Melissa Shanahan

• Co-Founder and creator of a start-up company and photo/video studio.
• Responsible for managing all aspects of a given project - from concept to pre-plan through the actual shoot.
• Deep understanding of studio production management from operations, logistics, vendor samples, tracking, production planning, talent and bookings, lighting, capturing, post-production, and asset management.
• Work closely with third-party vendors, contractors, and freelancers.
• Execute photo shoots and video (on location, in the studio, and on-figure to product laydowns) to ensure seasonal brand alignment.
• Ability to manage large budgets and negotiate as needed. Reconcile costs for each shoot to ensure under budget.
• Shoot, edit, cut, and build videos from assets to create sizzle reels and behind the scenes.
• Mentor and hold one-on-ones focused on professional development with Interns.

• Part of the original team and assisted in building processes for a start-up studio.
• Consistently executed creative briefs and stakeholder requests across various business channels while ensuring daily and weekly production goals were met and exceeded.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams such as merchandising, catalog, sales, and e-commerce to generate high-quality editorial photography and motion with images to be used in catalog, direct mail, email marketing, and social media ads.
• Effectively mentored peers, freelancers, and any new hires by sharing expert technical lighting knowledge, studio processes and workflows, professional experience, as well as image critiques.
• Worked closely with the creative team (Logistics, Production Assistants, Set Design, Scheduling, Prop Stylists, Studio Manager, Project Managers, Producers, Art Directors, Post-Production, and Creative Directors) to ensure project deadlines were met.
• Drove decisive on-set troubleshooting of photography challenges from set build to merchandise conflicts to offer solutions and innovations for process improvement.
• Executed lighting tests, evaluated, and created visual documents (SOP’s), which were implemented throughout the studio.
• Contributed to the development of seasonal creative direction (leaned on by Art Director to pull swipe for seasonal brand alignment.)
• Lead photographer on special projects (which launched to the US) such as Birch Lane/Stonewall Kitchen Sweepstakes, Joss and Main Fall, and Wayfair Holiday catalog, to name a few.

• Lit, styled, and captured editorial concepts and products for various luxury brands (handbags, accessories, jewelry, and footwear.)
• Gathered still life objects, products, props, and backgrounds to create the desired photographic effect on editorial concepts.
• Dynamically captured the design, functionality, features, and unique aspects of individual products, which could be edited quickly and made web-ready.
• Detailed Digital Asset Management: file naming, saving, archiving, and transmitting image files.
• Collaborated with marketing and merchandising coordinators on photoshoot prioritization and scheduling.
• Maintained a workflow that ensures completing the daily production requirements.
• Worked closely with staff to effectively resolve issues in the studio regarding missing items or correct inaccuracies.

• Set up, lit, and captured event boutiques for women's, men's, kid's fashion, footwear, accessories, and home goods for various luxury brands.
• Communicated and directed models to convey proper posing and attitude for fashion assets.
• Partnered with the studio manager, buyers, prop stylists, art directors, and the post-production team to create consistent execution against briefs while ensuring daily and weekly production goals are met and exceeded.
• Utilized props, backgrounds, and lighting systems to create desired effects.
• Managed exceptions to images for timely correction and partner with the in-house retouching team.
• Handled a high-volume workflow and inspiring lifestyle imagery under tight deadlines.
• Worked with prop stylist, studio manager, and art director to define and create the soft goods style guide for the studio.
• Establish and maintain an efficient workflow between merchandise staging area, prop styling, and photography sets.

·Photograph events as well as interior and exterior of campus grounds.