Alex Mertz

Athletic, Fashion Photographer. Art Director. NYC/ PDX/ LA · Atlantic Records

Los Angeles, CA

In My Own Words

Freelance Photographer/Art Director with over 16 years of experience shooting editorial, commercial, advertising and e-commerce for Clients including: Nike (cross-category), Converse shoes, Atlantic Records, Tiffany&Co, Marc Jacobs and Philips. Highly knowledgeable in all film/digital camera formats, Capture One work flow and Photoshop. Staying ahead of the curve with industry trends. Excellent communication and organizational skills, ability to multi-task on several projects. Dabbler of the motion dark arts and champion dice player.

Work Experience

Freelance Photographer

Atlantic Records

2015 – Present

Photographer / Owner

Mertz Photo

2005 – Present

Collaborating with clients to produce a superb and creative end product. Result: High 5's and champagne (of beers).

Senior Photographer

Straub Collaborative, Inc

2021 – 2024

Shooting, art directing, and lighting still and motion assets for major sports/ apparel brands. Both on figure and product photography/videography. Extensive experience working directly with clients on set and location returning with outstanding results and client feedback. Proficient in all avenues of in-house content creation and able to educate and demonstrate to new or less experienced colleagues.

Photographer

The Line Studios

2019 – 2020

Overseeing demanding high-volume shot counts, while directly communicating w/ or taking over art director duties. Organizing all creative assets to multiple servers for mirrored backup and client delivery.

Freelance Photographer

Industrial Color

2019 – 2020

Fashion Photographer

CreativeDrive

2017 – 2020

Freelance photographer

Nike

2011 – 2018

Freelance Videographer

Nike

2011 – 2018

Demanding shoot schedules, juggling stills and video for both still life, and on-figure while communicating with art directors, clients, and producers to maintain the utmost quality are an everyday part of studio life. Challenging, but always rewarding.

Contributing Photographer

Snowboarder Magazine

2005 – 2015

Studio/ Photo Assistant

Nemo Design

2007 – 2009

Necessary Skills: - Acquainted with all the photographic equipment in the studio. - Excellent interpersonal and communication skills - Photography handing software and applications. - Organized and practical - Operate digital and traditional cameras, and scanning equipment - Excellent communication skills - Foresee and evaluate potential problems, and deal with them calmly - Proficient in image-management software - Attention to detail

Education

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Digital Photography

University of Alaska

2005

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Digital Photography

Interests

EditingFashionVideographyDesignAdvertisingCreative directionApparelSocial media marketingStylingArt directionE-commerceEditorialVideo productionAction photographyFashion photographyPortrait photographyTravel photographyStudio photographyCommercial photography

Skills

Adobe Creative SuiteE-commerceStudio PhotographyDSLRFashionApparelStylingDigital Capture35mmTeamworkDesignPhotographyDigital PhotographySocial MediaPortrait PhotographyAdvertisingCommercial PhotographyFilm PhotographyAction PhotographyCreative DirectionVideographyVideo ProductionArt DirectionSpiritual DirectionlightroomEditorialLook BooksFashion PhotographyTravel PhotographyQuantum MechanicsCommercial Product PhotographyPhotoshopLightroomAdobe PhotoshopSocial Media MarketingEditing