Giving thanks to data, systems, processes, and you.
This November, as the air fills with gratitude, The Network celebrates the partnerships, innovations, and people that make this industry thrive.
The Industry Download:
Thanks for giving a DAM! Discover the A.B.Cs of Digital Asset Management for Commercial Photography!
Kick off your DAM journey with “Professor” Josh’s witty and insightful guide, designed for the fast-paced world of commercial photography. This series dives into common challenges, acronyms, and strategies, blending humor with real-world expertise to streamline your workflow. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to DAM, this is your go-to resource for unlocking efficiency and mastering metadata magic.
Ready to give a DAM? Start with Part 1: Alphabet Soup!
The Thankful Download:
Ashley Snarski, Technical Account Manager
“This season, I’m feeling especially grateful for the strong partnerships we’ve built with our clients. These relationships are at the core of our work, and the feedback and insights from each client drive our shared success. It’s this collaboration that inspires us to keep improving, finding new ways to bring even more options and features to meet our clients’ needs. I’m thankful for our clients and the teamwork that makes it all possible—together, we’re building something great.”
Emily Taylor, Director of Product Management
“This time of year is often when I am reflective and feel gratitude for all the people in my life. Year after year I realize how important my work families are to me. We spend so much time together – in good times and hard times. Early in my career, I was grateful for my photographer and stylist as a production team of 3, pounding through samples and getting them live as fast as possible for World Market. Moving on, it was my Banana Republic Production team, Gap Product Management and L.L.Bean Ecommerce teams – living through the storms of “Peak” and surviving the unexpected – the only constant each Nov-Dec. We supported each other, pitched in, worked hard, but also laughed and let loose.
I’m now grateful for my ShotFlow work family, a year into my role, and for my ShotFlow client community and the relationships which are still growing. It’s been a great year from Summit and feedback sessions to partnering up for solving problems, and much more. I appreciate you all – day in and day out!”
Eric Fulmer, CEO/Founder
“2024 has been a difficult year for many of us in the creative ops community. A wave of layoffs has impacted so many amazing and capable people in our industry, with precious few open positions available. I lost my son Nathaniel to suicide in April, and the industry just lost Jason Marty in recent weeks. The election and its future ramifications has been another huge stressor for many creatives, particularly minority and marginalized groups. Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), a solemn occasion to honor the lives of transgender people whose deaths were a result of anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.
These difficulties and many others have raised the siren song of giving in to cynicism, bitterness, and a withdrawal from the fights ahead.
This season, I give thanks for the people who challenge all of us to get up each day and do the hard work of finding a way forward.
I love this quote from the great Nick Cave, who lost two of sons to tragedy, and now answers question on his site The Red Hand Files:
‘What are we doing here? That is an excellent question. Personally, I do my best to move through life with a joy that is reconciled to the sorrow of things but is not subsumed by it, that apprehends darkness and is not afraid of it. I try to receive some form of salvation in this life by paying witness to, and being lifted by, the great, uncontested value of existence. I feel duty-bound to unearth, enhance and promote the world’s beautiful things rather than obsess, worry and agitate over the worst of things. I believe in creation over destruction, compassion over cynicism, mercy over vitriol, friendship over hostility, truth over lies and love over hate. I remind myself that, at this moment, I am here as a happy and humble participant in the complex and relational nature of the universe – a person who loves life but draws the line at bathing with strangers in pineapple jelly.’”
Pros to Meet:
👋 Say Hello to Jordan Butcher | Senior eCommerce Stylist
With almost a decade of experience in e-commerce and commercial styling, I bring a unique perspective to brand storytelling. Starting out as a stylist assistant at the Under Armour photo studio in 2015, I honed my skills in various styling techniques. After expanding my expertise in Los Angeles, I now specialize in e-commerce, commercial styling, wardrobe supervision, and costume design.
I firmly believe in the power of clothing and products to narrate compelling stories, making them essential tools in marketing and advertising. Returning to Baltimore, I’m eager to reconnect with my professional network and collaborate with brands and creatives. Being on set, collaborating with teams for photo shoots and productions, is where I truly feel at home. It’s not just work for me—it’s my happy place.Excited to embark on this new chapter!
👏 Congrats to Leeanne Crowley | Creative Operations at Global Partners
Featured earlier this year via The Network, Leeanne landed at Global Partners managing creative operations for their retail division, working with a great group of freelancers who enhance the guest experience through food photography, POS signage, and partnership campaigns. With a big rebrand on the horizon, there’s so much exciting work in motion and it’s her job to be the single source of truth. One thing Leeanne is grateful for is the orgs thorough briefing system—it keeps everyone aligned by sharing the “why,” which makes our creative work stronger and more impactful.