Pros: free lunches for photoshoots that are for big name clients, such as kraft foods or wal-mart, getting to work in a creative environment
Cons: no healthcare for photography assistants
Meredith is a fairly large company, employees number to about 3,200, that's however withholding all freelance art directors and photographers that make the rounds quite frequently. The photo studio in Meredith's basement is best described as a giant warehouse divided into a dozen or so sets to accommodate constantly scheduled photo shoots for the many
– more... magazines the company publishes.
Days start at 8:00am so I'm usually there a bit before to begin setting up the scheduled photoshoot for the day. I start with lighting, then hauling in a sweep, and usually finish with setting up the camera. Throughout the shoot I bring my photographer or the art directors on set whatever they request and make sure everything runs smoothly.
The environment is very relaxed and enjoyable to be in. There are eight photographers and an assistant to match. All of us get along in great moods and help the other out if one shoot is lagging and another had been cut short earlier in the day.
The greatest part of Meredith is the diversity that comes with each day. On monday I'll be in the test garden in downtown Des Moines assisting a strawberry plant photoshoot and on tuesday I'll be on the road to Andalusia, Illinois, en route to a shoot for a woodworking magazine. – less