KERN - Photographer Christopher Kern

California based full service Commercial Photography and Production Studio.  Specializing in Advertising Lifestyle for Technology, Healthcare, Medical, Corporate and Athletic Projects.  San Francisco & Los Angeles.

[heykern]

The Farm & MasterCard

Just in time to see if Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh can continue to impress us at the Haskell Invitational next Sunday, August 2nd. We'd love to share with you this Equestrian themed project we shot and produced for Red Giant Prepaid MasterCard.

We were approached by startup Red Giant last December, to help with the branded effort to launch their amazing App and Prepaid MasterCard. Their launch market - the equestrian community. With our long standing collaborative relationship with Stanford University it seemed like the ideal location to shoot this project. "The Farm," before Stanford became a world class university, it was a horse farm that produced champion racehorses. And a note to photography on June 15th, 1878 - Leland Stanford hosted the media and photographer Muybridge with 24 cameras to create a sequence of photographs proving that all four legs lifted off the ground at certain points during the gallop. The stop action photographs proved just that.

A place filled with so much history - it was the ideal space for inspiration. Perfect timing to share with you this imagery now that the product is launched and timely since we're all enjoying this years horse races. Thanks for such a great project Red Giant.

[heykern]

Honor our Veterans

We hope your summer is in full effect. We've been waiting to release some new imagery in honor of Memorial Day and the 4th of July. Riverside Public Utilities, contacted us with the opportunity to expand upon their on-going project entitled, "I Own It." A campaign designed to remind Riverside residents that as a RPU customer, they own their utility. Featuring Andrew Melendrez Sr., a WW2 Army Veteran, this subject brought our photography full-circle. When asked where we might be able to honor a portrait of Mr. Melendrez, the first thought that came to mind was the Riverside National Cemetery.

This location is very personal to Christopher as he has two grandfathers buried on the grounds. Remembering back to 2005 when photography became personal with the loss of his grandfather, James Montgomery, a WW2 Marine Veteran. We managed to pull some images from the archive and a text excerpt from his MFA thesis paper from Academy of Art.

"The greatest strength I feel this program (Academy of Art University) has had to offer is the persistent struggle for our mentors to help us as photographers to find ourselves in our work. We’ve continued to talk about personal style, narrative, and concept – it’s something that we can talk about day in and day out. But, no one really understands until they truly look within themselves as an individual and then allow the artists within themselves to express ones emotions.

It wasn’t until the life-changing event of my grandfather’s death on October 11, 2005 that I knew what emotions to put into my work. I had the opportunity to shoot my grandfathers funeral, and that was the first time that I was able to put myself as a person into my work as a photographer.

Upon returning to San Francisco after the funeral, I began to explore my depression and express it in my work. It was at this point that I was leading into a style that I could call my own, full of darkness, loneliness, sadness, and isolation."

While our style has changed over the years, it was this moment in Christopher's life that allowed him to use photography as an art. We were honored to photograph Andrew Melendrez Sr. at a location so personal, we want to honor and empower our veterans. Truly inspired to revisit some old imagery that was so life changing and build upon it with some new imagery as well.

[heykern]

Clarion, and BMW, and Chris Forsberg! Oh, my!

We know, we've been quiet since January. It's not because there hasn't been anything going on, it's just we've been waiting on a few projects to go live. And this is one that we we've been thrilled to have been a part of. We were contacted by agency Modera Inc. in Irvine, CA to photograph for Clarion this beautiful, fully restored 1974 BMW 2002.

Or initial objective was to produce and photograph a series of hero images of this restored BMW 2002 at the Port of Los Angeles. It was during that day that we fell in love with the beauty and craftsmanship of this Clarion Build. We had to see it in action and we invited ourselves to their PR Track Day at Adams MotorSport Park in Riverside, CA - where we were able to see Forumla Drift Champion, Chris Forsberg in action. Forsberg was such a humble individual to photograph, wish him the best of luck in his racing endeavors.

Thanks to our wonderful clients at Modera Inc. and Clarion Builds - looking forward to future collaborations. Please take a look at some of our imagery from the Port and the Track.

[heykern]

New Year, New Work!

We're looking forward to connecting and collaborating with you in this new year. Thank you to our wonderful collaborators and clients who continue to allow us to truly do what we love to do - to produce and create imagery through this photographic process.  Our resolution this year is to build relationships beyond the internet - get back to our roots of putting names with faces, hitting the pavement and rediscovering the value of a firm hand shake and hello, over "likes" on social media.  Let's connect - grab a coffee and talk shop in this new year. Build a dialogue that can evolve over time. We're in this for longevity - and have been blessed to do what we do since 2003. We're looking forward to seeing what 2015 brings and most of all looking forward to rediscovering old relationships and building new ones. Wishing you all the most prosperous new year.

