Jeff Brass
I am a positive, hard worker driven to exceed client’s expectations and form lasting work relationships. I love creatively telling the stories of people, places and objects. Having an inquiring mind, and a need to always be learning and developing, I have a strong desire to produce engaging modern work. I am a motivated self-starter who thrives on exploring solutions through creative means. Having a high standard of ethics, commitment and working well to deadlines, I’m inspired by producing work that makes a difference.
Career in short
My passion is storytelling, creating compelling works that captivate and engage people. Whether it was earlier in my career as a newspaper photographer or currently making commercial photos and video, the highlights have been when I made a difference in people’s lives and businesses.
Working in a variety of roles of responsibility I have relished collaborating, supporting and fitting into various design and communication teams with ease.
Career timeline:
Photographer, Videographer and
Partner of Think Stills & Motion 2005 - present
Getty Images Contract Photographer 2005 - 2007
Waikato Times
Deputy Chief Photographer 2004 - 2005
Photographer 2000 - 2003
Taranaki Daily News Photographer 1999 - 2000
Commercial Photographer and Videographer:
Think Stills & Motion is the newer business name of Think Photography. We are a partnership of two image producers who started in Auckland where we had one full time employee. Now based in and loving Wellington.
My commercial imagery has covered: business services, product suppliers and manufacturers, corporate portraits in studio and on location, architecture, industrial, and events.
My photos and video have been used in: all forms of online advertising and marketing collateral, social media, magazines, billboards, buses, business internal and external communication including annual reports, TV B-roll, and product catalogues.
Clients include: Vector, Ernst and Young, Labour party and NZ First, BRANZ, Transpower, Ravensdown, Moffat and more.
Roles and abilities:
Initially creating a commercial photography business then learning and incorporating video production and drone operation
Positive and adaptable communicator with vast experience forming relationships with people spanning across CEO’s, business owners, manufacturers, site workers, contractors and more
Working collaboratively with my business partner, clients, agencies and contractors, I am a team player who values people
Decisive and warm leadership style who is patient and enjoys helping others
Excellent skills have been gained in full production for both photography and video – from client brief interpretation, concept generation and development, planning, budgeting, storyboarding, content creation, and post production – editing, retouching, compositing, video editing and colour grading, matching audio track dialogue and music for video, excellent B-Roll imagery choices and timing to bring a story together
Thorough data management and archiving
Technically competent with a wide variety of cameras, lighting and audio equipment
Extensive knowledge of Photoshop, Lightroom and Capture One for photography, and for video; Davinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, After effects, Fusion, Edius, Assimulate Scratch plus a variety of audio editing programs
Constantly learning quickly and problem solving in both hardware and software
Experience spans being a solo camera operator (camera, directing, lighting and audio) to being a camera operator in a full production team
An enquiring mind to seek out the best way to “tell the story” and completing work within deadlines
Being a problem solver, I am adaptable to move with a story or event as it unfolds
Constantly keeping up with product development, digital advancement and imagery trends
Competently created our business websites using HTML and CSS coding to our current template design which includes my custom coding
Using social media to stay in touch with clients on; LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook
Systematic organisational skills, organising; people, places, timing, budgets, flights, accommodation etc.
Effective workflow processes:
Initial meetings: listening, offering creative solutions and forming relationships
Pre-production: creating story outlines, planning locations, talent, contractors, shot lists and story boards, run sheets and call sheets
Production; covering video and stills, lighting, audio, backing up files, liaising with and keeping team informed
Post production; Editing, colour grading, matching audio of voice, music and voice overs for rhythm and impact, labelling and naming of all media. Delivery of final product to deadline.
