Landon, Kathleen

As the house photographer for Essendant (formerly United Stationers) for 10 years, Kathleen has developed a robust and seasoned background in consumer-friendly product positioning. She understands the nuances of marketing products to the tastes and preferences of different channel audiences. She specializes in lighting that produces rich, vibrant and accurate color for a stunning image. Kathleen has also worked with Honeywell, AmpliVox, Iceberg and others. New partnership with GE for 2019.

In 2006, senior management asked me to develop an in-house photographic studio. This was entirely new to Essendant (formerly United Stationers), who had previously outsourced all photographic needs. As the wholesale distributor of some 27,000 products, this was a huge undertaking and I was thrilled and challenged to learn about print photography and the new rapidly-changing digital world. Learning how to present our product lines in their strongest light became my focus. I leveraged the strength of contrast for the printed page -- and supported it with the power of lighting, shape and contour -- to deliver beautiful product shots. The goal was to offer high-quality and cost-effective solo product images that were photographed in-house, as an alternative source. This was a top-down "WOW" (War on Waste) Initiative, which saved the company minimally one million dollars. During this time, our team also developed corporate brand standards. I was the point person on image guidelines. The in-house studio I developed was designed for quick-response product shots for our product managers and our partner suppliers, such as 3M, Hewitt Packard, Cross Pens and others. The work expanded to include environmental settings and lifestyle imagery. As the creative capabilities of Essendant grew, I collaborated with internal and external art directors, writers, designers and marketing people to bring their vision to fruition. As the result of my work around these goals, I gained a passionate skill to capture the essence of still life and the aura that drives value-add around products and services.

As a buyer, I worked with outside vendors to create student apparel, which drove energy around the schools we represented.

High fashion window mannequins arrangements, set-up of new store locations, arranged floors areas for better selling of products

Assisted fellow students in hand building, wheel throwing, glaze and firing techniques.

Foundation in Fine Art offered an opportunity for students to experience many types of channels of expression. My choices: Sculpture : welding metals, wood and stone. PrintMaking: stone lithography , copper plate and silkscreen . Press printing and ink techniques. Ceramics : stoneware and porcelain clays. Kiln stoneware and salt firing techniques .