Posts tagged Maine Portrait

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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Lessons Learned hiking the Great Barrier Reef

July 11, 2023 0 Comments read Blog, Personal

Back in the cold dark of January I made a resolution to trek at least 2023 miles this year. The primary goal was to train for a five-day backpacking trip to Iceland in 2024. But it also seemed a surefire way to spend more time outdoors, another goal.

Crunching the numbers, I saw I had to average about 5.5 miles per day. Easy on a sunny day, tougher during New England’s infamous cold, hot, or rainy days. It often meant fragmenting the daily goal into multiple smaller walks, while braving snow or puddles. Surprising to me at times, I’ve managed to stay on track.

By last weekend I surpassed 1200 miles; the same distance, end to end, as Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. In East Coasters terms, it’s the equivalent of a New York to Miami road trip. Or—per Google—the width of the Roman Empire in its heyday.

All it took was daily dedication. Here are a few insights, gleaned from the miles traveled so far.

Consistency is King: Author and speaker John Maxwell once said, “Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.” Walking just a few miles daily may seem insignificant, but in a few months, those snowball into something noteworthy. Consistency morphs a goal into a habit that then pays compounded dividends.

Rise Early for the Win: Even on short, frosty days, I tried to squeeze in a walk before breakfast or school runs. On such days, I often surpassed my goal early in the day seemingly without effort. Whenever I skipped this routine, I found myself walking by headlamp after dinner, my family of skeptics warm and snug at home.

Healthy, Inside Out: The benefits of this simple exercise routine are remarkable. A good pair of shoes and a weighted pack are all it takes to feel fitter, evidenced by my newfound ease with hills and stairs.

Observing the Unseen: Slowing down has made me a keen observer. The city and my neighborhood seems more familiar now and I notice details of the landscape and city that seem invisible from the window of a speeding car.

The Power of Linchpin Habits: My simple walking resolution has snowballed into a catalyst for other resolutions on my list. It’s less a goal and more a linchpin habit, spurring more creative work, better sleep, healthier eating, more family time, and boosted confidence that permeates my work and personal lives. It’s a reminder that success in one area can inspire success elsewhere.

I’m not recommending you try to hike the Great Barrier Reef. But I hope my experience encourages you to discover a daily linchpin habit with its own compounding effects on your life.

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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

© Brian Fitzgerald

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.

© Brian Fitzgerald

Capturing Reality with Scientist and Innovator Sarah Martinez Roth

May 2, 2023 0 Comments read Client Work, Editorial, Mainers at Work, Portraits, Storytelling

*Sarah Martinez Roth, at Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Boston, MA ©Brian Fitzgerald*

A few months ago, Colby College commissioned me to photograph one of their distinguished alumni, Sarah Martinez Roth. A 2011 Biology graduate, Martinez Roth went on to earn her master’s degree and Ph.D. in tumor biology at Georgetown University.

As a senior scientist at Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Boston, Martinez Roth develops treatments for sickle cell disease and has received the Ainslie Alumni Achievement Award from the Posse Foundation for her work.

My challenge was to capture Martinez Roth immersed in her work within a bustling laboratory. I aimed to reveal that even when working at the forefront of technology, being a scientist still involves hands-on tasks in small labs filled with well-used equipment. I appreciate that the labs she works in are clearly spaces where work happens – far from the pristine, symmetrically gleaming, and unrealistic labs depicted in TV and film. My goal was to integrate as much of that authenticity as possible into her environmental portraits.

Scientist Sarah Martinez Roth — *Sarah Martinez Roth, at Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Boston, MA ©Brian Fitzgerald*

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*

Interested in telling your brand or company’s story? Let us know how we can help!

Master your Content Calendar in 5 Steps

April 4, 2023 0 Comments read Blog, Business, Marketing, Tips

Ready to level up your content game? Craft a killer content calendar to keep your audience hooked. Streamline content creation, ensure a steady flow of engaging material, and support your brand’s marketing objectives with these five steps.

Set Goals, Win Big: Nail down your content goals from the get-go. Targeting brand awareness, social media engagement, or website traffic? Your objectives guide your content, and professional photography and videos will make it pop.
Themes and Topics, Front and Center: Jot down themes and topics that resonate with your audience. Align them with your brand, industry, and target interests (yes, we can help with that!). A bit of preparation guarantees a stream of impactful photo and video projects.
Variety is Key. Mix it up: Combine evergreen, timely, and promotional content. Showcase your brand’s different facets and keep your audience coming back for more.
Schedule Like a Pro: Map out your content release schedule. Consider the best days, times, and platforms for each post. Advance planning means you have time for targeted photography and video shoots, ensuring high-quality visual assets to accompany your content. Three planning tools we’ve used here at Fitzgerald Photo—good for individuals and for teams—include Trello, Asana and Google Workspace (formerly G Suite).
Adapt and Thrive: There’s no ‘set it and forget it’. Review and update your editorial calendar regularly. Analyze past content, tweak your approach, and plan for new projects. A dynamic calendar helps you stay aligned with your marketing goals while generating demand for the things you do and the ‘stuff’ you sell.

Follow these five steps to create an unbeatable content calendar. Your audience will be captivated, and your well-crafted and thought-out visuals will get the attention your brand deserves.

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Show off your brand personality

March 28, 2023 0 Comments read Blog, Client Work, Marketing, Showcase

How can brands show off their unique personalities? One way is by showcasing the people who together make the company special. Over the past few years, I’ve been working with Port Property and the creative team at Longfellow Communications to capture personality portraits of their employees.

As an operator of rental and commercial properties in Maine and North Carolina, Port Property’s staff interacts with their clients on a daily basis. They are, essentially, the company brand. When Port Property decided to rebrand a few years ago, they opted for two styles of staff portraits: one, a more traditional headshot portrait and the other that aimed to capture the personality of each person in a unique way. They asked each person to bring some physical item signifiying their answer to the question, “Home is…..”. Everyone on the team—accountants, property managers and the maintenance crew—took part.

The result is far from the typical corporate portrait. Instead, it reveals real people, with real lives, and gives the company a dynamic and fun vibe.

I had a lot of fun doing this ongoing project and think it’s a simple but impactful way to impart a human touch to a company brand.