2021 Annual
Working within the parameters of the global pandemic, Covid-19. We will continue to utilize the digital tools we’ve grown all too accustomed to over the course of this last year. Still allowing us to maximize our reach with the industry. Prompting an interaction with industry leaders and our soon-to-be graduates.
We are excited to host a series of Zoom Portfolio Reviews with top Industry Professionals. Critical review as our seniors present their year-long projects and embark into the professional workspace.
Reviews by Industry Professionals:
Justine Barnes - Senior Art Producer, RPA - Los Angeles, CA
Valerie Fox - Creative Director, Photo Studio Operations Consultant, Photographer - Los Angeles, CA + Phoenix, AZ
Kim Harkins - Former Director of Media Arts, Art Institute of California - Orange County
Mollie Jannasch - Agency Director, Agency MJ - Nashville, TN
Dennis Keeley - Former Chair of Photography and Imaging, Art Center College of Design - Pasadena, CA
Katie Patterson - Agency Director, ViV MGMT - San Francisco, CA
Kathryn Roach - Senior Photo Editor, New York Times T Brand Studio - New York, NY
Julie Skarwecki - Photo Consultant, Julie Skarwecki Consulting - Los Angeles, CA
Thankful to these professionals for offering their precious time to the Program and the next generation of Photographic Professionals.
Justine Barnes is Senior Art Producer at RPA in Los Angeles. She has been producing content for over a decade - for advertising agencies and a wide variety of clients. As a graduate of the Brooks Institute of Photography - she comes from a strong foundation in photography and specializes in art production. And also has experience in video production. Her ability to create dynamic relationships with agency personnel and production partners, paired with her attention to detail and organizational skills, are key components throughout the production process. She is a champion for the creative while balancing tight budgets, demanding schedules, and client needs.
Valerie Fox is an accomplished lifestyle, apparel, children’s, and still life photographer based in both Arizona and California. She has been known to tromp through swamps, climb the tops of sand dunes, charm distressed babies, and hang precariously from ceilings in order to get the right shot. Fox’s experience as a creative director continues to shape both her graphic sensibilities and her collaborative approach to photography.
Her imagery has been seen around the world on billboards, major retail storefronts, magazines, and catalogs. Her professional experience in studio production and management has been heard in global studio conferences and featured in online webinars.
Most importantly, clients agree her warmth and humor bring ease to the production and crew while effortlessly executing the shoot.
Kim Harkins, retired and formerly the Academic Director of Media Arts at the Art Institute of California - Orange County. And previously Program Director and Professor of Commercial Photography at Gwinnett Technical College. Kim continues to be an active member of the Society of Photographic Education - locally and nationally. Kim has been involved with higher education as a photo educator since 1976 - specializing in the history of photography. Restoring vintage and historic cameras is one of her favorite pastimes - having sold several collections over the years.
Mollie Jannasch, after cutting her teeth at Art + Commerce in New York City, set out to engage with a community of visual artists whose exceptional talent is equaled by their enthusiasm for the creative process. She began building Agency MJ in 2009.
Located in Nashville, TN - Agency MJ is a full-service production house collaborating with artists & brands to create amazing content worldwide. Additionally, they build, manage, and secure operations for each unique project. Their passion is to create and connect the best talent teams together to yield incredible results.
For each project, Agency MJ assembles a multi-talented team to fully execute concepts combined with decades of experience in production and creative execution.
Dennis Keeley works as an artist, photographer, teacher, and writer. His photographs have been exhibited in numerous one-person and group shows and he is published internationally in books and studies concerning the urban circumstance. He has works in the permanent collections at LACMA, MOCA, the J. Paul Getty Center Trust, and Conservation and Research Institutes and was commissioned by the California African American Museum in Los Angeles. In 2016 he was chosen by Month of Photography Los Angeles (MOPLA) to exhibit his portraits of musicians in a solo exhibition entitled, “25 Years of Music.”
Dennis Keeley is former Chair of the Photography and Imaging Program at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and has served on the Board of Directors at Angel's Gate Cultural Center in San Pedro, CA for more than ten years.
Katie Patterson Founder and Agency Director of San Francisco, ViV MGMT - an artist agency representing; Photographers, Directors, Art Directors, Illustrators, and Graphic Designers.
Katie got her start in New York City as an Intern at such publications as Vibe, Glamour, InStyle, and Niche Media - she worked her way up in the ranks as Research Editor. After relocating back to the Bay Area in 2010 - she discovered her calling as an Agent and Producer working at an already established Model, Talent, and Artist Agency. In 2013 Katie took the leap of faith and started LOLA Creative Agency.
Now known as ViV. An incubator for artistry and a collective of visual vanguards, their passion is cultivating careers. Their purpose is unleashing that talent to make stunning creativity. With a focus on fashion and beauty, they keep their services boutique and their work bespoke. They value the intimate relationships that they have with their clients and artists and pride themselves on elevating the brands they work with.
From pairing together the right creatives to tackling casting, locations, and beyond they are happy to handle all aspects of production.
Kathryn Roach is an experienced photo editor in both editorial and commercial spaces. Her career began in San Francisco at award-winning ReadyMade Magazine - a pioneer of its kind and time in the publishing industry. Since, she has transitioned to New York - working for such publications as Dwell, Make, CNBC, and now the New York Times. She is a dedicated and creative collaborator with a deep well of contacts. Her passion lies as a visual storyteller, with a strong foundation in digital and print. Featuring excellence for design and adept at interpreting needs to create powerful visuals.
Julie Skarwecki is a commercial photography professional with almost a decade of experience in the industry working directly with artists and advertising agencies, editorial clients, and Fortune 500 companies. After getting started as a studio assistant and production coordinator to photographer and filmmaker Alex Prager, she moved on as a commercial agent representing award-winning photographers and illustrators across the United States and in Europe.
As an agent, she helped artists define their personal brands, strengthen their portfolios, connect with photo editors and art buyers, and successfully target their ideal clients using strategic marketing and promotional tactics.