(Kanye West by Quindell Willis/Elevation Photos)
...Nuff said...
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November 2008
November 25, 2008
November 21, 2008
What's Wrong With This Picture? ...and that "letter"
(GM Handout For Chevy Tahoe Hybrid)
Everything about anything that's wrong with GM should be reflected in this image. The big hulking SUV that happens to be a hybrid that happens to be driving among a field of wind turbines. And the big three wonder where the message went wrong. What's worse is that this car is only about $2k less than a gas/diesel powered version. What were they thinking?
As I have posted before, there is a ripple effect when GM pulls there ads in magazines, scales back there presence at next years Superbowl, etc. Less money means less of a lot of things and the guy/gal that shot this ad is not excempt from any of it. Having said all of this, I am still a believer that if the banks were able to use tax money to save their irresponsibilty than avoiding a systemic collaps of the auto industry should be just as important. As I have said before, the four pillars this country was built on were energy, telecommunications, rail and the auto industry. These four sectors helped propel the US to being the economic powerhouse it was and we owe it to them to maintain it. One last thing, before the economic markets melted, GM was trading at about $44 a year ago today but you add a tightening credit market, stricter lending rules and consumer confidence at an all time low you couldn't sell a car even if you wanted to! But, the image like the one above is why GM needs an extreme makeover!
I got a bunch of calls/email the last two days about Elevation Photos being mentioned in a letter to Mark Getty. For the record, Getty has never legally gone after my company, my business in any way to try and shut Elevation Photos down. Yes, the first few months they weren't making it easy for me but knowing the players there I never thought that they would. The interesting thing about all this is that my experience there prepared me for such a back alley fight. I knew it , I expected it and the company gained momentum and strength because of it. The thing is, once you figure out how to hit a curve ball it get's easier every time to overcome it! So, that's all I will have to say about that.
We wil lbe at CNN Heroe's event tomorrow and AMA's on Sunday...the first event EVER to land on the Elevation Photos website a year ago! I can't believe it....
*IMAGE UPDATE ALERT* The latest issue of Instyle with Heidi Klum has our assignment during NYC Fashion Week with over 11 credits and a nice big spread with our images! Nice work Mat!
November 18, 2008
Homogenized Photo Industry And What Yahoo Needs To Do Next!
(Charlize Theron By Evan Agostini/Elevation Photos)
No, there is nothing homogenous about Charlize Theron. She's a classic beauty, does commercial and independent movies and has an Oscar to garnish the street cred to do the movies she does. And she's South African!
As for the photo industry, I wish I can say the same. The images being put out there don't just seem like they are coming from the same place but when you go to entertainment websites it's looking like it's the same site but a different name. You know the running joke when you eat Indian food in NY's famous Indian row on 6th Street in the East Village is that behind the back alleys of the string of restaurants lining this street is one , long communal kitchen that serves food to all of the restaurants and customers don't even know it. Well, at least some of them don't!
This is what's beginning to feel like. I get the speed to market, first to market mentality. But as someone who has physically monitored 3 screens and Elevation Photos pictures hitting first, making sure they have gotten from point A to B and still the results are the same. We can talk price points but most of us have gotten there (much to our chagrin) and agreed to what I have noticed nothing other than market capitulation domintated by a monopolistic price cutting force that has ruined the industry in so many ways. I have called for a major shift in strategy with some of my peers in this industry but sometimes it feels like explaining to the citizens on Krypton who didn't believe that their planet wasn't about to be imploded by an out of control shift in orbit. Superman's dad figured it out but It's his fellow council members I am worried about! So, for those reading this out there who want to get serious about formulating a smart strategy to keep the forces at bay call me or you can stay on Krypton and eat space dust!
Last but not least, finally Jerry Yang is leaving Yahoo. I have been hot on this announcement for months! He went from being Chief Yahoo, to CEO of Yahoo and now is back to Chief Yahoo but only this time he's really out and only has his cowboy hat and rope to play with. As the board goes about finding a new CEO (basically someone who will call Microsoft on day one and say where do I sign our sale papers!), I think Yahoo should do the following things to be meaningful and survice 2009!
