Welcome to Waterson Designs
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Professional Marketing Tools & Techniques
Waterson Designs specializes in providing photography and design for the Green Industry and Hospitality. Beyond those two industries, Events, Weddings & Portaits are a staple for any photographer. If you have other needs outside of those outlined on this site, please email me for a quote and to discuss project specifics.
Nursery
The Nursery industry in Georgia is one of the most exciting in the nation. Under the guidance of The University of Georgia’s Trial Gardens, the newest plants are tested before being released for sale to the general market. There are no established rules with new plants. There are no photographs. Everything is a clean slate, the potential for new sales is enormous.
This is an important time for the Nursery industry to be actively involved in promoting and marketing their new cultivars. As drought tolerance, VFN resistence, light requirements and non-traditional colors become the norm, it is our job to educate the general public to the nature of these new plants.
Please check out the section on Trade, it is in the "billing" section.
Landscaping
Landscaping is a 12 month industry regardless of season. While the spring is the peak of business, customer need doesn’t end in May. From hardscapes to irrigation systems, foundation plants to accent art, the Landscaping industry forms and shapes Georgia's environment. How you reach out to old customers for repeat business is very different from how you target new clients.
Hospitality is the key to keeping customers.
Retail
Boutique retail has a very specific set of needs to drive its customer base. Establishing new clientele and keeping regular customers active and purchasing are the trials of any retail establishment. With garden retail the key to success is edutainment, bringing the customer in, keeping them active and interested in gardening, and then releasing them with knowledge and high sales.
Please read the section on E-marketing in the Services section.
Hospitality Industry for Food & Beverage
Recently I worked with Mary Reynolds, of The Reynolds Group, the industry’s superlative restaurant PR & Marketing firm. I learned an immense wealth of protocol and practicum while working under Mary and am forever indebted to her. As both a photographer and graphic designer for The Reynolds Group I worked with the crème de la crème of Atlanta restauranteuring.
Restaurants
My past clients are: Bacchanalia, TWO urban licks, di Paolo, Seasons 52, Sotto Sotto, Taurus, Quinones At Bacchanalia, The Grape, Floataway Café, TROIS, Pura Vida, ONE. midtown kitchen, piebar, LUMA on Park, Murphy’s, Tap, Doc Chey’s, Georgia Grille, Food 101, Aqua Blue, Hi Life, Marlow’s Tavern, The Glenn Hotel, Ibiza, Imperial Fez, Fritti, Il Pasticcio, MoSaiC, Oceanaire Seafood Room, Pub 71, Rosa Mexicano, SOHO, Village Tavern, Wolfgang Puck Express, Lobby at TWELVE, Provisions to Go, Meehan’s, Coastal Kitchen, Jim ‘N Nick’s, Alon’s Bakery and Market, Star Provisions, Atlanta Brewing Company, Lotus Lounge, Atlanta Botanical Garden, American Liver Foundation’s Flavors of Atlanta Event, DE Fine Art, Les Dames d’Escoffier’s Dinner on the Grounds at Serenbe, Wine South, MARKET, Alternative Apparel, Bill Hallman, eon at Lindbergh.
Chefs
I’ve had the fortune of working with many of Atlanta’s A-list personalities in both Cooking and Entertainment: Anne Quatrano, Clifford Harrison, Richard Blais, Bob Amick, Clifford Pleau,Lisa Arrindell Anderson, Karen Hilliard, Brandon McGlamery, Gary Mennie, Riccardo Ullio, Todd Rushing, Hector Santiago, Scott Serpas, Jonathan St. Hilaire, George Miliotes & Usher Raymond.
Food & Drink
My Online portfolio of images from Restaurants around Atlanta. If you own or manage a restaurant, please send me an email. Click here for Gallery
This section of clips are incomplete, as pitching at The Reynolds Group continues for their clients, my images will continue to be sent out. Click here for Gallery of Publications
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Portraits
Professional Headshots are an art to themselves. Successful portraits are a subtle merger between lighting, pose and ease of subject. Having your photo taken can be a stressful process. Post production can highlight your features, whether you want to be highly airbrushed or a more modest Oliver Cromwell – style (Warts and All!).
