Will Chau is the Director of Creative and Branding at Whole Foods Market, where he oversees all aspects of marketing communications and design. Previously, he was a Creative Director at GSD&M, and he has created award-winning work for clients such as BMW, Southwest Airlines, Kia Motors and Kohler. His work has been featured in Cannes, One Show, CA Advertising, Graphis, and The London International Automotive Awards.

Heather and Will talk about the excitement that can come from The Great Pause happening now, breaking the portfolio mold, building an in-house creative team and how in-house agencies use outside agencies. They also discuss the in-house agency structure and model, the Whole Foods working culture, evaluating creative partners, live-streaming and remote shooting, the types of marketing that creatives are sending and the importance of mentoring.  

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

More about our guest:

Find Will Chau on LinkedIn here.  

Mentions: 

• Austin Creative Department 

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

Heather Black is a Senior Integrated Freelance Producer based in NYC. She currently freelances at 21 Grams with previous experience at such creative agencies as 72andSunny, Droga 5, Deutsch and Preacher on accounts such as Adidas, Coca-Cola, Facebook, Google, Harley Davidson and Under Armour. The Heathers talk about production for advertising, the importance of mentors, the state of the industry, especially for freelance producers and integrated productions across broadcast and print. They also discuss creating project estimates and marketing during Covid as well as Heather B’s process for selecting potential creatives for a project.  

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

More about our guest:

Find Heather Black’s portfolio here https://www.heatherblackproducer.com/, on Instagram here and on LinkedIn here.  

Mentions: 

• FreelanceArtProducer.com

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

Jason Lindsey is a Photographer and Director on the Heather Elder Represents roster. Jason was a creative director in a previous life, and he shares how those skills help him navigate our new normal. Heather and Jason talk about creating meaningful content under Covid restrictions, researching safety protocols, streaming technologies for on-set and on-location (cellular internet, wireless hotspots, multiple carriers, etc.) and pre-production. They also discuss Covid protocols, managing streaming calls and communications for clients, what agencies and clients can do now to prepare for the content they want in the future and using Covid as a creative inspiration versus a restriction. 

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

More about our guest:

Find Jason Lindsey’s portfolio site here: https://jasonlindsey.com/.  You can also find Jason on Instagram @JasonLindseyPhoto as well as on LinkedIn.  

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

Mark Seliger is a New York-based photographer and director who created iconic images for Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair. He has famously photographed A-list actors, musicians and politicians. Heather and Mark talk about how he began his career, falling in love with photography through its process, creating images through ideas and concepts, the role of access in photography success, tapping into the creative potential of a project, finding the ultimate empowerment of an artist, becoming your own brand and how clients are looking for creative partners differently than before. They also discuss self-assignments, the purpose of one’s art and how to be reflective about one’s art, where the industry is going and the value of printed photography.  

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

More about our guest:

Find Mark Seliger’s portfolio site here: https://markseliger.com/. You can also find Mark on Instagram @MarkSeliger as well as on YouTube.  

Mentions: 

• “The City that Finally Sleeps” photo essay project for Vanity Fair
• New York Cares: The Way to Volunteer 
• RAD in Los Angeles  
• Rusty Truck Band 

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

Steve Ross is Head of Production at Allstate in Chicago. He worked with McGarryBowen for years but recognized that the industry was changing and moved to Allstate where he’s helping to set up their in-house agency. 

Heather and Steve talk about the perspective of being on the agency side and the brand side, setting up new internal processes and structures in the time of Covid-19 and the limitations of shooting remotely vs. on-set. They also discuss padding pre-production and post-production time, more efficient communications processes and how artists are staying in touch.  

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

More about our guest: Find Allstate’s Head of Production Steve Ross on LinkedIn. 

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

Adina Hilton is a Producer at Dagger in Atlanta. Dagger is an independent agency that recently won Silver in AdAge’s Southeast Small Agency of the Year. And despite the pandemic, it is still growing. Adina produces all of the video and photo shoots at the agency, and her busiest account is the social work they do for Aflac.   

Heather and Adina talk about the important role of mentors, taking your mental and physical health seriously in your work life, directing talent remotely, developing Covid production guidelines, organizing multiple backup plans and production “bubbles.” They also discuss marketing to producers and agencies with solution-oriented messaging, supporting local businesses and multitasking successfully.  

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

More about our guest:

Find Producer Adina Hilton on LinkedIn. 

Mentions: 

Create in Place Directory - Produce still and motion content now with photographers and directors working from home. 

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

Jonathan Hanusa is a Producer at Bader Rutter in Milwaukee. He’s been working as a producer, director and musician for over 10 years. His background includes broadcast commercials, web videos, podcasts, indie films and music videos. Currently, he’s in a hybrid role as a traditional agency producer and lead producer for Bader Rutter’s in-house production resource. 

Heather and Jonathan talk about how to communicate your capabilities to agencies, clients and brands, techniques for collaboration, expectations around still and motion shoots, establishing the value of productions. They also discuss how video work shifted to podcasting during the pandemic, sharing information during this time and having back-up plans for talent and locations, pre-production and set choreography and marketing.  

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

More about our guests:

Find Producer Jonathan Hanusa on LinkedIn. 

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

Ally Godfrey is a Senior Producer at Mary Kay and is based in Dallas, Texas. She’s on the global design team of global brand strategy and design, and she coordinates all still and video content for all Mary Kay global countries. Ally was formerly at The Marketing Arm and was also a rep. 

Heather and Ally talk about understanding the post-production process with motion projects, set efficiency, broadcast producers learning more about still photography, pivoting productions in the time of Covid. They also discuss making as many creative decisions as possible in the pre-production process, virtual art direction and insights around how creatives are marketing themselves--especially speaking to how they’re shooting with safety protocols.  

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

More about our guest:

Find Senior Producer Ally Godfrey on LinkedIn and Instagram. 

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

Brenda Whaley is an Executive Producer based in Chicago who has been producing for 15+ years. Heather and Brenda talk about the path to being an executive producer, the art of delegating and hiring go-to staff as well as what they’re learning while shooting in the time of Covid-19. They also discuss educating clients on new production protocols, how to control viewing shoots remotely, social distancing, location shoots versus studio shoots, managing catering, added time and budget for pre-production and how to maintain professional boundaries. 

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

More about our guests:

Find Executive Producer Brenda Whaley on LinkedIn and Instagram. 

Mentions: 

Create in Place Directory - Produce still and motion content now with photographers and directors working from home. 

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

Doug Menuez is a professional photographer based in New York, and Lynda Goldstein is a freelance producer with Pix Producers. They collaborated on a project called “Sheltering” following strict Covid-19 CDC guidelines with PPE and social distancing. Heather talks with them about pre-production best practices, production safety support, choreography on set, compliance personnel, finding talent during the pandemic and how to best work when clients aren’t present.  

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

More about our guests:

Find photographer Doug Menuez on Instagram. Find Lynda Goldstein on Instagram. 

Mentions: 

“Sheltering” 

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