[heykern]

Benefit Cosmetics

We're excited to share the release of a project we produced and shot back in June. We've been working with Benefit Cosmetics since 2009, but it isn't too often we get to work on a project that isn't your traditional beauty portrait. We took a break from mascara, eyebrows and lashes and we were able to create these scenarios and sets at our favorite studio in San Francisco, Left Space. Thanks to our amazing crew of stylists and art directors as well as our energetic cast of characters.

The year is nearing a close and the holidays are fast approaching - but, wait! We still have time to produce and shoot a project for you. In the meantime please check out more of our work from this project.

[heykern]

Fall is Here!

Yet another great collaboration with Active Family Magazine and these amazing Kids from JE Model Management.  It's nice to get back into doing some editorial - with monthly updates.  Most of the other projects we work on are for our advertising clients and the client is under NDA until months down the line and even then we forget to post about it.  Thanks for such an amazing crew and talent.  

And Production Paradise thanks for the feature!

Happy Holidays to you all!

[heykern]

Ballet Folklórico!

Fall is here - hard to believe where this year has gone. We've been busy. Very humbled to have reconnected with and have been asked by our Hometown of Riverside to work with them a city-wide rebranding project. Riverside, California - City of Arts & Innovation, the first of several projects over the course of the last couple months was to create some marketing collateral for their Annual Mariachi Festival. Growing up - we were always aware of Mariachi music and these festive groups, especially after living in San Francisco for the past 10 years. But, little did we know about the Mexican Dance - Ballet Folklórico. Such a privledge to photograph a wonderfully talented group of youth - in such amazing wardrobe and hair & makeup - truly dedicated and talented. We were asked to focus on creating imagery that was bright and colorful (not a problem) and full of energy demonstrating - determination, tradition and friendly competition. A lot more to update you with - but for now hope you enjoy some of the colorful imagery that we've created.

[heykern]

Too School for Cool!

Or, Is it Too Cool for School? For some reason I think that song by Pink, Raise Your Glass - might have gotten stuck in our heads and mixed up the saying.

Now that summer is finally over - the kids are back at school and we can get back to business. Hope you all had a great vacation this summer. We've been working hard over here to bring you some new content. This new project for Active Family Magazine was shot in San Francisco for their Septemeber Issue. We love working with kids - they are so real and raw - genuine and no non-sense. It's exciting to see their different energies and always a challenge to manage them on a production. We thought this was a fun and proper project to share.

[heykern]

Hey Glasshole! New Work for Hewlett Packard & Stanford University

Hey Glasshole!

We didn't mean to offend you, but according to Urban Dictonary:

Glasshole (noun); 1) a person who constantly talks to their Google Glass, irnoring the outside world. 2) Someone who has early access or is in possession of Google Glasses, and flaunts them around like a jerk. 3) Someone who uses Google Glass and is douchey about having this product.

At Stanford University's Medicine X Conference we had the chance to photograph a few Glassholes - but we must admit - they weren't jerks or douchey. Another opportunity to meet and photograph some pretty remarkable individuals in the technoloy and the medical/healthcare forum.  And, Finally we'd love to share a couple projects we've shot for Hewelett Packard. Just as much as we love shooting in studio and connecting with our subjects. Shooting on location always introduces its challenges and keeps us on our toes - we love what the natural light and location throw at us (as well as the client).

[heykern]

Farewell to the Academy of Art

After much consideration - the time has come to say farewell to the Academy of Art.  In 2005, I moved to San Francisco to attend the Graduate Program where I received my MFA in Photography from AAU in 2007.  Since 2009, I have had the honor to continue to be a part of this great establishment as an instructor.  Truly, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life and career.  It's been a rewarding challenge to find the balance between my time at AAU and my freelance career.

The time has come to focus solely on my freelance career.  To continue to look within myself as an artist and push forward with my own photography.  I've worked along side amazing faculty at the Academy.  For nearly 10 years I have been a part of this amazing place - and have  been a part of it's growth.  A true institution in the arts as well as commerce.  Many of my former students have become a great support to my freelance career in the roles of digital techs and assistants.  Also great friends!  I'll continue to do what I can to be a resource to the industry.

Directors Will Mosgrove and James Wood - thanks for constantly believing and supporting me.  May we cross paths in the future.  And to Mary Casserly & Amberlyn Nelson for helping me through the process.