I began shooting professional headshots in 2000 while working at Image Photo. I started out taking the passport photos. Then overtime, I was trusted to shoot the real estate business card images. Headshots are a marriage between skill and science. Lets discuss how you would like to look in your image and how to best convey the ideas of your headshot.
Weddings
We have the extreme honor of collaborating with Our Labor of Love. For information on Weddings please visit their site.
Email Marketing
The most cost effective method of advertising to a large customer base is through Email Campaigns. It is extremely important for any business, large or small, to build a database of email addresses. Whether you currently utilize this marketing tool or plan to in the future there are several ways to expand your database. Download this “Sign-Up” sheet for next to the register at your Retail establishment. Add email address as a line on any informational forms or ask for it during initial quoting process. Finally just a bowl for a business card drop can be an effective method, especially if your cashiers are rather persuasive.
Understanding the Process
If you aren’t currently using Email Blasts, Waterson Designs will help you to set up an account with a list service. The Monthly fee, which you are responsible for paying directly, will depend on the number of email addresses in your database and frequency of email blasts. Typically it isn’t recommended that a list is emailed more than twice a month.
Creating a template is the most effective way to match your company’s current branding concept. Your logo, your colors, your photos are all integrated into the template. Usually it consists of just a header and footer with possibly a sidebar, but can be as simple or complicated, static or moving, whatever the project requires. The template has a space for copy to change out with each Blast. For your convenience, once a template has been designed each month you email Waterson Designs the new copy. The copy is proof read and laid out in the template, you are sent a proof for final approval. Or just email over your ideas and Waterson Designs will write the copy. If your budget is restricted, Waterson Designs offers training for minor html coding so you can write and code your own blasts in the formatted template.
Web Maintenance
Web Design is an arduous and expensive industry. Typically a website takes 6 weeks to go live after initial meetings and can cost between 5,000 and 10,000 depending on the features required on the site. Many companies keep the same site for many years, however the content changes as the business evolves. Many times websites are out of date which is frowned upon by customers while they try to access information. It makes your company seem out of touch. Keeping your content up to date is as easy as a single email once Waterson Designs has the necessary codes to access the backdoor of your site. All web editing is done through the dual use of hand coding and Adobe/Macromedia CS3 technologies.
Photography
Canon, Nikon, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Sinar. The digital industry is ever evolving; constantly pushing the imaging technology further each year. Waterson Designs uses Canon technology, both Mark 2 DS and 20D. A number of lenses are interchangeable to allow the camera bodies to capture the most appropriate image of each subject. From wide angle lenses to get the whole scene, tilt-shift lenses to pull lines and focus into proportion, standard lenses for portraits, or macro lenses for intense close-ups. All editing is done in Adobe’s Photoshop CS3 application.
If 17 mega pixels aren’t enough for large print campaigns and outdoor graphic billboards, equipment rentals are less and less expensive everyday.
Are film negatives a requirement for a particular aspect of a project? Waterson Designs has the ability to traditionally photograph your subject matter. Whether its 35mm, 120mm (6x7), 4x5, or 8x10 we can give you the size and shape you require.
Graphic Design
Design is an important aspect of the advertising industry. Design is a series of mathematical codes that allow your logo and branding concept to be scaled and converted to any number of printed and web applications. A clear understanding of file space, color space, and bit depth is required to make your printing a success.
Design work is split between two applications. Single item materials are designed in Adobe Illustrator CS3. Large print campaigns such as books, pamphlets & programs are designed in Adobe InDesign CS3. A complete portfolio of design work is available at in person meetings if requested.
To maximize the ease and affordability of design work, please have your logo in a vector format. Appropriate file formats are either AI or EPS. Please do not send JPG or GIF logos. Take the time to contact the person who created your logo and request a "vector format that has been converted to outlines." Industry professionals will understand exactly what that means. Likewise, colors are an important part of branding. Please document your Pantone (PMS) values as provided during logo development. Aquiring this information before an initial client meeting will speed up the design process and decrease your bill.
