Q & A with a W Magazine Photo Research Editor

 Meet Kathryn Hurni, Photo Research Editor of W Magazine, read as she explains the rewards of  education, internships and enthusiasm.

 

PDNedu: What did you study at NYU?

KH: I majored in Photography & Imaging at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. I also majored in English Lit at NYU's College of Arts and Sciences.

PDNedu: How did you get started in photo research?

KH: After graduating NYU in 2006, I started freelancing.  I was already photographing for W while in college, but once I graduated I looked for steady work so I could stay in New York City and make a living. I began working for other fine artists, shooting for publications, and freelancing at W Magazine.  I assisted W's Photo Editor part time for approximately a year and a half.  During that time I really became familiar with W Magazine and the photo/art department. I felt like a valued member of the team.

PDNedu: How did you get your job at W Magazine?

KH: My freelance position transitioned into a full time job after I was approached to fill the Photo Research Editor position.  I was happy to accept the job as I already knew the basics and loved the atmosphere of the office.

PDNedu: What is a typical day like for you - who do you report to?

KH: Mainly, I report to the art department and our Art Director, Nathalie Kirsheh. Each day varies depending upon where we are in the cycle of each issue. I work with many people throughout the magazine; culling ideas from the writers and brainstorming with graphic designers. Once certain images are agreed upon, I begin finding those images and then routing them to our printer. Once the layouts are finalized, I label the images so that our accounting department can track the content of the issue.

This does not happen all in one day, but is spread out over our issue cycle.

PDNedu: As a researcher, what makes you eliminate certain photos while being attracted to others?

KH: After meeting with the art department and discussing the stories running in the issue, I have a better idea of the visual element behind each piece. This makes it easier for me to decide which images will work for certain stories.  For example, I am responsible for pulling images that illustrate more conceptual ideas as well as basic photographs (such as photos of celebrities at special events). I might need to pull a picture of a band-aid to supplement a story about healing after surgery. Or I might have to find photographs of fashion savvy political leaders around the world as was the case in "Party Time" which ran in our July 08 issue.

It is important to know and appreciate the aesthetic of the magazine you are working for.  It can help guide the process and ease decision making about which photographs work better than others.

  

PDNedu: What is the process of getting a photo into the magazine?

KH: 'Pick-up' art is a term we use to describe images that already exist.  These photographs do not need to be shot for the magazine. 'Pick-up' can run as the main image in a story or be secondary art which supplements a main image.  I am responsible for finding the 'pick-up.' Usually, these images can be found on stock agencies' websites.  But in some cases I might have to go beyond those sources and ask for art from galleries or stills from a film studio.

Once I have contacted the proper sources and received the correct photographs, I then have to make sure all the rights and permissions are in order. That way W magazine can legally run the images requested. Sometimes an agency or person will be kind enough to donate an image, in which case we do not have to pay for this photograph. In other cases we are required to pay for our usage of images.  This payment insures that we are indeed able to re-print the image in W Magazine.

The other type of photography that is showcased in W Magazine is commissioned art.  These images do not already exist, and are instead assigned to photographers to shoot.  Many of our beautiful portraits and all our fashion features are commissioned.  W's Photo Editor and Creative Director are responsible for that aspect of the imagery in the magazine.

PDNedu:  Do you have any advise for young photographers looking to work as a photo researcher?

KH: If you want to be involved in the magazine industry in any capacity, whether it be photo research, fashion, or editorial, start interning while in college! Take it seriously.  An internship isn't a full time job, but it is a very good way of setting a foundation.  If you are a hard worker and approach your internship in a professional manner, people will see that and be more willing to hire you rather than sift through a stack of resumes.

Check out W Magazine at www.Wmagazine.com. For Career Opportunities at W and other Conde Nast publications check out Conde Nast Careers online.

Q & A with a TeenVOGUE Photo Assistant

PDNedu interviews Photo Assistant Mardi Miskit of TeenVOGUE. She explains how she transformed from photographer to photo producer.

PDNedu: Where did you go to school and what did you study?

MM: I studied photography at Parsons School of Design.  I originally started out studying journalism at a liberal arts school in Rhode Island.  While there, I took some photo courses with a wonderful professor and fell in love with taking pictures so I decided to come to New York to pursue it.

PDNedu: How did you get started in photo editing?

MM: While at Parsons, I got an internship with Conde Nast Traveler magazine where I assisted photo editors with photo research and shoot production. After interning with them for 2 semesters, I was hired as a freelancer - in charge of film returns. During my senior year, I continued my freelance position while interning at Time Out New York.  At Time Out, I gained experience in shooting for a magazine.

PDNedu: How did you get your job at TeenVOGUE?

MM: Right before I graduated, I interviewed with human resources at Conde Nast. They informed be about the Photo Assistant position at TeenVOGUE and I immediately jumped on the opportunity.

PDNedu: What is a typical day like for you?

MM: So much goes on in a given day here.  I do everything from calling in portfolios and overseeing interns to arranging still life shoots in our digital studio and producing portrait and composition still life shoots.

PDNedu: As a producer, can you give a detailed description of how you helped out with a recent photo shoot from pre production to print?

MM: With every shoot, we first sit down with our Photo Director and Creative Director to decide on the best photographer and stylist for the specific job.  We book a hair and makeup team, scout locations/secure a studio and arrange all other specifics like catering, location vans, etc. I think the most exciting part of the process is when the film finally arrives.  We make our selects and hand them over to our art department.  Final selects are made and placed into layout.  The Uptown Girls shoot was one of the first shoots I produced at TeenVOGUE.  It was great to see all of the images come together in the final layout and even more rewarding to see one of the images also run as a portrait on our Snapshot page.  

    

PDNedu: Do you have any advice for young photographers looking to work at TeenVOGUE? 

MM: I definitely recommend doing as many internships as possible while in
school.  It is a great way to learn about the industry and discover what it
is you might want to do when you graduate.

Check out TeenVOGUE at teenvogue.com.  Learn about their job opportunities at Conde Nast careers.