ROBERT’S JOURNEY

working for The Man to living The Dream

It began in 2011

My first customers were businesses that needed someone who could wear multiple hats while holding down a Graphic Design day job.

It got real in 2013

Taking a leap of faith, I quit that day job to become a full-time independent creative, the best professional move I’ve ever made.

The journey continues

Working directly with design and creative agencies as a Retouching & Design vendor, I’ve brought Brands, Manufacturers and Retailers on as clients.

Photo Retouching & Photocomposition

Retouching is my specialty. See some examples on this site. I can share my book in person, which includes projects that contractually cannot be shared publicly. Contact me to set up a one-on-one meeting. Here is a list of things I do:

  • Executing Art Direction: Matching photographs to a common theme or art direction, such as matching backgrounds across a product shoot or the feel of a reference image or creative deck.
  • Photo Retouching: Removing blemishes or removing color casts, balancing different light sources, Frequency Separation editing, etc.
  • Photocomposition: Creative reimagining of photography, special effects. Perhaps using multiple captures, sometimes from different shoots, creating a natural-appearing result. I love a challenge!
  • RAW Processing: I always shoot RAW format in my own photography. Stylistic edits are made at the RAW conversion stage where the tools are more artistically tuned) before beginning detailed Photoshop retouching. Capture One Pro and Adobe Camera Raw are my go-to solutions.
  • Animated GIFs: Creating and editing source images to produce animated GIF images.
  • Adapt for layout needs: Extend background, quickly manipulate composition to better fit design, resample for extreme enlargement.

Production Artwork & Design

I am steeped in Production, and most of my roles require a significant Production capability. I’ve honing the skill of adapting a brand or design from one purpose to another—never losing the essence that defines the original. Consistently applied color palettes, hierarchies & brand strategies, so the derivative and original works are indistinguishable marks of success. I take my cues from existing work or style guides, needing little supervision, identifying essential design attributes & patterns. I then apply this branding to new items, improvising when needed to address undocumented design challenges. On the flip side, I love working with an Art Director to achieve their unique creative vision, artistically executed to my highest technical standards.

Graphic Design

I have developed an instinct for design over many years in the creative business. Clients at creative agencies or brand owners can apply my versatile style to a variety of design techniques. However, my efforts never lose sight of the main objective: Communicating with your audience—clearly, memorably and motivationally.

Web Design

I approach web design as an advocate for the end-user. I bring consistency and discoverability to the UI, leveraging design patterns a user intuitively understands. A natural creative problem-solver, I love figuring out how to tackle any technical situation. I use the WordPress CMS platform to power this site, and it is the CMS I know best. In addition, I leverage my network of developer partners to complete development projects.

Adaptability

Work hard & be nice to people

Anthony Burrill

I bring an adaptable workflow to each project. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. Prefab workflows are not why someone works with an independent creative producer. Sometimes this adaptability shows on the business side, fitting scope to available budget, for example. Sometimes it’s on the execution side; imagine a direction change after the shoot that necessitates unexpected photocomposition tasks—adapting to challenges like these while minimizing drama is one of my superpowers.