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Payment
Currently I am accepting payment in two forms. You may either pay using credit/debit card via paypal or you may pay by check/cash. At this time, payment is due at the time of shooting. As we establish a relationship and negotiate contract work, I will set up a monthly billing cycle. Unfortunately, until we have such a relationship, I am not accepting payment after delivery of images.
Printing
Turnkey printing operations are preferred to peace meal. The print shop offers the best quality in printing in the Atlanta area. He is able to print and ship anything anywhere. Most business owners that use printed collateral have formed a relationship with a local printer. That is not a problem. Whether you want to work with our printer or your own, Waterson Designs will prep the files for print and send them to the appropriate printer.
For materials printed using my printer, payment in full is required before printing. We apologize for this inconvenience, but unless we are under contract, all printing will be done after payment is received.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is the corner stone of this industry. From your marketing initiatives to passwords and codes for your website, Waterson Designs will never share or sell your information with others. If confidentiality is a concern, a confidentiality agreement can be produced for both parties.
Outside of Atlanta
Photo shoots Outside of metro Atlanta cannot be avoided. The best new plant cultivars are being created in nurseries outside of Atlanta. Depending on the distance and the scope of the project, travel time can be negotiated. If travel time is a budget concern, specific items to be photographed can be Express Mailed, Couriered, or Driven to Atlanta.
The majority of Design is approved via PDF sent through email. Face to Face meetings are not required for routine design work to be completed. Digital materials are electronically submitted to you or to the publication you are advertising with. Printed materials are printed either through your local print shop or the print house we use and mailed to your location.
Trade
Everyone benefits from like-as trade of goods for services. Generally Trade does not exceed 50% of the total invoice per project. However, Waterson Designs would rather work with a company that doesn’t feel like they can afford high quality photographs or design elements for trade than have cash in hand. Adam tends 3 gardens; a mountain rock garden and surrounding grounds in North Carolina, an under story garden that is inhabited by deer near Amicaloa Falls, and a Piedmont garden in south east Metro Atlanta.
Organic Matter, Hardscape Materials, Ornamental Plants, Mature B&B Trees or Medium-sized Container grown Trees, Fertilizer, Garden Art, Outdoor Furniture, Labor. As Adam develops a definitive plan for each garden space this site will be updated to reflect the specific plants I’m interested in collecting. I will always trade Labor for Labor, I have a tree that needs to be removed and some bobcat work that needs to be done, so let’s talk.
Stock
You may purchase one of my images for Stock purposes. Stock allows you to use the image for different publications and a variety of applications. Pricing is based on the number of uses and the quantity of reproduction. Please email me for stock pricing specifics. If you are interested in a specific image, but don't see it on the site, please email me and inquire whether I have an appropriate image.
Contact
Due to the nature of the internet, I am currently not offering my cellphone number unsolicited. Please send me an email if you would like to talk to me via a telephone and I will call you right back.
When you email, please be specific about the nature of your inquiry. Tell me your name, the company, phone, website and the nature of your inquiry whether it is Fine Art prints or a specific type of commercial work.
Email me at adam at waterson designs dot com
Adam Waterson
Adam graduated from Georgia State University in Atlanta with a BFA degree in Fine Art Photography. He excelled conceptually under the tutelage of Conne Thalken, Nancy Floyd & Matt Haffner. He specialized in printing large scale Color photographs and Alternative process works. His thesis was a video art piece that incorporated installation, performance and photography.
During college he worked in Midtown's former Image Photo as a Darkroom Technician. After three years at Image Photo it closed down and Adam was forced to find new employment. He started as a food runner at Virginia Highland's local hot spot, Neighbors Pub. He quickly became a waiter and spent the better part of 2 years with Neighbors. Money was great during the Spring and Summer, but after 2 years the long hours took their toll.
In '05, Adam decided to switch to a new restaurant, Concentrics Restaurant's newest concept, piebar. By the end of the first two weeks Adam was among a handful of Trainers, responsible for running the shift and training new employees on service, food & technique. This experience forged his deep knowledge of both Wine and Italian Charcuterie (Meats and Cheeses). After only 9 months with piebar, Adam was asked to join the PR firm that represents piebar, The Reynolds Group.
