** If you have Questions You can ask me on Tumbler via the " Ask Me Anything " Link **

Our Story

My name is Kevin and I am a photographer. I started taking photos when I was 8 years old, and I have not stopped since.  In 2005 my wife and I started Middle J Studios, Inc. and I took to photography full time. It was a rough go and the learning curve steep, but despite the setbacks I have kept at it. Spending a good part of 2011 in Los Angeles, we are now back in Minnesota and ready for a revival of MJS!  

Calling Minneapolis my home turf, I intend to bring local vision to new heights. Using the knowledge and ideas I have gained over the years, I will highlight the culture of creativity that is alive and well in Minneapolis. I will reach out to the commercial, lifestyle, editorial, and pop-culture markets in pursuit of my goals. 

I am never short on ambition because I am an electric, enterprising, driven, young adventurer! My interests include photography, design, fashion, and many other creative endeavors.

The Impact

Successful photography is all about the proper exposure, and the new MJS will be too. 

We are planning a new robust website to show my work and a spam free blogging platform to highlight projects and behind the scenes antics. I plan frequent updates and will watch the traffic data to see what works and what doesn’t. We can help Minneapolis grow, as we grow by showcasing the creative culture we have here. Electrify my obsession and help me change my world!

After returning from LA, my wife and I have been working odd jobs but have been unable to find steady work in any fields thus far. A solid revival of Middle J Studios, would be a massive blessing to our growing family.

What We Need & What You Get

In order to give this revival some real traction we need to develop a fresh portfolio, market like crazy, and replace our outdated computer hardware and software. We also need to be efficient and effective when it comes to administering the business. We will be focusing on location based photography until we can justify a studio space. 

We have planned $6,500 in new hardware. This would center around a new MacBook Pro for robust location computing power. We will also be replacing our out dated back up system with new storage solutions tailored for photography. 

Then comes $1,200 for software. These photo tools include a RAW converter, digital asset management and an upgrade to the latest Photoshop edition. It also includes updated accounting and business management tools.

This hardware/software combination will give us the tools necessary to maintain a very streamlined, client focused business and stay on top of our invoicing and accounting, as well as import and manage vast photo archives. We will also be able to manage contracts, model releases, and other important production documents efficiently. 

We have $1,400 budgeted for revival marketing. We are going to start with a new logo contest from a site like Design Guru or 99Designs. Once we get a new logo, we will register it as our service mark and start a rebranding effort. We will set company colors, design the new website and blog and produce new business cards and letterhead.

The final category is portfolio development and production. We have $5,800 budgeted for it. This is one of the most vital areas of the marketing plan. A gorgeous portfolio is what sells any artist's work and a photographer is no different. I have about 10 new shots to produce for the new brand direction. I will be highlighting local models, locations, stylists, designers and musicians. I may also have a few surprises up my sleeves.

Any additional money raised will go to photographic equipment, and marketing. 

To say thanks we are offering the following perks.

THANK YOU!

At $10 you can reward yourself with personal satisfaction, plus good karma.

4 BY 6

At $50 we will send you a custom 4 by 6 print with a personal thank you note written on the back, plus good karma

8 by 12

At $100 we will send you a custom 8 by 12 print with a personal thank you note written on the back, plus good karma.

Promo Book

At $250 we will send you a signed 3.5 by 2.6 softcover book custom made for this campaign, plus good karma.

Other Ways You Can Help

If you rock and want to help you can share this using the share links above. The more people we can get talking about us, the better chance we have of reaching the Indiegogo front page! So tell your friends, tell your family, tell your dog, tell a rubber ball, well you get the point! Thanks so much!! Kevin~