Food for thought to current students and former students - be true to who you are, shoot what you love, remember you are an artist first and foremost.  Learn enough tools of the trade - and then break all the rules.  Shoot, shoot, shoot!  There comes a time - where you need to stop thinking about it and just go off and do it.  Photography isn't about perfection - it's often those imperfections.  Those in-between moments, those oddities.  Don't follow the current trends - explore your thoughts and express your visions through the medium of photography.  You are in a position to be the next big thing.

Thank you for your time.

[heykern]

BWA! Sugar Bites campaign wins 2014 Communicator Award

Always love collaborating with Better World Advertising.  This news may come a little late - but just got word that our Sugar Bites campaign with First 5 won the 2014 Communicator Award.  Well done and here's to future collaborations!

[heykern]

Enjoy Summer and the 4th!

We wanted to wish you all a Happy 4th of July and to continue to enjoy the summer.  Summer Time Fun & Fashion - a fun project we did for Active Family Magazine in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Nothing like spending the day out by the pool at the Diablo Country Club - chasing around 4 kids to shoot this summer-time feature.  Thanks to our wonderful team and talent.

But, most of all - please do have a safe holiday weekend.  Even though many of you might be out of the office on vacation - wanted to let you know that we're around and would love to collaborate with you on any up and coming projects.

[heykern]

Medicine X Portraits, Stanford University

Most often, when I have the opportunity to shoot a portrait of someone - I only have a brief moment in time to make that connection and capture a part of their soul.  A part of them that not everyone has the opportunity to view, even those that call themselves family or friend.  Stripping away those cheesy kodak smiles - that we were all from an early age forced to make by our mother or father.  The challenge now to only find that single moment - that is honest and true.

The Medicine X conference hosted at Stanford University has invited us for the 3rd year in a row to participate in this amazing event - a gathering of  some of the brightest minds in Medicine and Technology. 

Over the course of this three day event in 2012 we photographed 147 people, and in 2013 - 200 people.  Such an amazing production - so thankful for my team of groomers for pampering each and every individual that let me capture a part of their soul.  Looking forward to another amazing year.

[heykern]

The Last Originals

One of the hardest parts of shooting commercial projects is waiting for them to go live. When shooting image libraries - where quality has to meet quantity - I often get overwhlemed with productions to take the time to go back and do a personal edit. I wanted to share with you a project I shot earlier this year that I finally had time to sit down and process.

During the rush of the holiday season last December - I recieved a phone call from one of my first clients here in San Francisco after my move to this city back in 2005. I haven't shot for Goorin Bros., in years. But, was great to be reconnected with 4th generation hat maker Ben Goorin. Ben asked me if I could produce and shoot a project for them within 2 weeks - to take place on January 5th. Without hesistation the answer was yes! Dispite the holiday and new year festivities - we were able to pull together an epic production. Worked closesly with the Oakland Film Commission, local casting and model agencies, and a very talented styling team. The inspiration for the shoot was the San Francisco based car club - Last Originals.

More: http://heykern.com/goorin-bros-the-last-originals

Special Thanks to great clients; Ben Goorin & David Kurtz for Goorin Bros. , The Oakland Film Office, and Last Originals.  And most of all for my amazing stylists - on wardrobe; Tietjen Fischer and hair & makeup; Raina Antle.  And to our wonderful talent for lending your time in front of the camera to capture your soul.

[heykern]

Classic Portraits

My mind began to wander after watching the recent Oscar awards.  Thoughts of classic and historic Hollywood - and beyond - portraits of the elite dating back to the early Renaissance.  I wanted to put together a quiet group of portraits - expressing the beauty of these individuals rather than transforming them into a fashion or fantasy icon.  I wanted these images to be simple and elegant - classic and beautiful and most of all timeless.  

Over the course of three shoot days - I’ve collaborated with some of San Francisco’s finest stylists to appreciate the beauty and empower some of our local talent as portrait subjects. 

Classic Portraits, I wanted to share with you our results.

More: http://heykern.com/classic-portraits

Special Thanks to the wonderful Agents at JE Model Management, Stars Model Management,  Look Model Agency, Exalt Talent Agency and Artists’ Services.  And most of all for my amazing stylists - on wardrobe; Travis Alexander Walls & Charles Noury and hair & makeup; Janet Marscal, Nicole Perez, Meaganne McCandess, and Elizabeth Chang.  And my wife and partner in crime Nikki Kern (thanks for giving up your weekend to help construct our set).  Couldn’t have pulled this together with out all of you.  And to our wonderful talent for lending your time in front of the camera to capture your soul.