Straub Collaborative, Inc.

Employee Spotlight
Nick Woo
Photographer, Hong Kong

We are excited to feature Nick Woo with an Employee Spotlight! It’s hard to have a photography studio without photographers, so Nick's creative and collaborative contributions are vital to the studio's success. Supporting the Hong Kong Team for over six years, Nick has been instrumental in creating a positive atmosphere for his colleagues and clients to be successful.

Nick is also a coffee aficionado, loves to travel, and would love to visit the Kingdom of Wakanda if given the chance.

Read more about Nick and his role at Straub on our website!
https://straubcollaborative.com/nick-w/

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month! To our Latino/Hispanic community members and employees, we celebrate you and thank you for all you do.

Before jumping headfirst into Fall, each of the studios celebrated the final days of summer with Summer Refresh events!
Our Portland studio spent a fun filled day at Oaks Amusement Park, our Hong Kong team went rock climbing for the afternoon, and our New York City studio opted for dinner on a boat on the Hudson River!
Look at photos from our teams’ adventures! Which teams outing would you choose to go on?

At Straub Collaborative we believe it’s important to remember just how far women’s rights in the U.S. have come.

In 1920, the 19th amendment was signed into law in the U.S., granting some women the right to vote. This was a major step forward in the recognition of voter rights. Yet, it would be another 45 years before the Voting Rights Act of 1965 would prohibit racial discrimination in voting, and thus allow women of color the right to vote in the many states where they had remained disenfranchised.

On Women’s Equality Day we honor those everywhere who work with courage and determination to promote women’s rights in an ever-evolving world.

Image Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-23622
LOC, LC 97500240
Library of Congress, cph 3a24586

Check out some Damn Good Content created in our New York City studio!
Thank you to model Beatriz Martinello, check her out at Heroes Models!

Straub_Chicos_Sizzle_05 2 This is "Straub_Chicos_Sizzle_05 2" by Straub Collaborative on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

Looking for the perfect studio rental space to capture your next campaign? 📸

Our stunning photography studios in NYC and Northwest Portland are available for rent!
Our private studio spaces feature high ceilings, c*c walls, makeup stations, conference rooms, and a kitchenette. Each rental space supports fashion, ready-to-wear apparel, food, product, and video productions.

Contact us today to book your studio rental!
https://straubcollaborative.com/rental-studios/

Rental Studios - Straub Collaborative | Starrett-Lehigh Building NYC | Portland Oregon Straub Collaborative now offers studio rental space within the Starrett-Lehigh building in Chelsea New York and studios in Portland Oregon.

🌟 Last week, Straub Collaborative PDX studio was buzzing with activity! 🌍 Employees from around the globe gathered in Portland for the Studio Managers Summit. Alongside Jim Zdancewicz, Elizabeth Semple, and client partners, we also hosted a workshop. The week was filled with Training sessions, fun activities, Food trucks with lunch on the lawn, and in person meetings.
A special welcome to Hong Kong Project Manager, Mary Chan, who joined us for the workshop. 🙌
Thank you to the Portland Team, with a special appreciation to Will Amend and Brogan Jordan for their invaluable support to our visitors and guests. Your efforts made this week a great success! 🎉

Clearing a Path to Equity - The Americans with Disabilities Act

Today, we celebrate the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This law was pivotal in providing protections to over 55 million Americans by prohibiting discrimination by employers, adding requirements for accessibility, and providing access to various government programs for people with disabilities.

While progress has been made, there’s still a long way to go. At Straub we’re clearing a path in our industry by wholeheartedly investing in facilities upgrades such as the ramp shown in the accompanying photo of our Portland studio installed when we renovated in 2018. We host initiatives like our culture team, employee resource groups, weekly one on one meetings between managers and employees, and moving towards full web accessibility. We always strive to give our people the best tools and support to do their best work.

Anna Schaum,, AVP Culture and Equity

Workplace Safety Milestone: Red Cross Training Achievement

🎉 Congratulations to the SCNYC studio team Anthony, Paul, and Vanessa (left to right) for successfully completing the Red Cross training in Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED! 🏅

A big shoutout to NYC Studio Manager Mark Naradowski for leading this essential training. Your dedication to safety is inspiring!

“Let music swell the breeze, and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song…”

These are middle lines from the song “America” (My Country ‘Tis of Thee), written in 1831. "America" was first sung in public on July 4, 1831, at a children's concert at Park Street Church, Boston.

The tune itself is much older. According to the Library of Congress, by the 1790s the melody had become that of the Danish national anthem, and eventually the national anthem of at least six other places, including Prussia, Britain, and Liechtenstein.

On this federal holiday commemorating independence, let’s celebrate the vast and variegated chorus we’re each a part of in letting freedom ring.

Studio Cleaning
Twice a year, the Portland Team commits two full days to clean our 40,000 sqft studio and office spaces meticulously. While it might appear like an immense task with minimal immediate returns (ROI), 34 years of experience affirm our team's health, decreased post-production retouching, and enhanced studio safety are well worth the investment.

A big shout-out to the Portland team for their contribution to this initiative! 👏

PDX_June2024_Biannual_Cleaning This is "PDX_June2024_Biannual_Cleaning" by Straub Collaborative on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

Everyone who’s been with Straub Collaborative awhile understands why tomorrow is a U.S. holiday. But the reality is, some in our industry still don’t.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger arrived with federal troops in Galveston, Texas to enforce freedom by executive decree for the 250,000 individuals still being enslaved there. This was 2.5 years following President Abraham Lincoln's issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, and two months after the Civil War had ended.

