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 Tale of Two Businesses (Mine and Yours)
A QUICK NOTE: THIS POST IS A BIT LENGTHY, SO I’VE CUT IT DOWN TO THE NITTY-GRITTY IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ THE WHOLE THING, THE STORY CONTINUES AFTER THE PICTURE. IT’S A FUN-FILLED BACK-STORY OF HOW I FOUND MYSELF WORKING MULTIMEDIA FOR INDEPENDENTLY OWNED BUSINESSES.
NOW ONTO THE POST!
I’ve decided to make an official upgrade in my business. Up until now, I have primarily offered photo services, with additional media upon request. JonKPhoto is now actively marketing a full selection of media services, from photo and video, to advertising and social media.
Basically, if you think your company could stand to have a classier look, market more effectively, and acquire more customers, give me a ring and we’ll chat.
In the meantime, I’ve been working on a brochure for the multimedia services. It’s a bit of a read, but there’s a pretty solid rundown of the primary forms of media that companies need and why they’re important.
– Jon
… and now a little bit of back story.
OH MAN!! I am pumped… like REALLY pumped.
So, you see that big star-looking thing over there on the right, sticking out of the button that says “CLASSES?” Well, I’ll betcha you’ve already figured out what’s going on.
I’M TEACHING COURSES!!
There are currently 6 courses being offered at 5 venues in the metro area. The site is chock-full of all kinds of handy info, like course descriptions, info about all the venues, links to super-talented photographers, and lists of local and digital photo stores!
In the next few weeks, I’ll be adding…. well heck! All this stuff is over THERE. Go check it out.
And if you’re interested, join the mailing list and be the first in line for info on all the new developments!
– 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!)
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
High Tech Self-Promo
This has been in the works for about 3 months now.
Since the start of term, I wanted to put together a booklet – kind of like a process book (showing clients how I get to the end of a project). So, I did.
I won’t ramble about it, as it’s intended to be fairly self-explanatory. I wouldn’t mind some thoughts and opinions, though.
Whadaya think?
– Jon
Shooting ad photos. It’s theraputic.
I always like building little sets. I did one with a drawing figurine (that’s for a later post).
It’s fun because of the details. OK it’s also a nightmare because of the details; but when you get to the end and can say that you hand crafted every single insignificant piece of the image, it’s just a good feeling.
I wanted to shoot an ad. Lucky for me, the alcohol industry puts out a new flavor of something or other every 12 hours or so (that may be an exaggeration, but not by much). Anywho, it afforded me the opportunity to come up with a project for myself that hadn’t been done before. … Now, before I continue, I must say – when it comes to liquor, I’m a purist. If it’s already good, don’t mess with it.
This is the exception.
Bacardi pulled off something special here. If you’re a spiced rum kind of person, you should go try it…. actually you should try it while you finish this post. It would really enhance the experience…. but I digress.
I wanted to make an ad and to do so, I tore through an ENTIRE bag of charcoal to find/make just the right pieces. Those chunks of wood – scavenged from a tree that was recently “chipped.” Spent an hour getting the blackening “right.” ARTS AND CRAFTS, PEOPLE.
So take a gander and see what you think. I like the top one, everyone else likes the “smokey” shot. Comments always welcome.
– Jon
Sirs and Ladies – Welcome to the most awesome blog ever created.
Howdy folks. My name’s Jon Kopacz and this here’s my blog.
I’m a portrait, product, and promotion photographer in south eastern Michigan. The majority of my clientele consists of local businesses and groups looking to do some marketing. As such I regularly work on a lot of unique and unrelated projects.
That’s why this site is here (among other things). Cool stuff happens and I’d like to share it with you… no, not that other guy. Just YOU. You know who you are…
Anyway, if you look around, you’ll find a rotating collection of previous stuff I’ve worked on as well as current projects. You’ll also find some of the fun stuff I do on the side. There will even be posts on interesting goings-on in the photo and design community. Of course be sure to stop by my collection of “people to watch.” Either seasoned pros or up-and-comers, these folks know their business in a wide range of endeavors.
That’s all for now, but be sure to swing by soon. Lots of fun coming your way.
– Jon K
JonKPhoto 