Karl Mortensen Email & Phone Number

Houston, Texas, United States

Manage the ecommerce and content studios for Academy Sports and Outdoors. Repaired and maintained a stellar relationship with the client while growing our service offering.• Currently lead a team of 9 in-house photography and supporting associates, in addition to 7 offshore retouchers. Facilitate performance reviews, growth initiatives, periodic work quality audits, and role evolution.• E-commerce imagery, branding imagery for in-house collections, campaign imagery for national brands.• Work with client’s art directors to help define and evolve style guides and lighting direction for new brands.• Create video content for broadcast advertising, corporate communications and quarterly business updates with C-suite executives.• Project management of large-scale photo and video shoots.• Sample management.• Equipment management: research emerging equipment and software trends, maintain existing assets, implemented duty cycle cadence for equipment replacement.• Balance and manage on-site and offshore retouching teams.

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Managed the content creation studios for the world’s largest and fastest growing Amazon aggregator of over 200 premium brands. My production team has cranked out accurate and compelling on-white and lifestyle imagery as well as SBV, AMA and Kickstarter content.• Built production team of photographers, stylists, videographers, and supporting staff to create content for Marketing, Brand and eCommerce art teams.• Researched, tested, reviewed and implemented relevant and compliant content.• Oversaw transition and decommission of DAM platforms and implemented archive cadence.• Established relationship and managed offshore post-production team.

Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area

Fostered a team of creatives to build and deploy award-winning messaging, collateral material and brand initiatives for our retail partners as well as our direct-to-consumer sites. Generated a renewed confidence in our imaging department and brought together creative teams spanning 4 countries. Expanded the service offering of our department through extended education for team members, employing contract talent, and leveraging talent from sister companies. Reduced hemorrhaging budget by identifying and eliminating unnecessary spend.• Reduced SLA from 2 months to just 6 days after inheriting an operation plagued with delayed product launches, duplicate SKUs, and disgruntled staff. Initiated and implemented strategies which quickly improved staff morale and productivity.• Established and implemented creative standards and processes to ensure quality deliverables while managing the production of 360-degree video devices to satisfy online imagery needs for each retailer.• Directed and produced showcase reels with 3D renders of complex processes, marketplace choices, and responsible sourcing of materials.• Managed 6 onsite photographers, 4 graphic artists, copywriter, social media coordinator and support staff as well as remote retouch team.

Louisville, Kentucky Area

Photographer based in Amazon’s largest off-figure studio charged primarily with driving quality in jewelry and timepieces, sportswear, footwear and eyewear, in addition to championing studio safety in all North American studios. OSHA certified for safety compliance, first aid, CPR, and incident reporting.• Implemented a rotational cadence to cross-train all photographers for any subject matter, reducing the risk of increasing SLA with a singular workforce absence.• Tested and developed new lighting practices for eyewear, watches and ghost mannequin.• Subject matter expert accountable for authoring and implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and training manuals to improve efficiency and streamline operations.• Led, trained, and developed permanent and freelance photographers in lighting, software, workflow, and process.• Partnered with Operations Team to optimize workflow for specific product types.• Decreased injuries by 15% across all studios in North America as EHS Lead by creating an environment of increased safety awareness through signage, email messaging, and continued training; broadcasted these efforts across all North America studios.• Participated in Kaizen events for continuous improvement.• Partnered with equipment manager to develop routine maintenance cadence and identify new equipment opportunities• Traveled to neighboring studios to cross-train and seek process efficiency opportunities.

Phoenix, Az

Strategic liaison between dealership management principles and wary consumers, granting confidence and transparency through the car-buying process. Creative partner for branded messaging through web, print and broadcast.• Advertising and graphic design for eight automotive dealerships • Web design, mobile interface, user experience (HTML-5, javascript)• Copywriting, interpreting manufacturers’ message and retargeting to local customers• Email campaigns and customer relationship management• Compliance with FTC regulations and strict manufacturers’ legal requirements• SEO campaigns, SEM strategies using Google Analytics and AdWords• Generated social media content and built followers via grass-roots and paid targeting efforts• Directed all photographic operations for five automotive dealerships • Trained and supervised assistant photographers in software and workflow• Designed and implemented Digital Asset Management• Photographed dealer- and corporate-sponsored events and staff portraits

Los Angeles, Ca And Phoenix, Az

Contract photographer creating and fostering partnerships with small retailers, startups and multi-national corporations. Generated a broad mix of imagery to satisfy e-commerce, social, print, and email needs.• Product, architectural, fashion, and event photography and videography.• 360-degree product video.• Retouching, clipping paths, and color authoring to provide web-ready assets.• Graphic and web design, catalog layout and ad campaign consultation.• Studio and equipment consultation, set building and maintenance.

Moorpark, Ca

Designed and built a photo studio for an expanding creative team. Devised and executed a “shoot abroad” program that brought the photography process to the product in overseas factories, as opposed to waiting for the product to ship and clear the Customs Department, resulting in sales materials delivered to customers 6 weeks sooner.• Product photography for revolving annual catalog of 14,000 items.• Produced lifestyle photography in studio and on location to showcase collections.• Managed studio cap-ex budget and freelance staff.• Produced video interviews of product designers and sales staff.• Maintained all equipment and devised depreciation schedule for aging assets.

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Commercial Photography, Marketing

Activities and Societies: Surf Club, Cycling Club, Backpackers Anonymous.

Music