Recently, I wrote a  post for Agency Access’  The Lab about what photographer’s should consider when redesigning their website.  I answered the question, “Do clients expect cutting-edge design from your website or are they just interested on the work being displayed? ”  Well, recently Ron Berg redesigned his website and it is not surprising that he and I talked about all those same things that I mentioned in the post before starting the project.  When I asked Ron to share with us some of his thoughts on the process, here is what he shared.

“Some of you may or may not know, but my old website had won approximately twenty awards; including being selected into Tashchen’s Book of ICONS for the Top 200 Web Design Portfolios Worldwide in 2006. Since it was not a contest or something we submitted for judgment, we were totally surprised. When we received the call from Taschen to say that we were giddy was an understatement. I still love going into a bookstore and seeing it on the shelf.

Of course, nothing can last forever.  So in 2011, when Heather Elder began representing me, we knew it was time to evolve the site.  The awards had done their job well for us but the needs of the viewer had now changed.  Our goal would no longer be that of of winning awards, but of functionality (with some nice deign added in too!).

We understood that the users wanted to be able to get in to and out of the site easily.  Navigation was key.  Also, we needed to show the images larger, add video and enable the site for sharing images via social media.  I was hesitant at first but after discussions Heather had me convinced that we were going to turn the existing award winning site on its ear and start fresh.  As we all know trends and techniques in the worldwide web change exponentially. Therefore five years had become a lifetime.

It was no surprise that the design took almost a year.  From designer, to photographer, to programmer, to rep….then back again, then back again, then back again….It almost takes a perfect storm to make it literally picture perfect in the end.

We chose LiveBooks because we liked the ease of which we could customize our look and upload images.  Livebooks‘ design allowed us to duplicate the loading feature of my previous site, (my favorite part) which we was important to us.  The rest though,  is new design that compliments our new portfolio, direct mail, emailer and source book ad templates.

While I know I won’t be seeing this site in one of Tashchen’s books, I do know the site is current with how people are utilizing websites nowadays.  The feedback we have been getting is strong so we know all the work was worth it.”

If you like Ron Berg’s new website, please help us brag about it and share with others.

Anderson Trotting the Globe Again

Andy Anderson spent a chunk of Summer ’09 trotting the globe on a Diner’s Club assignment. DraftFCB Chicago’s Creative Director Kurt Fries and Art Buyer Kathleen Candelaria joined Andy and crew on a whirlwind trip from Prague to Singapore to Rio.

PDN Online Features Diner’s Club

PDN Online features Andy in their Surveillance section article, “Making a Travel Destination Feel Like Home.” DraftFCB Chicago’s CD Kurt Fries shares why Andy was specifically chose for this grand commission. “Andy has the heart and soul of an artist and that is what makes his work timeless.” To see the final tear sheet, please log onto the article.

It is with great excitement that we welcome two new photographers to Heather Elder Represents

With a fine arts background in painting and photography from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Rhode Island School of Design, Leigh Beisch’s work as a painter greatly influences her photography. “Color, shape, texture and the boundaries of the frame are subjects in and of themselves. I try to capture an emotional response to the subject and the setting, much as abstract paintings do,” says Leigh. Think friendly, warm and inviting–are you hungry yet?”

Richard Schultz is our top choice for Real People photography. With a photojournalism background, over the years Richard has traveled around the world from Japan to India to Argentina to Egypt, seeking real people, real experiences, and real emotion. That rich world view translates into his expertise in capturing the heart and diversity of the human spirit.

Heather Elder Represents applaudes Kevin Twomey. Kevin earned 2nd place in the category of Special: Digital Enhanced Pro for Butterflies. To see the prize winning images Butterflies, click here. Each photograph is of a butterfly, multiplied and transformed numerous times to create the final image.

Imagine searching for an image by specialty and not by photographer. How much easier is that? Heather Elder’s innovative e-mail campaign hypes up this practical, user-friendly feature on the newly redesigned Heather Elder Represents website.

With photography roots in NYC, San Francisco transplant, Kevin Twomey is the latest talent to join Heather Elder Represents. Kevin’s color palette, angles and subjects are signature (2ME).

“Barbicide” emerged from an editorial project to shoot a BARBICIDE canister filled with combs. Transported back to his early childhood in Mineola, picture young Kevin swiveling around in a barber shop chair and intermittently staring at the Barbicide canister. Fast forward to 2009, while gazing into the BARBICIDE logo, Kevin takes a closer look at the type. The words “Barbi-Cide” leap out at him. Barbie Homicide on a Barber Shop counter. Morbid, yes. Brilliant, for sure.