Q&AWhy videography and photography?
There's something magical about the way you can juxtapose moving images to create meaning and story. A well-made video can make you laugh or cry; it can create compassion or create indignation; it can simply entertain or it can change the world. And the same goes for photography. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but I think that's an understatement. Some of the images I have seen have conveyed more raw emotion, meaning, understanding, and power than entire books. The power of visual imagery to tell a story in such a unique way is what excites me the most. What sets the good apart from the not-so-good? It's all about the story. I think a lot of people get so caught up in the pretty visuals and the technical details of photography and videography that they forget to stop and ask themselves (and their clients), "What is this image or video trying to say? What's the story that I am telling?" As humans, we crave stories, and stories surround us everywhere. A truly great videographer or photographer can seek out, refine, and convey the unique stories that often go unnoticed by everyone else in hustle and bustle of their daily lives. What do you enjoy most about being a photo/video professional? The people! This world is full of a ton of truly amazing and inspiring people, and they all have their own unique story to tell. So what else do you like to do? Compose and play music, climb things (rocks, ice, mountains, the occasional tree), hike, backpack, sit around a campfire with friends, and of course cook (my specialty is my homemade southwest egg rolls). Cool, can I challenge you to an egg roll cook-off? Absolutely! But I should warn you that my southwest egg rolls have never lost an egg roll cook-off! :) |
ABOUT:A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, my love for photography, videography, and film making was sparked way back in 9th grade when I enrolled in a multimedia productions class to satisfy a general education requirement. I had no idea that I had just made one of the most important decisions in my life.
I immediately fell in love with all things media-related: photography, videography, sound design, you name it. Virtually overnight, I became an obsessive photo/video nut, staying up all night watching video tutorials and taking pictures of anything and everything I possibly could. I dual-enrolled in two college media production courses in my senior year of high school, and then went straight into Grand Valley State University's film/video production program the following year. After spending the past few summers traveling the country, climbing mountains (both literally and figuratively!), and meeting a ton of awesome people, I made the big decision to pack up and move to Chicago to pursue my passion for film making and photography. Within the past year, I have had the incredible good fortune to work with some amazing companies like Bass Pro Shops, MaxPreps/CBS Sports, and LiveSyphon, as well a bunch of awesome private/individual clients. Here's a small taste of what some of these people have had to say about me: “I just want to say you are the best videographer I’ve had in seven years of doing this. You are a true professional. Greatly appreciate your work.” -- Sue from MaxPreps/CBS Sports “Rob, I just finished looking at the photos and I have one word for you – Amazing. These photos look great. I hope you’re alright with it but you are the photographer I will call first every time.” - Sam W. “Hi Rob - I definitely got my money's worth. I know I'm not the only one that think the photos are fantastic. It's obvious you put your heart and soul in to your work.” -- Rob C. My Mission
My mission is to provide excellent customer service and gorgeous-looking photo and video content that will exceed your expectations. No gimmicks. No shortcuts. Just results.
My Pledge to You
With the development of affordable pro-sumer camera equipment, it seems that everybody is a "photographer" these days. What most of these people lack, though, is the training, the attention to detail, and the knowledge of professional post-production processes to actually create stellar imagery with their cameras.
From day one, I have worked tirelessly to acquire these skills and take my work to the next level, because I don't believe in masquerading as a "videographer" or a "photographer" and producing sub-par content just to make a quick buck. I am a detail-oriented perfectionist, and I am by far my own harshest critic. I always expect professional results from myself, and so should you. Every time I take on a project, I commit every ounce of my being to producing stunning results that both you and I can be proud of. My ultimate goal is your satisfaction. If I ever feel that I am not the best fit for your particular project, then I will do my best to put you in touch with someone who is better able to meet your needs. |