JUDGES

Paul Aresu + Photographer
www.paularesu.com

Paul Aresu, a native New Yorker and graduate of the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, is one of New York's most sought after photographers. He has been creating commercial, editorial, and fine art images for the past two decades.  Having grown from the rigorous art of still life, Paul has evolved past the object, using his creative and aggressively fast paced energetic style. He is known to take reality and transform it into a vivid fantasy.  His clientele currently includes companies such as Nike, Reebok, Asics, Under Armour, Verizon, Pepsi, Frito Lay, Wheaties, AT&T, Mercedes, Ford, Grey Goose, Smirnoff, Target, Canon, Footaction, Harrah’s, American Express, Lugz, Budweiser, Budlight, Dos Equis, Coors, Sprint, Slam Magazine, Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Men’s Fitness, Pfizer, Merck, as well as many others.

Over the past decade Paul Aresu has been dedicated to teaching photography and demonstrating new techniques in both analog and digital formats. He is an instructor at Parson’s School of Design as well as a frequent lecturer for Canon cameras, APA, and schools all over the country.

Marge Casey + Lead Agent, Founder Marge Casey + Associates
www.margecasey.com

 “My clients have become my friends. I really get to listen to their needs and accommodate them. Their happiness makes it all worthwhile.”

Marge Casey understands the value of successful relationships. Over 30 years ago, Marge Casey moved from a career in advertising to start Marge Casey and Associates with the intention of being closer to creativity. Marge offers a broad industry perspective from this experience; something her clients appreciate and respect. Marge believes that maintaining client/photographer balance requires trust, honesty and finding the right fit. But above all, she also knows that doing so can be fun.

Steve Farrell + EVP/Executive Creative Director Publicis Modem
www.publicismodem.com

Steve Farrell has been working as a digital creative talent for over thirteen years, most recently as the Executive Creative Director of Publicis Modem in New York where he leads client engagements for LG Electronics, Citibank and Hasbro. Prior to joining Modem, he was with MTV Networks as the VP Director of Digital for Spike, wading knee deep through all things manly. Before MTVN, Steve was with Digitas for six years as part of the New York office with clients such as American Express and the NBA. In his spare time, he plays most video games, writes and tries to hack most of the electronics in his house, bending them to his will.

Celeste Holt-Walters + Senior Art Producer, McCann Erickson, Curator/Consultant, Heart Art Productions
www.mccann.com

Celeste Holt-Walters, Senior Art Producer at McCann Erickson NY, is responsible for the Verizon Wireless account, as well as producing for such clients as Exxon Mobil, Verizon Telecomm and Goodyear. In 2002, Celeste graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in Professional Photographic Illustration. Just following graduation, she began her Art Production career at BBDO, quickly moving to her current post at McCann. Celeste is also Co-Founder and Curator of Heart Art Productions and is a fine art photographer.

Image by Evan Y. Lee

Aurelie Jezequel + Founder of Resource Magazine
www.resourcemagonline.com

A native Parisian, Aurelie Jezequel began her career working as an Art Buyer at CLM/BBDO Paris. There, she oversaw the selection of photographers for ad campaigns, which enabled her to work with world-renowned photographers such as Bettina Rheims and Steven Meisel.

An one-year internship at BBDO New York’s Art Buying office turned into a job offer and a decision to stay in the Big Apple. This experience allowed her to understand the American market as she worked on major ad companies for Pepsi, Gillette and FedEx.

After a couple of years at BBDO, Aurelie decided to start her own production company, ajproductionsny. The company manages all aspects of a photo shoot, from budgeting, crew referral, casting, location scouting, arranging for equipment rental and travel. Aurelie has had the opportunity to work with many prestigious and talented photographers, including Karl Lagerfeld, Gilles Bensimon, John Clang, Martin Schoeller, and for clients ranging from Nike to Hermès.

In 2007, along with Alexandra Niki, Aurelie founded Resource Magazine, a quarterly publication dedicated to the subculture of the photo production industry.  The magazine adds another facet to her career, allowing her to use her experience as Art Buyer and Producer and knowledge of the industry. 

Stella Kramer + Consultant
www.stellakramer.com

Stella Kramer is a multi-award winning photo editor who has worked for such major publications as Newsweek, The New York Times, Brill’s Content, People, Entertainment Weekly, and Sports Illustrated.
She was part of the New York Times team winning the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography, and served as the photo editor the New York Times “Portraits of Grief,” memorializing those who lost their lives in the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, which won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, and a 2002 Infinity Award from the International Center of Photography.

Stella now works with photographers to strengthen their creative vision, edit their portfolios and websites, and set marketing plans for their careers. She also lectures and appears at photo festivals around the country as a portfolio reviewer. Stella is interested in new applications of photography, and how photography will transition into the new visual landscape.

Photo by Sari Goodfriend

Brenda Milis + Director of Photography, Men’s Health Magazine
www.menshealth.com

Brenda’s background in the history of photography drew her to photo-editing and her work for diverse publications, panels, and media reflect her passion for a wide range of imagery, both fine art and commercial. Brenda began photo editing at Jane magazine and Fitness, then helped launch Style.com, the website for Vogue and W magazines before moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico to work for Outside magazine, a publication that has won numerous national awards for both photography and design. Brenda is currently the Director of Photography at Men’s Health magazine.


Alexandra Niki + Founder of Resource Magazine
www.resourcemagonline.com

Alexandra Niki has been dragging shit around since 1999 as a prop stylist, but this is not where her life in the industry started. Her father, Jeff Niki, is a fashion photographer who had assisted names like Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Albert Watson and Noriyaki Yamasuka. Her mother, Sonia Niki, was a rep, a fashion stylist, a painter and now a prop stylist. She grew up in a loft in the West Village a couple doors down from Industria, which was not Industria at the time. Her father had his studio in the loft where there was a whirling of models, art directors, parties, darkroom smells, and everything else that comes with living in a studio. 

In 1998, Alex got a job at Izquierdo Studios, which is a full service prop fabrication company. She continued on as an assistant stylist, which led to getting her own editorial jobs, which kept her busy as a stylist. In 1999, Alex got a job with an advertising photographer, Vincent Dixon. This set off a chain reaction of advertising work and a successful career as a stylist. In 2004, Niki Productions was officially opened. 

In 2007, after eight years of prop styling, a bright idea came to mind in her sleep. Upon awakening, she called Aurelie Jezequel, a close friend, producer, and long time client to meet for a drink. Five months later, the first issue of Resource Magazine was created. A new endeavor, a new creation, and…here she is.


amani olu + Co-founder and Executive Director Humble Arts Foundation
www.hafny.org

amani olu, born in Philadelphia (1980), is a private dealer, independent curator and the co-founder and executive director of Humble Arts Foundation. He recently produced The Collector's Guide to Emerging Art Photography, published by Humble Arts Foundation. He has curated exhibitions at Bose Pacia, P.P.O.W Gallery and Melanie Flood Projects. His writings on contemporary art photography appear regularly in Whitewall Magazine. He lives and works in Brooklyn.