I’m currently teaching a lighting class and a recent assignment focused on texture and the ability to minimize or exaggerate it as the situation required. Since sandpaper is all about that texture, it served as the perfect model.
A New Breed of Dog… Trainer
I’ve always tried to add humor to my projects. Recently I came up with an idea for an ad campaign and approached one of my long-term clients about putting it together.
Meeting With the Talent
I’ve been talking with the regional talent agencies to be a referred vendor. Figured it was time for some new portrait promos.
Back With the Best of Both Worlds!
Well hey there, folks!
Nope – I didn’t drop off the planet and I didn’t take a crew position on the H.M.S Galactica. In reality the answer’s a bit more boring. Life’s been busy, projects have been in flux, and work’s been less visual and more consultation-based.
Over the last 6 months I’ve acquired some new clients, started fresh projects with previous clients, and been on a number of adventures. Why, I even started teaching at an accredited institution and have been presenting a growing series of motivational presentations directed at upcoming professional creatives. (So, I can safely say you should be expecting some content that’s excited to jab at your cerebral cortex.)
To kick things off, I’d like to showcase a recent project. It took about a month to put together and ended up producing one of the best outtake reels I’ve ever shot. (That’s coming a bit later).
Going on a year and a half ago, I put out this post for a recently finished project. Canine Resolution contracted me for a branding package, photo series, and promo packets. It’s now 18 months later and video’s the name of the game.
I’ll give you a quick rundown.
Canine Resolution is the Metro Area’s best dog training institution. No – really. They just won 1st place in the 2014 Detroit A-list Competition for “Best Dog Trainer.” They work in all programs from puppy and the A.K.C Canine Good Citizen Program, to agility, scent training, and schutzhund (attack training). Their program shuns shock collars or negative reinforcement and promotes simultaneous training of owner and dog. All things considered, it’s pretty awesome.
So, let your eyeballs be entertained and soak in the official Canine Resolution Commercial.
– Jon
A Project of Furry Proportions
Hooray! I’ve been waiting quite a while to share this one with you guys, but I had to iron out the finer details first.
Way back in the spring, I began doing video work for The Michigan Animal Rescue League. The promo spot caught the attention of one of their 
sponsors, The Urban Dog, an all-natural dog food and supply store out of Rochester Michigan.
After a fairly lengthy amount of planning and conceptualizing, we settled on an advertising project that would include a promo video, a series of ad posters, and a collection of interviews about the store.
Then the fun started.
Probably a good 80% of the dog owners I know graciously allowed me access to their furry family members. After a couple months of video, photography, editing, audio selecting, and post processing – the project is locked, loaded, and ready for you, the loving audience.
Also, be sure to swing by TheUrbanDogStore.com to see what they’re all about. I learned a lot on this project I wish I had known years ago about maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle for your dog.
And I’d also like to mention how massively thankful I am to everyone who helped my out and let me borrow your dogs for the afternoon.
Check it!
Jon
I Made a Book!
Hey! I made a book!
In fewer than 2 months, a handful of things will happen: Christmas pandemonium will be upon us, I will engage in my first “holiday break” in years without molecular bonding between myself and a Zelda game, and I will participate in a portfolio/career show – where I will be presented to prospective contract-ees much like a slab of cow-meat is waved at overweight Americans on the 4th of July.
But I suppose I’m clinging too strongly to my personal feelings about the whole thing. In the end, I could wind up in a contract with Diesel Jeans or something… I guess we’ll see.
The super-awesome-fantastic-great-plus side of the whole ordeal is that it has forced me to finally make the portfolio book I’ve been avoiding for quite some time (years). Of course the benefit of me waiting this long is that the thing is rather up-to-date.
I could explain the finer aspects of the ProLine Paper, the beautiful image-wrapped cover, or even the hours of nervous twitching as I meticulously determined which image to place next to which. But, in the end, you probably don’t care and may not ever touch, caress, stroke, or in other words fondle this glorious, printed, eye-seducer.
So, I’ll just show you an Issuu render of the thing.
Enjoy!
– Jon
(OH- and in you’re interested in a superb coffee table book, shoot me an email and we’ll make some magic happen!)
It’s been a long haul.
A week can make quite a difference.
2 posts ago I mentioned some food photos that were getting printed for a company I’ve re-branded and helped relaunch.
Well, yesterday at 4pm our doors officially opened and The Mad Hatter Pub took its first step as an actual business. Let’s recap:
About 8 months ago, I began the re-branding and “marketing” overhaul of the Wonderland Lanes (the attached bowling center). since then, I’ve been gradually mixed in more and more into The Mad Hatter Pub as kind of a full service ad agent.
To date some of my tasks have been:
- Logo redesign
- Full branding (fonts, color schemes, layout standards, etc.)
- Advertisement photography
- Food photography
- Event photography/coverage
- Promotional design (fliers, event calendars, specialty items/services…)
- Graphic unit production (menu, vinyl decals, back-lit display boards, digital promo presentations…)
Then things got a bit more involved and…:
- Menu item prep instructional (consistency, people!)
- Kitchen co-management
- Staffing
- Marketing
- Logistics
- Procedures
To say the least: It’s been quite a run.
BUT!
Yesterday was only our soft opening. The kinks get worked out this month in time for our grand opening Super Bash at the start of September.
If you’re in the Commerce, MI area or close by be sure to swing over to the Mad Hatter Pub and grab some food and drink. (A little side note: We handed out comment cards yesterday. Our food and menu got a 4.7 average out of 5).
I’d suggest a Roadhouse and be sure to tell ’em Jon Kopacz sent you.
Oh look! Promo stuff!
– Jon
Going Green… Decoratively.
Due in no small part to a connection from a close friend, I’ve recently begun some business with a local/national herbalogically-minded, interior decoration-based company. I suppose that’s a bit wordy, but it’s a pretty accurate description of what these folks do.
The company is BrightGreen and they craft “Living Walls.” These guys —-> 
Basically, imagine a unit that allows plants to grow vertically on a wall instead of on the ground or in pots. Also, because each unit can hold multiple small plants, you can essentially plant designs on the wall that match the decor and such.
Over the past coupe weeks, we began work creating imagery for the new product from the company, the “Grovert.” It’s the plant-it, hang-it, grow-it yourself unit for sale at plant nurseries in the Midwest.
Here’s a bit of of the project – a few of my favorite shots. What do you guys think?
– Jon
Oh lookie – I have a commercial!
As you may have noticed (or maybe not) I’ve been lacking a bit on getting up “the content.”
Well, sure, I’ve been busy with some jobs – BUT – more importantly…
Jon’s learning video.
Yes indeedy, folks – while I will always rock out the single shots, I’m starting to love me some 24FPS. So with no more rambling, please take a gander at my very own promo video!
Oh – be sure to watch it in HD – it’s just that much better.
– Jon
Home Grown Ads.
Hey y’all! Sorry it’s been a bit since the last post – Finals week sort of took up my time. But now I’m back and ready to rock out some new work!
Let’s start with a finish. Over the last few months there have been regular posts about a series of group adverting projects. We’ve seen hygene products, security systems, summer-y desserts… No we finish the series in the real estate industry.
Our task for this last project was to design a pair of single page ads, a 2-page spread, a billboard, and a commercial. The task was intended to focus on the service industry, so we chose the real estate sector (specifically residential real estate.
I’ll skip the long-drawn breakdown of why we did what we did – Enjoy!
Oh – and fair warning: the video is REALLY cheesy.
JonKPhoto 