DeBoer Representation Overview

Business Philosophy

Add value any way I can; photography, consulting, directing. Have fun; accept projects with good people with whom you enjoy working. Don’t take projects that won’t advance your career or contribute to relationships you value. Surround yourself with smart people who raise the results to a higher level. Listen to all ideas but be a decisive yet gracious leader. Wisdom and experience carry a lot of weight on the set. Prepare.

Representation - Why Now?

The business has been operating by word of mouth since 2006; my personal and professional contacts worked hard for me. While I win my share of regional projects, requests for proposals have slowed to a stop this year.

I need to shake things up and I’m looking forward to being part of a team. My business will benefit from a different viewpoint, a broader reach, collective experiences, better negotiating, and shared goals. I work best in collaboration and I have recently lost 2 of my most valued creative team members to career changes.

Expectations

I want to find a team that has a depth of experience and a “can do” attitude. Having a group of talented photographers, film makers and support with a sense of camaraderie is a big plus. I have no short term expectations from the relationship; I have too much experience not to realize new business takes time.

Going Forward

I believe that photographers need filmmaking solutions that compliment our still work. I started OryxCreatives.com a few years ago with that in mind. Oryx is where my video resides. It’s organized so that my “first calls” - preferred crew and support - have a home. Oryx has also served as my consulting base; I’ve worked as a creative director for companies that need help managing a creative team or forming a creative plan from scratch through post production. I look forward to continuing video storytelling in addition to still photography.

I also believe I have yet to do my best work. I’ve said more times than I can count that no matter how long I do this thing, I feel like a beginner; probably why I’m still in the biz after almost 40 years. I’m forever starting over even though I carry a lifetime of experience. The bottom line: I’m looking for good opportunities to perform and learn. I simply love that photography often serves as a backstage pass to the world.

Marketing

As mentioned above, I’ve relied mostly on word of mouth and keeping my name on awards. However, I have been a regular advertiser in Luerzer’s Archive, used some targeted email blasts and participate in some web portals. Once I have a marketing partner I will make whatever marketing changes are agreed upon.

Brief History

I’ve been a working professional photographer since 1982. I graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1980 and assisted as a freelancer in Boston for 2 years before launching my own business - DeBoer, Inc. I accepted a position with Hallmark Cards in Kansas City in 1988 as a manager of their 2.5 million dollar (yr. budget) photography studio. In1992 I moved to Raleigh, NC to work with my RIT College roommate, Jim Erickson, as a studio photographer while he covered people on location. The relationship peaked as a split team on the 1996 Harley Davidson Catalog and ended shortly after when Erickson moved to San Fransisco. My photography from the Harley shoot was featured in Graphis Journal vol. 312.

As a result of Jim’s move, I opened Stone Soup Productions with his staff that remained in Raleigh, selling it in 1999 to my partners when I accepted a job with a small advertising agency in Chicago as a Sr. Account Executive.

In 2001, I moved back to Raleigh to work with a design firm, Synthesis Creative, as their Director of Marketing. I returned to photography as DeBoer Works LLC in 2006. In addition to agency, editorial and corporate work, I rejoined Jim Erickson leading the second team on large productions including advertising photography in the Eastern United States, and large productions in the U.S., Europe, China, Hawaii and for Norwegian Cruise lines.

Awards/Publications

There is a long list on my website starting after I left Hallmark Cards in 1992 here: brucedeboer.com

Referrals and Testimonials

Once we get to that point, I can introduce numerous creatives who will back me up.