Presenting Kate chase

Recently i contacted Kate Chase to get an insight as to where she is headed with Artisan & the artist's she represents.

Hi Kate

PP: Im loving what your doing with Artisan, I think this is progressive and its what we need in the world of retouching and where it is headed? Where do you see it all going ?

Kate: I see it all going to become a true magazine actually (slowly I’m sure). I’ve always loved the New York Times Style Guides with their uber-creative use of fonts, the writing and the overall tone and was very clear that is how I communicated it to the designer, Teddy Brown (and someone recently asked if they could advertise – a bit premature but certainly part of the vision).

For now, I am using Artisan to showcase not only what’s going on with the artist’s that I agent for but to also use it as an educational tool for those who want to know more. And, I especially like that I can give voice to what I know and see by using the Letter from the Editor to write down my perspective on the industry at-large.

PP: I'd love to see a curriculum for retouching. How do you think we can drive the industry towards this outcome?

Kate: It’s something I’ve given a lot of thought to on what the program would like look and what would need to be taught to those wanting to learn the trade -and am still thinking about it so keep checking back with me as I think I have some ideas in early development. Those ideas are based on the issues that I saw when I started agenting. Curriculum is definitely the driving idea early idea behind the recruitment capabilities on the site.

PP: I must say you have a great team you’re representing and I love their work .How did you pick your artist and where do you want to direct them next?

I have to say that it’s fate that brought us all together. I’ve been in retouching management for 25 years and 2-years ago, as a result of being a free-agent myself, I looked around and realized that many of the superior artist’s I’d known over the years were recently independent and having many friends as photo agents, the idea cemented to agent for this group became a reality. The early vision still resonates (even more so) that since I was a talker, I could continue to be an advocate but now for the independent artisan as business resource and it’s been a great journey that I think we’ve all enjoyed in learning about ourselves as new business owner’s blending art & commerce. On a side note, our business coach recently commented that he’s never seen an industry where there is no one accountable to an estimate and was further amazed at how many people play a part in the retouching process – we have 2 group post producer’s working on projects to now ensure that run-away hours are the exception rather than the norm. As for where they go next, it’s interesting to chronicle that as Artisan develops, I see quite clearly during the interview process that who wants to do what becomes clearer for each artist – whether it be growing, staying small, what type of work speaks to them and that it’s my job to help make that happen for them. And lastly, we are a cooperative -- independent and also sometimes interdependent and that results in some very sweet project collaborations and shared work. We recently had our 2nd roundtable in February where we just hung out and this year we started with some professional coaching to make sure that we grow and enjoy what we sort of threw ourselves into as it relates to each artist’s own business.

PP: I have noticed that your retoucher's play a major part in the process for the finished product of the image of the photographer's they worked with. Do you think that maybe one day soon we will see credits for the retouch along side the photographer?

That’s a question for the 8-ball but certainly it’s changing here & there every day. A photographer I know called the At-Edge publication last year and asked if they would give credit on his advertising to the retoucher who had collaborated heavily, bring his own style to the piece, and they said no. I called them to get a bit more insight, and they were nice (very old-school) but said that the end-user only wanted to see the photographer’s name -- we will try again next year. However, on a progressive side, I met with an editor at Communication Arts last week for purposes of a portfolio review because the editor is now thinking about how best to shine the light on our industry. I think it’s hard to acknowledge the retoucher for many because, well, because in reality, you have many who play an important role in the making of a picture and it can’t be like the movies and/or the Oscar’s (yet) where everyone who played a role gets a credit – at least not in my lifetime. Photographer’s are becoming like directors though and needing to know who is best at helping find solutions when clients call upon them to solve problems.

PP: When working with your artists do you look out for up and coming photographer's to work with?

I actually don’t look for photographer’s on specific projects for the artists and it’s evolved that the photographers actually comes our way first. We also get calls from agencies when it’s a heavy post projects looking for referrals on photographer’s and that’s always feels good to recommend a photographer that works/preps well for an artist (not all are composite experts yet).




PP: What advice would you give anyone starting out in the field of retouching ?

I would say that what I see is important to being a successful retoucher is someone who is schooled in the arts, well traveled, intuitive, (70% artist and 30% technical are the percentages that I see work best). Oh, and willing to speak their mind about what they are being asked to do or what and why they’ve done something to an image.


PP: What drive's you in the world of business and promotion?

Kate: Me, I love sales, marketing and good design and it was also the idea of getting to do my own marketing that really sealed the deal for taking on the role of agent. I also love the creative mind and am pretty consistently curious about what makes someone tick and then helping them solve problems.

The end.