Sanford Mattson: Principal, Visual Content Producer in Pelham, MA

Contract work in editorial, sports, commercial, on-location and studio portraiture, travel, advertising and philanthropic photography, video and creative campaign concepting, storyboarding and writing; Global clients include the New York Times, Washington Post, ESPN, Ebony Magazine, Boston Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Rolling Stone, The National (UAE), Affa¨rsva¨rlden (Sweden), Bravo Sport (Germany), the Associated Press, WBUR, Las Vegas Regional Transportation Commission, Double Edge Theatre, USCHO, USCI Books, Verdant Living, Tufts University, Bates College, NCAA, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Colorado, University of Denver, Reflex Images and Liaison Agency, America 24/7, American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen Foundation, AIDS Walk, Wounded Warrior Project; In addition to for-profit supplementary income, my goal is also to pay forward skills and work, and provide free or reduced rates for non-profits, low-income and military families. It all started at the age of 16, when my mom had to drive me to assignments, and has continued for more than 20 years. But visual storytelling is about far more than just making photographs. It requires extensive knowledge of light physics, an ability to quickly, accurately and objectively filter information, overcome rapidly changing adversities, an acute awareness of time and deadlines, being able to recognize moment evolution, and a thorough knowledge of compositional guidelines and techniques. It also requires expert knowledge of wet and digital darkroom applications and techniques - Mac and PC hardware, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Bridge and PhotoMechanic, MS Word and Excel, archiving, organizing, DAM management, SEO, keywording, AP style, captioning and extended copy - and expert abilities in numerous forms of communication - not just in photography (DSLR, iPhone, 35mm, 5x5, 6x4.5, 4x5), but also in audio, writing, multimedia, and video, and being able to edit and transmit all on deadline.

Sourced and produced stories for Web and print publication; Led student staff of more than 10 photographers; Created one of the first college Instagram accounts, which is now the most successful account in global academia (based on a matrix that compares potential social media audience with the number of followers); Increased YouTube channel viewership by 238% and increased viewer retention by 50%; Created IPTC template for incoming DAM system; Increased size of publicly visible image catalogue by 392%; Mentored students in personal and career-focused areas; Taught special topics course to help students make compelling and storytelling photographs for research and publication; Active participant in the TEAM program to mentor first-year seminar students; Concepted, created and produced the strategy and content for the Provost-led initiative Ask Big Questions.

Daily assignments for a mid-size New York Times Regional Media Group newspaper; Work comprised of issue and news reporting, story enterprise, sports and environmental portraits; Frequent use of remote cameras, image transmission, studio work and multimedia; Heavy collaboration with picture editors, reporters and page designers to story board and talk through concepts for compelling visual storytelling, accuracy and impactful design; Mentored local high school and interning college students; Multiple awards at the state, regional, national and international levels of professional journalism.

One of three staff photographers to provide daily issue and news reporting, story enterprise, sports and environmental portraits; Enterprised four major visual stories; Awarded Illinois Press Photographer’s Association’s Clip Photographer of the Year, and received multiple regional and national awards from the National Press Photographers Association.