the background and put the focus where it belongs: on the subject. Knowing how to light creatively and on the go is key, but also so is how to use the advantages of any environment (and there are always some) to the subject’s benefit.

Inside Northeast Air’s Hangar: Mechanics at Work

April 18, 2023 0 Comments read Behind the Scenes, Blog, Industrial, Mainers at Work, On Assignment

Aircraft Mechanics — *© Brian Fitzgerald*

I’m happy to share images made during a recent shoot with Northeast Air, a company operating out of the Portland Jetport. They specialize in providing ground handling, aircraft maintenance, fueling, and concierge services to travelers from around the globe.

The objective of this shoot was to capture images of Northeast Air’s skilled mechanics performing routine work on a Pilatus turboprop aircraft, located in the company’s maintenance hangar at the Jetport.

As an experienced editorial and commercial photographer, I’ve spent my career documenting technical and skilled labor like this. The inherent challenge is to focus on the individuals involved in the work, rather than solely on the impressive machinery they operate and maintain.

I love that my clients recognize that, at the core, they’re in the people business. They’re eager to celebrate their employees and give you a glimpse of what goes on behind the curtain—or, more correctly, what’s happening in the hangar.

Aircraft Mechanic — *© Brian Fitzgerald*

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