Visions, a Blog

Photography of retail spaces is more than creating images. This section is intended to showcase my procedures, thoughts as well as current and archived work. Please feel free to return again as this is frequently updated (and add your comments as well.)

Jan: 9

NRF’s Big Show-Big News!

Sorry this reads so much like a press release…but it is! Very exciting news and I’m very proud to have been asked to display.

Award-winning photographer Mark A. Steele has been selected to exhibit dozens of his images documenting leading retail concepts at the 2012 annual convention of the National Retail Federation (NRF).

NRF will present its first-ever photography exhibit — “Documenting Retail Design” – during its annual trade show taking place January 16 and 17 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. The exhibit consists of Steele’s images that creatively capture retail design projects that have opened over the past five years. Projects range from department and specialty stores as well as brand concepts.

“Retailers can learn about current trends and how other retailers are realizing their visions and investments for new stores, exciting prototypes and successful renovations that connect with customers,” says Dan Butler, NRF’s vice president of merchandising and retail operations. “Because the photos are taken near the grand opening of most projects, we are able to show and share how retailers look at those moments right before the doors are unlocked and the customers come in.”

A longtime contributor to major retail trade magazines, Steele’s photographs have been used in publicity and marketing campaigns, books, magazines, journals and annual reports. Retailers and brands have also used his images to impress Wall Street investors, mall developers, leasing agents and franchisees.

Longtime client Christian Davies, executive creative director, Americas, for FITCH, a Columbus, Ohio-based global design and strategy firm explains, “Mark’s images tell the stories behind the work we do. I tend to like telling my own stories and I’m picky about how they are told, so it takes a lot for me to turn over that responsibility. But he’s never let me down.” FITCH has worked with Steele for more than 15 years documenting the firm’s innovative retail design for brands such as Chrysler, Nickelodeon, Harley Davidson, Sports Authority and Timberland, among others.

The world’s retailers and strategic partners gather annually at Retail’s BIG Show to share ideas, make connections, embrace technology and drive the industry forward. Last year, the event drew some 22,000 from 82 countries, who gathered to see the best and the brightest in retail speak on a broad range of issues facing the retail industry and to see the nation’s largest retail technology expo floor.

Aug: 23

My Summer Vacation

Summer is nearly over and getting back into things is hard to do. But just like in elementary school, I am going to share a little of my summer vacation with everyone.

The Rocky Mountains of Colorado are stunning, breathtaking and exhilarating! Along with my family, I took my new IPad and my camera and took to hiking the Rocky Mountain National Park along with a few other trails. We visited glaciers, shopped some nice quaint small towns, visited dinosaur parks, chanced upon some great geology, and even had an interesting experience involving mountain roads and a GPS unit. And I shouldn’t forget the double rainbow…all the way across the sky!

The images you see here were all processed on my IPad using software available from the App Store. If you need any details let me know and I’ll be glad to share. Also, while I’m at it, take a visit to the Mark Steele Photography Facebook page and give me a like. It’s nice to have some company there!

Jan: 27

10 Ways to Get More Value from my Photos

My portfolio is your portfolio. For more than twenty years I’ve partnered with design firms, architects and retailers to create images that showcase their brands, concepts and visions. It’s rewarding to see my images being used in ever more interesting and creative ways.

I want to make sure that you are making the most of my images.

Here’s a list of ten ways that the results of our partnership can be further used in order for you to create more value from your company’s investment.

1. PR/Marketing –Nothing grabs people’s attention like a beautiful image. Showcasing a state of the art innovation creates memorable marketing, industry buzz, and can get consumers talking.

2. Sales presentations-Showcase past work to future clients. From web portfolios to one-on-one presentations, using high quality imagery not only presents your products and services in the most professional manner, it also elevates your brand.

3. Trade Show presentations-Many companies rely on trade show presentations to showcase innovative designs and ideas. Do you have the images you need to effectively communicate your viewpoint thus making you the expert?

4. Awards and competitions-My photography has garnered more than 100 awards for my clients within various competitions. This exposure not only serves as a congratulatory note to team members and clients, but also increases the opportunity for additional media coverage.

5. Real estate kits aimed at property management companies-Enhancing store concepts for the better mall and property management companies serves not only to acquire space with better malls, but better spaces within those malls as well.

6. Visual merchandising/store planning guidelines and standards-Educating decentralized store associates on how to present consistent visual standards across sites, guidelines can help you differentiate your concept in today’s highly competitive retail environment.

7. Prospective franchise materials-Showcasing new design initiatives for franchise materials and sales kits raises awareness among existing and perspective franchisees.

8. Sharing best practices - Consumer product and apparel companies, as well as retailers, use photo documentation of merchandising programs and floor sets to raise the bar for in-store execution and encourage increased sales performance.