Examples of projects undertaken:
Client: Transpower
A variety of videos were produced for Transpower’s internal communications. The objective was encouraging different sectors of business to engage with each other. I collaboratively formed the story lines, filmed, colour graded and edited. Two heritage and culture projects were also produced (Te Weta Caves shown below). These were educational videos for teaching and training staff to form an understanding and appreciation of heritage sites and culturally significant areas that Transpower works on. For the video & photography I worked closely with heritage New Zealand and local iwi. We worked as a team travelling around NZ collaborating ideas to achieve the best outcomes. Transpower were delighted with the work produced and closer relationships were formed
Client: Ravensdown
Six or seven videos (including drone) are created every year targeting potential shareholders. Photos are produced for annual reports and online promotion. The challenge is to create fresh perspectives telling stories in a unique way to get people to engage and buy in. An agency creates the base story for the project. My role is to create the way the stories are told to the chosen audience. These must all align with the existing branding and wider projects. I work as part of a team coordinating locations, people and timing. I am in control of making sure the content comes across coherently but also connects with people's emotions to understand the story and want to be part of their future.
Drone imagery roles and abilities:
Experienced high quality drone pilot
PT101 certified Drone pilot
Organising multiple layers of permissions e.g. Air Traffic Control, Hospital helipad, Maritime Police, commercial helicopter bases etc.
Putting the safety of everyone involved and public as my utmost consideration with any flight
Being part of a consultative forum on the New Zealand drone laws
Press Photographer
Press photography taught me to think on my feet, get alongside others very quickly, have empathy and compassion, and tell a story through images. One day I could be with gangs and the homeless, the next with Prime ministers and business leaders. Often it required summing up a whole news story in one shot and being clear about the message that needed to be heard. Photo features gave me the opportunity to tell a story in more detail; Hamilton zoo promotions, mountain bikers promoting local tracks and various harder hitting humanitarian features.
Roles and abilities:
Photographing general news, sport, lifestyle, food, gardening, portraiture and product
The art of making people comfortable in front of the camera
Connecting with people from all races, social standings and ages
Shooting with limited gear and making the most of it
Storytelling, summing up a story in one shot
Working under pressure of deadlines and expectations of front page news
Photo features; images that sit cohesively together but have their own voice
Being empathetic at times of peoples grief or trauma
Pushing through restraints or challenges to get what is needed
Working as part of a photography team and the wider newsroom
Covering all sorts of events such as general elections
Reading situations with empathy and open mindedness
Stripping down any of my own assumptions and sometimes being ethically neutral to capture an image required of me
Deputy Chief and Chief Photographer roles:
Assisting the Chief photographer in their role and often stepping in as Chief when required
Looking after the photographic team, managing and co-ordinating their jobs
Liaising with the editor and news editor
Organizing jobs, making decisions around what stories I would and would not send photographers on
Editorial meetings making decisions on picture placement for that days editions, often challenging or advocating for particular photo placement
Debriefing and looking out for the well-being of staff after covering traumatic news scenes
Interests
Spending time with Carolyn my wife, 8 year old daughter Frankie and Max the dog on our quarter acre set on the edge of bush
Making a short film in 2019 with a bunch of young Wellingtonians which was accepted into several International Film festivals
I have had a love of mountain biking for years, as my daughter puts it “I like naturing”
I’ve played guitar since I was a boy, singing and playing in a few “lesser known” Dunedin bands
My wife and I have always enjoyed DIY with a passion for design and making a house our home
I enjoy supporting charities by producing videos for their fundraising and awareness
Our mates from around NZ get together in Hawke’s Bay to make a barrel of wine or port every few years (it helps that one of us is an experienced wine maker). This is a total blast.
Testimonials
“Think Stills & Motion are in a league of their own, conveying a strong emotive message rather than being just another product shot. They put their hearts and souls into delivering images that we were 100% satisfied with, understanding and responding to our requirements in a highly professional, but always friendly, manner. They are a real pleasure to work with."
Warren Twisleton, Lujo
“Jeff is fantastic to deal with and we have always had great results. He is easy to work with, flexible and great dealing with our subjects.”
Sandra Hayman, marketing manager for Massey University
Please see video testimonials; one top, one below
Referees
Brian Knott, Art director for TRACTA agency, 027 325 9164 brian@tracta.co.nz
Chris Dutton, ACC Provider Engagement Manager, 027809 6658 Chris.Dutton@acc.co.nz
To view more of my imagery please use the site tool bar, as this is a private page please use your email link to return to my CV.
I value and appreciate your time looking over my application and I’m excited to hear back from you.
Yours sincerely,
Jeff Brass