-Allow Microsoft to acquire you because they are the only ones who can fight Google and make you better
-Streamline your product offering on your homepage- it's too confusing, it's too much and people only click on 2-3 items anyway- again brevity is the essence of wit
-Create your own Google Ad based model and let Microsoft get you there. SOE's, CPC's, CPM's aren't your thing - you generate content let others figure out how to get advertisers to your site because content is king and you need to do a better job streamlining what you have already
-Original content like Yahoo Music, OMG! are great but focus on your core business and let Itunes be your defacto music partner, let TMZ run your entertainment. They are the experts let them roam in your offices and you will learn how it really works.
OK. I'm out and I will see you soon.....
November 17, 2008
Victoria Secret Fontainebleau Miami And Why We Need GM!
(Heidi Klum Walks Cat Walk in Miami by Carlo Allegri/Elevation Photos
Despite the fact that LA was on fire these last 4 days, it was also pretty hot down in Miami during the annual Victoria Secret show to air on CBS in early December. Elevation Photos got some great coverage thanks to Carlo Allegri based down in Miami. Nice stuff Carlo!
Elevation Photos also got the Jonas Brothers launching a new clothing line with American Eagle and Target sponsoring an event in Barker Hangar here in Santa Monica with the likes of Denise Richards, Kate Beckinsale, Calista Flockhart to name a few. It was a pretty good list for a great cause and considering there were ashes literally coming down all over town due to the fires, at least something good came out of it
(Denise Richards with her daughters Sam and Lola by Angela Weiss/Elevation Photos)
Last but not least, all this talk about whether or not we should help save GM my answer to that is without a doubt yes we have to. It not only effects thousands and thousands of workers but it hits ad budgets, creatives and the like. My old friends at Getty run GM's image solution via their Media Manager product and consider how many car dealerships that services and even worse how many may close can be devastating if we don't do something.
Don't get me wrong, Detroit has produced an inferior, low quality product and got beat by Toyota and Honda with respect to being first to market with Hybrid , alternative vehicles. While they were doing that, the big three were pushing Humvees, SUV's and other large ridiculous gas guzzling automobiles. Yes, management needs to get replaced, innovation needs to take the driver seat and tax payer money shouldn't pay for union fees and concessions. A major overhaul needs to happen and it needs to happen fast. The implications of one of the cornerstones of the American economy being allowed to sink would be a modern day tragedy!
November 12, 2008
H&M Chooses Elevation Photos For Celebrity Shopping In LA
Last night in Los Angeles, Elevation Photos were hired house for the H&M holiday shopping spree with a whole of celebs turning out for it. (Jessica Stroup by Mark Savage/Elevation Photos). Mandy Moore, Michele Trachtenberg, Nicole Ritchie and Nicky Hilton to name a few.
It was a great turnout and we were glad to be part of it. Our coverage will continue with them in NY this week so definitely come back and see what we'll have in store.
Tonight in LA, Elevation Photos will be on hand for yet another exclusive event that should result in some great photos that will be only help prove that in the short amount of time this agency has launched ( December 2007), we have already proven that you can be competitive, generate quality work and of course maintain value while generating revenue. And in this economy, I consider that a big accomplishment. Elevation Photos can be a solid, choice alternative for companies and PR firms to trust with their event and compared to what's out there now, I see only a win win for my agency and the clients who have and will chose Elevation Photos to be their preferred photo agency on record.
(Nicky Hilton, Nicole Ritchie by Mark Savage/Elevation Photos)
While the state of the economy is in a state of flux, I have no doubt that 2009 will remain a challenging environment for the photo industry. I already see some moves with agents oversees that will prove somewhat difficult for not only agenices but for photogrpahers who have relationships with them. As the dollar gains momentum, I believe that the generous percentages that are in place now may change in 2009 by agents abroad. The economic turmoil is a global one that is just about (if not already) to erupt in Europe. It should prove interesting so stay on watch for that.
