Owen shares his love of the print media, as well as his love of music on this informative interview with an industry veteran. Tune in for a candid exchange on the evolving world of advertising, the Golden Age of San Francisco and an accidental Super Bowl ad.

 

Key Takeaways

[:31] Heather introduces Owen Bly, they talk about awesome San Francisco, and she asks him to talk about who he is, where he came from, and how he found his way into art production, starting with his Honolulu break!

[8:22] Owen talks about how the industry has changed during his 31-year career, from the enormous impact of technology to the way clients see the role of ad agencies today.

[10:40] Heather asks Owen to dig deeper into the changing relationship between client and agency — asking what if advertising were invented today and experiential ways to stay relevant. Owen shares an example of experiential advertising at Pereira O’Dell.

[13:34] Owen accidentally produced a Super Bowl ad!

[15:24] How does a photographer remain relevant in this changing industry? Keep or find a rep — they know everybody! Personal relationships will get you a long way to grabbing Owen’s attention.

[20:50] Instagram, illustration books, random portfolios, and mailers are good ways to push through the crowd and get to Owen’s eyes.

[23:55] Owen details what bids look like for him: from about 20 photographers to about three finalists and three estimates for the client. But all in all, talking is the most important way to figure out fit — creative calls are key.

[27:57] The work of a photographer used to speak for itself, but a change of mindset has become necessary and personal branding has become a big avenue to differentiate yourself. Owen gives a recent example he encountered of personal branding for a photographer.

[33:25] Owen touches on the in-house studio phenomenon as well as his reluctance to use CG unless absolutely necessary.

[35:15] Owen and Heather remember the Golden Age of advertising in San Francisco.

[36:50] If Owen wasn’t an Art Producer, what would he do?

[38:06] Owen shares a story from his Honolulu years.

[40:38] Heather thanks Owen for coming onto the podcast and invites listeners to tune in for the next episode.

 

Thanks for listening.

 

In an industry where the rules are always changing, it’s helpful to hear from those on the front line. Heather Elder is the visionary behind NotesFromARep’sJournal.com; visit her website for industry updates, stunning photography and video, and the artists behind the work.

 

Mentioned in this episode

Pereira O’Dell

Grumpy’s

KWMR — Owen’s radio show

Red Meat

 

More about your host

Heather Elder’s Bio

Heather Elder’s Blog

Heather Elder on Instagram

Heather Elder on Twitter

Heather Elder on LinkedIn

Heather Elder on Facebook

 

More about today’s guest

Owen Bly on LinkedIn