9. Annual Reports/Investor Presentations-CFO’s and investor relations will frequently use imagery in order to entice investors and present new initiatives to investors, analysts and lenders.

10. Copyright/patent/trademark registration uses-Corporate attorneys will frequently use photography as documentation for copyright/patent issues.

Use equals value. How do you use my images to increase their value to your company? Can you add any ideas? I’d love to hear from you.

Jan: 10

Getting W I D E

Sometimes wide isn’t enough! There are times when superwide is needed to capture a special image. We get tight or ultra-wide spaces that a conventional lens just can’t seem to get no matter what you do, not to mention the distortion lenses seem to have.

I’ve recently invested in some real nice glass that allows me to use special techniques to capture these types of spaces and showcase them in a single images. These are great to show overall spaces, showcase a space using panning in Power Point, internet headers etc. How you use it is up to you. How to capture them is left to me. Take a look at a few and let me know what you think.

Jan: 4

Aligning Stars

DXLext Sometimes things just work out! I just love photographing a great project, completing the images, sending them to a client then seeing them again, again, and again.

I am so excited when my clients think enough of my talents to hire me for their best work and trust in me to deliver the best images of their retail spaces. Nothing feels better as an artist than to see spaces I’ve photographed printed in magazines, awarded in competitions and shown in portfolios.

A recent project, Destination XL, photographed for the design firm, JGA, is a great example. A new Casual Male Retail Group prototype located in Schaumburg Il, this site has a look and feel all its own. VM&RD, an Indian retail design magazine, featured this space as a cover story and I’m very pleased with the result.

You can download and view a PDF here. Take a look and see if you don’t agree…

Dec: 1

Been Busy

The second half of this year has found me very busy. Exciting projects for notable companies such as Juno Lighting, Chute Gerdeman, Luxottica, Miller Zell, SuperValu, The Sports Authority, BHDP, Timberland, Eddie Bauer, JGA, New Balance, Express and Big Red Rooster to name a few. Many of the projects have been added to the portfolio section of the site, but some teasers can be seen here.

Thanks to all of my clients and friends for helping to make 2010 a year of exciting projects. Here’s to more work in the near future!

Dec: 9

Peaks and Valleys

This fall marked my tenth year in business for myself and like the passing of the year it brings on some reflection. I really can’t say that I’ve not been blessed with friends, some great clients, health and opportunities to do some great work.

I’ve weathered two recessions, had a few great years in there, fought the need to go digital (I know, I know-I’d never go back to analog), learned a few Photoshop tricks, traveled to more places than I care to mention. I’ve welcomed some new clients and have had a few move on. That’s always a hard thing to do!

I’ve learned quite a bit as well. Sometimes things don’t go as I’d like them to. Sometimes I have the worse expectations only to realize the best.

And sometimes things end up being exactly where they need to be.

As the end of year holiday season approaches, I would like to wish everyone success in the upcoming year! Stay healthy, stay in touch and enjoy this image of summer scenery from Alaska’s Denali National Park.

Peace!

Nov: 3

COTC wins multiple Gold Awards!

Congratulations to my client Central Ohio Technical College for their recent Golds in the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCNPR) District Three awards. The awards were presented for the Viewbook and Poster categories and were recognized for excellence in both graphic design and editorial content. MSO-COTC

Credit for these awards go to Leslie Lenzo McLaughlin, the Senior Graphic Designer for COTC, as well as Alice Hutzel-Bateson, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, for providing writing and editing.

As the photographer on these projects, I have to say it was a pleasure project. Photographing the students, staff and campus was a real pleasure. Working with the younger generation of students always restores my faith as they were so helpful and energetic.

Many of the images from the project can be seen under the Working and Location sections of my Portrait Portfolio.

Aug: 26

I’m Excited!

I’m excited! Every so often we all get to turn over new leafs and step beyond where we’ve been. This new website is an extension of just that. I feel that Fourth Floor Interactive, the designers of my new site, has put a vibrancy into my work that I’ve not felt in awhile. Look at the same images everyday and it numbs the mind, but Jennifer has worked hard to help me realize the freshness my work has. Thanks so much for that Jennifer, you are a talented and gifted craftsman!

A few words about what you’re looking at. This site is intended to by updatable, vibrant and current. Please help me keep it so. I wish to make this site not only a showcase of my photography talents, but to show the respect I have for my clients and their work. One thing you will notice is that each featured project is pretty much shown in its entirety. I feel that by showing an entire site the viewer better understands my thought process and talents. I feel that I understand how you present what you do, and I use that understanding to create images that help you sell yourself, feature your work, and create more work for yourself. Only through successfully doing that can I in turn do it all over for you once more.

Thanks to all my clients for allowing me the opportunity to answer my calling. You all do great work, sorry I can’t feature everything, but I will be rotating projects out on an ongoing basis, so return again. If there’s a project you’d like to see, well, I’ll take suggestions.