At The Reynolds Group, Adam worked closely with marketing specialists to create design collateral that was the best fit for the industry. He worked with restaurants to improve their branding and image, often styling the food on photoshoots himself. After an extended stay with The Reynolds Group, Adam moved on to form his own company, Waterson Designs.
Adam is a Master Gardener. He prides himself in learning new things everyday and finding new ways to share and educate the community at large.
Legal
At this time there are no legal concerns besides Confidentiality which was detailed in the Billing section.
Fine Art
At this time, there is a single gallery of images to view. As work is created and edited this site will expand to feature that content.
Garden Macros
If the Gallery does not automatically load in a new window, please click here.
Gallery2
At this time I have not produced a second gallery of images.
Commercial Pricing
Pricing
Residential Pricing
Pricing Structure
Stock
You may purchase one of my images for Stock purposes. Stock allows you to use the image for different publications and a variety of applications. Pricing is based on the number of uses and the quantity of reproduction. Please email me for stock pricing specifics. If you are interested in a specific image, but don't see it on the site, please email me and inquire whether I have an appropriate image.
The Green Industry
Please choose whether you are involved in landscaping, nursery production or garden retail.
Recently I worked with Mary Reynolds owner of The Reynolds Group, the industry’s superlative restaurant PR & Marketing firm. I learned an immense wealth of protocol and practicum while working under Mary and am forever indebted to her. As both a photographer and graphic designer for The Reynolds Group I worked with the crème de la crème of Atlanta restaurantoring.
Events & Portraits
Please choose the type of Event you're interested in. Email me for specifics.
Billing
Specifics are detailed in the buttons to the left.
Services
Additional services are offered besides the 4 to the left. Email me to quote specifics or for me to put you intouch with someone who can help with your specific needs.
Artist Resume
I have not yet put this up.
Quantity
If you are interested in redecorating an office or want to start a collection of pieces, please email me with the specific quantity and sizes of photographs and I will re-quote prices.
Legal
All photographs in Fine Art are the sole property of the Photographer. Unlicensed use of said photographs can lead to judicial action. If you're interested in taking images for your personal computer's background, please send me an email and let me know.
Contact
Due to the nature of the internet, I am currently not offering my cellphone number unsolicited. Please send me an email if you would like to talk to me via a telephone and I will call you right back.
When you email, please be specific about the nature of your inquiry. Tell me your name, the company, phone, website and the nature of your inquiry whether it is Fine Art prints or a specific type of commercial work.
Email me at adam at waterson designs dot com
Adam Waterson
Adam graduated from Georgia State University in Atlanta with a BFA degree in Fine Art Photography. He excelled conceptually under the tutelage of Conne Thalken, Nancy Floyd & Matt Haffner. He specialized in printing large scale Color photographs and Alternative process works. His thesis was a video art piece that incorporated installation, performance and photography.
During college he worked in Midtown's former Image Photo as a Darkroom Technician. After three years at Image Photo it closed down and Adam was forced to find new employment. He started as a food runner at Virginia Highland's local hot spot, Neighbors Pub. He quickly became a waiter and spent the better part of 2 years with Neighbors. Money was great during the Spring and Summer, but after 2 years the long hours took their toll.
In '05, Adam decided to switch to a new restaurant, Concentrics Restaurant's newest concept, piebar. By the end of the first two weeks Adam was among handful of Trainers, responsible for running the shift and training new employees on service, food & technique. This experience forged his deep knowledge of both Wine and Italian Charcuterie (Meats and Cheeses). After only 9 months with piebar, Adam was asked to join the PR firm that represents piebar, The Reynolds Group.
At The Reynolds Group, Adam worked closely with marketing specialists to create design collateral that was the best fit for the industry. He worked with restaurants to improve their branding and image, often styling the food on photoshoots himself. After an extended stay with The Reynolds Group, Adam moved on to form his own company, Waterson Designs.
Adam is a Master Gardener. He prides himself in learning new things everyday and finding new ways to share and educate the community at large.