In 2021, Juneteenth was made a Federal Holiday. Bills were signed in New York in 2020 and Oregon in 2022 making it a State Holiday. Last year, 28 states and the District of Columbia legally recognized Juneteenth as a public holiday, according to the Pew Research Center.

Straub added Juneteenth to our benefits package as a paid holiday in 2021, along with just 9% of other private companies in the U.S. That number expanded to 39% in 2023, according to a study by Mercer Consulting.
Let’s pause in respect of those ancestors who were finally liberated in 1865, and perhaps, take stock of our flawed, hard-won democracy today.

We are delighted to add the new book Corky Lee's Asian America: Fifty Years of Photographic Justice to our Straub Collaborative library. A national book tour kicked off in NYC last month and continues through June. A reception will be held at the Portland Chinatown Museum on June 22nd.

Corky described his life mission as a campaign to “Change America one photograph at a time,” to correct historical inaccuracies, fight stereotypes, injustice & celebrate the everyday struggles and accomplishments of AAPI communities”.

Learn more about the life of Corky Lee at www.corkylee.org

Reprinted with permission from Corky Lee's Asian America: Fifty Years of Photographic Justice. Copyright © 2024 by the Estate of Corky Lee, Mae Ngai, and Chee Wang Ng.

Congratulations to the Straub Collaborative Development Team Manager Todd Goodman for receiving the Award for Excellence in Impossible Data Operations at this week's Shotflow Leadership Summit! Todd, Your innovative contributions and unwavering commitment to excellence are truly inspiring. 🌟 🎉
Congratulations Todd.

We’re thrilled to announce that Straub Collaborative CRO Marc Katzin will attend the Henry Stewart Photo Studio Operations Conference NYC on Thursday, May 16th. Join Marc and other experts from the field as they delve into strategies and case studies that are shaping the future of photo studio operations.
As a company at the forefront of eCommerce scaled product photography and video, we’re eager to contribute to the conversations on future-proofing and optimizing studio operations for enhanced creativity and efficiency.
Following the event, Marc will be available on Friday, May 17th, for follow-up conversations and studio tours at our SCNYC studio on the 12th floor of the iconic Starrett-Lehigh building.

Our Culture Team and ERG’s work together closely to help Straub embody its core values of thoughtful inclusion and integrity of purpose.
Finding ways to share traditional foods in community was a unanimous initiative identified in our ERG leaders’ summit last month. And it just so happened that our merch coordinator Aaron shared his love of Filipino-American culture and a delicious adobo recipe for our AANHPI culture spotlight newsletter in the same week.
So, look what we just cooked up in the Portland studio - a simple-pleasure lunch of Filipino adobo and Costa Rican gallo pinto for everyone to share.

Isn’t it lovely when opportunities emerge from aligned intention?

Photo: Chefs Gina Director of Post and Anna AVP of Culture
Photographer: Mikey

May is Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the United States. We invite you to learn more about the rich diversity, emerging voices, and opportunities for community engagement in person and online.

Did you know, according to the 2020 U.S. census 20.6 million of us in the United States identify as Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone?

Check out this new opportunity to work with an amazing production team at Straub Collaborative NYC.

Are you ready to lead your content production through Transformation?

Register now for the ShotFlow Leadership Summit, hosted by Straub Collaborative in NYC on May 14-15, 2024! Dive into the future of enterprise content production with industry experts, and be a part of the Transformation taking place in content workflow efficiency.

Our NYC Studio is seeking a Photo Art Director to support a fantastic client and collaborate with a talented team. Scan the QR code below or go directly to our careers page to learn more about this amazing opportunity.

Are you a planning pro who enjoys collaborating with cross-functional production teams? Do you have experience with studio photography/video production?
Straub Collaborative is seeking a Project Manager to join the Portland team to support our globally known clients! Dive into a world where your organizational and client service skills can shine. Apply now!
https://straubcollaborative.com/careers/

We are thrilled to share the latest testing work by the Straub Collaborative Hong Kong Team!

At Straub Collaborative, everything we do is rarely accomplished alone. 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 📸

Last week, Straub played host to 45th Parallel Universe’s captivating event, “Pulse and Pillars,” at our very own Willamette Stage. The talented 45th Parallel team worked their magic, transforming the venue into an enchanting space that delighted both performers and guests alike.

The next event, “Lost in Deep Time,” will be Friday, April 12th, at 7:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased directly on their website: Lost in Deep Time Tickets.

Straub Collaborative is proud to support these events and hopes you will join us at the intersection of creativity and music!

Lost in Deep Time Your official source for 45th Parallel Universe tickets. Our passion is great music and Portland is our stage. Join the collective!

Straub Collaborative welcomes acclaimed composer Andy Akiho for an evening of his steel pan virtuosity and selected movements from his Pulitzer nominated masterpiece, Seven Pillars.

For this show Andy will be joined by the percussionists of the Gemini Project, performing in the SC Willamette Studio in Portland, OR on Tuesday, March 5th from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Tickets available:
https://www.45thparallelpdx.org/concerts/pulse-and-pillars/

Happy New Year!

We wish you joy, harmony, health, good luck, and prosperity for the year ahead. Happy year of the dragon.