Multimedia Journalism

Photography — Video — Post Production — Writing — Website Design

Photo by Michael Yandle

Mainhouse Creative is a spin-off of a long career in corporate media. My work includes writing, photography, videography, and post-production editing for speciality audiences. I’m based in Orange County, California.

From college what began as a newsroom assistant’s job quickly turned into a staff writer position at the Orange Coast Daily Pilot newspaper in Costa Mesa, California.

After graduating with a degree in Communications my career took another turn with one of the nation’s largest specialty magazine publishers. I discovered that it was an exciting and energetic place to hang my hat.

Leaping into the glossy world of newsstand magazines with longer lead times and consumer oriented subjects became a calling card. Later, the roles shifted from editor-in-chief and Internet editorial director to producer of branded television and video projects. My story subjects revolve around working dogs, fast cars and overlanding type adventuring in a 1986 VW Vanagon camper.

Consider this Website my portfolio. I always welcome freelance inquiries. But enough about me.

Here’s my tip to you. Consider Blogging if you have a Website. It’s fun, and offers something to your online supporters. By Blogging with a purpose you drive traffic, and engage readers.

I suggest this story about Blogging by music journalist Simon Reynolds. 

Popular Posts

Renowned photographer Ansel Adams once said, photographers should make photographs, not simply take them. It’s a great philosophy for any working photojournalist. Photography is about composition, exposure, depth-of-field, and scene selection before pressing the shutter button. No matter what AI promises, computers will never be able to offer the human touch.

The same line of thinking goes into video production work. Nothing good comes out of impatiently hitting the red record button. The intentional act of setting up a shot, whether it’s video or still photography, requires most of my time in the field. It’s when I am at my best, judging the ambient light, structuring the composition so that the subject falls where I want it on viewfinder, away from unwanted distractions shadows, etc. Either hand-held or on a tripod the process is the same. Visualization of the scene supersedes everything.

Photography isn’t about documenting a subject, as Adams once said. it’s about interpreting the subject in our own artistic style.

A Perspective

I’m not a wedding photographer, and while I have produced portraits, my main interest is editorial work. This is work that is typically published, online or in print.

This is an area of photography and video that is seen in today’s leading media outlets, capturing the essence of a story that’s not posed, or scripted.

With that said, I also produce short films for clients, typically used on YouTube, at trade shows, or on Websites.

I like natural settings. Like the couple I photographed at Mammoth Lake, California for a potential advertisement for a kayak company. No unwanted anything, simply two people spending time on the calm water paddling away their worries.