But, for now things are moving along and you will see in the new issue of InStyle out now some nice placements and the HBO Emmy party we did on assignment that will be off embargo shortly that I can post on the site.
November 09, 2008
Welcome to White House 2.0
(Angelina Jolie at Kung Fu Panda DVD release by Adam Orchon) Viewing today's pictures of the Obama's on flickr during election night offically makes his Presidency 2.0 worthy! This is a game changer in so many ways for the way his team has embraced the power of social networking the importance of public interest and by allowing inside access to such an intimate night for any candidate should be a sign of what Obama plans to do with the power of the internet. In terms of photographers and the press, it should be a warning sign that the almight access everyone covets so much has been trumped by a campaign staffer using a point and shoot to create compelling personal images. In this era of reality shows, low production values and mass interest in the genre, images like this at this level will forever change the way the White House can deliver its message. The question becomes how controlled does the message become and how much of it will be allowed to proliferate as his Presidency takes shape. It will be interesting and the same thing is already happening in entertainment where actors and musicians are allowing inside access shot not by professionals but by staffers with cameras good enough to create quality images. Technology has made everyone good enough and a changing of the guard will take place even sooner! As you read this, its the first blog post I have ever typed up on my blackberry! Can you imagine how compelling it would be if Obama, after just meeting with a world leader, on his ride back in his limo ride to Airforce One posts a few pics and writes one or two lines about how it went on his presedential blog! Who wouldn't want to come back for more! The digital White House has arrived!
November 07, 2008
Obama Wins Big and Why Facebook Should Start Charging A Fee
(Tilda Swinton attends BAFTA LA event last night Photo By Devin Stone/Elevation Photos)
Before I get into my posting this morning, just a quick shout out to Devin, Hal and Inka for placements in OK!, People and Life & Style out on the newstands now. In a small way, I am psyched that Elevation Photos is included in the new People issue out now with President Elect Obama on the cover! The image has nothing to do with Obama but it feels cool if you know what I mean.
Man, I can go on and on about the amazing event the other night but I won't bog you folks down on it. Aside from the historical precedent, outstanding victory and a clear message by the American people that this country indeed needs some serious change, one can say Obama kicked some serious arse! With all the news about how he won, demographics, race, positions I truly believe that Obama's camp utilizing all types of social networking tools ( Email, Twitter, Digg, etc) really tapped in to the youth vote and a generation that will only be wiser, grown up and contributing to the economy that will only get stronger 4 years from now. It's gonna be tougher than hell but I think he'll do a great job and energize the country and get us back on track!
Lastly, just some business notes here. To hear Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang talk about how he thinks Yahoo would be a good fit for Microsoft drives me (and yahoo shareholders nuts!). What is this guy drinking? It's incredible how he fumbled the ball and all Microsoft has to do is wait it out, stock gets lower and boom done deal. But not without shareholder remorse!
Regarding Facebook, it's interesting to hear what the young CEO Mark Zucker is saying up in San Fran for the Web 2.0 conference. So typical, things like , " Ad based online revenue is tracking better than expected, site traffic is up 150%, our goal isn't revenue driven as much as it is growing internationally, blah , blah , blah! Hey kid, think about it you currently have 150 million users worldwide, with 50 million active ones every day. If you want to make real money, start charging a monthly fee ( like I do with Typepad). Even if you charged $5 a month per user do the math! We are all so involved in it already that when you have subscription based models charging minimal fees a month to someone's credit card it's like getting a junkie off of crystal meth! It's cheap, consistent and at the end of the day isn't killing your wallet! Yes, a bit extreme as an example I know but you get where I'm going?
Elevation Photos has some good assignments next week so stay tuned on that front. The election has not only re-energized the country but it's inspired me to work that much harder, remain that much more focused and understand that Yes we Can doesn't mean a damn thing if you don't work hard every day and give it 100% (...God, I sound like Tony Robbins!)
