Liz Miller-Gershfeld, Executive Art Producer (formerly at Energy BBDO / worked on Jack Daniels, Wrigley gum, etc. / with David LaChapelle, Nadav Kander...) — Part 1

Liz Miller-Gershfeld is an Executive Art Producer in Chicago, IL. After two decades at advertising juggernaut Energy BBDO, she has branched out on her own — working freelance for agencies AND photographers. A few photographers she's worked with: David LaChapelle, Nadav Kander, Laurie Frankel, Robert Whitman, and many others. Past campaigns she's worked on: Jack Daniels, Wrigley gum, Ocean Spray, Pearle Vision, plus plenty of others. Listen as we discuss: how she finds photographers to hire, treatments (their importance, plus who actually reads them!), advice to fellow art producers, who photographers should approach at ad agencies, the dangers of not understanding licensing, AI, and lots more. This is Part 1 of our interview.

Check out Liz’s tear sheets by iconic photographers on her portfolio site. It’s a great blend of clients and approaches.

I’m your host, Neil Binkley, Photographer's Consultant and Graphic Designer.

A sampling of the brands she’s worked on:

Canadian Club
SC Johnson
Wrigley/Orbit gum
Art Institute of Chicago
Ocean Spray
Pearle Vision

We discuss a bunch of talented photographers (click links to see their work — and she's worked with more great photographers: poke around her site!):

Liz’s inspired AI explorations on Instagram.
Or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Heather Elder, photo agent and host of the great photo biz podcast, Dear Art Producer. FYI: she also posts an excellent discussion on AI.

FYI: some podcast apps — I'm looking at you, Apple — cut off these show notes before the end. You can see all of the shownotes on apps like Spotify or Overcast. OR, on our website:_ www.neilbinkley.com/photopod

In our discussion today, Liz and I talk about many things. If your podcast app shows chapters — well check ‘em out, because I added them! Otherwise, here’s a list of topics discussed, plus you can click on the timestamp to jump to that part of the interview (but OF COURSE, you’re listening all the way through the episode…):

[00:00:00] About Our Guest: Liz Miller-Gershfeld

[00:03:43] Audio Discussions vs. Video Burnout

[00:05:46] Welcoming Liz to the Podcast

[00:06:28] Executive Art Producer for Agencies, Plus Photographers

[00:08:36] She's Teaching a Class for Photographers

[00:13:53] She Consults Photographers

[00:14:38] Treatments for Ad Jobs

[00:15:53] Don't Miss the Show Notes!

[00:16:30] Which Treatments Win the Assignments?

[00:22:50] Does Everyone Read the Treatments?

[00:25:22] How She Became an Art Buyer for Energy BBDO

[00:28:31] What's the "Energy" in Energy BBDO?

[00:30:57] Difference Between BBDO Branches

[00:32:42] The Big Name Photographers She's Hired!

[00:34:38] Canadian Club Campaign: Recreating Vintage

[00:40:04] Working with Nadav Kander was an Absolute Joy

[00:41:02] Using AI in the Comp and Moodboard Phases

[00:45:47] Should Photographers Get Into AI Right Now?

[00:46:13] Outro To Part 1 of The Interview

See all Photopod episodes by subscribing on your podcast player of choice (Apple, Google, Spotify, what I use (iPhone recommended only): Overcast, etc.), or at www.neilbinkley.com/photopod.

Also feel free to drop me a line with questions and ideas for future interviews!