Photo by Louissa Chanin
Susan carolonza chanin, MCM
CSR • corporate communications • Project Management • business Development • Photo Editing • production
A strategic communicator who creates fair, inclusive, and positive work environments where team members thrive and do their best work to exceed project deliverables. Expertise in photo direction and leading content development for global brands and agencies. Researches and analyzes market trends to drive decisions, impact measurement of creative assets, and drive best practices in social media storytelling. Enhances new business by cultivating relationships with clients and artists. Extensive experience negotiating licensing agreements, talent contracts, and royalty fees.
EXPERIENCE
Janssen Pharmaceuticals | Titusville, NJ | 2021 – 2023
Johnson & Johnson Corporate Social Responsibility Fellow
Leverage J&J global mission to change the trajectory of health and create health equity through internal communication and employee engagement. Collaborated with the Community Impact Team at Janssen Pharmaceuticals to implement their CSR programs of giving, volunteering and engagement under the J&J Credo.
Create communications for programming: articles, announcements, tool kits, presentations and employee correspondence.
Collaborate with team on deliverables and research data and feedback for programs.
Assist Community Impact Manager.
Lead volunteer events.
Build local and national relationships with nonprofit partners and employees to yield meaningful relationships for teams and individuals in order to help members in our community in need.
Rutgers University, School of Information and Communication, New Brunswick, NJ | Jan – June 2023
Graduate Assistant, Career Services
Developed industry, alumni, and student relations for Career Services through communications and event planning.
Collaborated with Rutgers Communication departments, directors, and students to produce the first COMMchella “Career Conversations” to connect industry and alumni experts to communication students for mentorship and career development.
Lead outreach program to industry professionals from alumni and top organizations such as Paramount, Johnson & Johnson, and Peppercom PR. Managed relationship development.
Provided production expertise, managed meetings and logistics for event: with over 400 students attending COMMchella and over 100 students seeking career services.
Created digital and social media communications, newsletters, and in-person networking opportunities through event planning and hosting.
MOTHER IMAGE LLC | Jersey City, NJ | 2007 – present
Founder & Partner | Director of Business Development
Established a boutique photo agency specializing in women’s lifestyle imagery for social impact, corporate storytelling, employee events, and social media. Collaborates with partner Rana Faure to recruit and represent network of photographers, videographers and clients aligned with the brand aesthetic. Clients include Getty Images, Gallery Stock, Shutterstock, Adobe, Microsoft, and Green Room Public Relations.
• Oversees creative direction, photographer recruitment and mentorship, production, and editing of creative content. Manages all aspects of financial operations and sales.
• Developed a sales network of content distributors by targeting key agencies.
• Provides creative research and insights to determine content needs and predict trends.
• Cultivated new business relationships and negotiated all agency, client, artist, and distributor contracts. Managed assignment budgets up to $150K.
AVANTI PRESS | New York, NY | 2003 – 2020
Creative Consultant | Content Development
Consulted as a creative contributor for a global publisher of greeting cards and photo products. Collaborated with in-house art directors on creative concepts for illustrations and photography to expand Avanti’s existing product lines.
• Led creative brainstorming sessions and contributed concepts, sketches, and storyboards.
• Analyzed social media research for insight into current trends and topics; curated and presented digital and traditional content for development.
• Executed art buying, contract renewals, and image licensing. Negotiated agreements, performed outreach and networking services, and creative research when needed.
GETTY IMAGES | New York, NY | 1998 – 2003
Director of Photography | Director of Creative Development | 2001 – 2003
Directed a team of photographers, editors, art directors, and creative staff in producing top-selling content and award- winning imagery. Oversaw all aspects of content development by providing creative direction to a team of five art directors and six photo editors / artist relations staff. Initiated a new Director of Creative Development role to bridge business and creative development by promoting Getty's artists' network to key clients via meetings and portfolio reviews.
• Collaborated with global heads of creative to develop new brands; assembled creative briefs outlining content requirements, and assigned photographers that best aligned with project scope and vision.
• Recruited and hired new talent, and handled all aspects of contract negotiations.
• Managed commission budgets of 100K per quarter for content production, tracked KPI and achieved deliverables.
• Integrated new collections and creative staff as Getty acquired photo agencies.
• Facilitated speaking engagements, talent development days, and investor presentations.
Director of Photography | 1998 – 2001
Spearheaded Getty’s first creative office in New York as Director of Photography after the merger and acquisition of Liaison Agency, to create a strengthened workflow. Built a creative team that aligned with sales deliverables creating top selling catalogs of visual content.
• Created a high-value catalog of marketable content, and managed commissions budget.
• Served as key point of client outreach and conducted client-facing meetings and presentations.
• Sourced and recruited top photographers to build a robust talent pipeline.
• Liaised with global photography directors to evaluate new content and talent.
• Formed teams with sales to pitch prospective and key advertising clients in the New York City, Washington D.C. and Toronto markets.
• Managed office KPIs with a direct line of reporting into headquarters in London and Seattle.
• Lead and participated in creative brainstorms internationally.
LIAISON AGENCY | New York, NY | 1992 – 1998
Vice President, Director of Photography
Initially hired as Director of Photographer Relations and progressed into Photography Director and Vice President roles, leading up to the agency’s acquisition by Getty Images. Recruited new talent and maintained relationships with over 1000 photographers to create visual content for commercial, corporate, and editorial divisions.
• Collaborated with a global network of creative agencies, and worked closely with liaison sales teams, photographers, and photojournalists to create new collections and content.
• Supported the leadership team on special collections projects with ICP, Arnold Newman, and Ernst Hass.
• Provided training to junior editors and mentorship to upcoming new photographers.
• Hired and trained editors and art directors.
• Assisted the president with management of the company, communication and operations.
Previous experience as a photo editor and researcher for AVANTI PRESS and THE IMAGE BANK.
AWARDS
Rutgers University, Outstanding Graduate Student Award, 2022
Interview with Chanin on rutgers.edu
Johnson & Johnson Corporate Responsibility Fellowship 2021-2023 | Janssen Pharmaceuticals | New Brunswick, NJ
The Rutgers University and J&J Corporate Responsibility Fellowship offers two-year full tuition, a stipend, and a contract position with the Community Impact Team at Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
GETTY IMAGES CREATIVE GRANT RECIPIENT | New York, NY / Washington, DC
Executive Producer | Project Developer | 2014 – 2015
Assembled and led a creative team in pitching a video and still advertising campaign supporting RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) as part of the Getty Images Creative Grant program.
• Awarded $20,000 grant for the production and development of an awareness campaign for RAINN.
• Partnered with creative and production teams to create video, print, and stills for the multimedia Survivor Series campaign.
• Campaign led to a 41% increase in people served and a record increase in YouTube views.
INSTRUCTION & TEACHING
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY | New Brunswick, NJ
Teaching Assistant | Instructional Assistant for Communication Research | Fall 2020
AMICABLE STUDIOS | Jersey City, NJ
Founder & Teacher | 2020 – 2021
KAPLAN COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL | hoboken, NJ
Arts Education & Curriculum Developer | 2005 – 2020
MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
Palm Springs Portfolio Reviewer (2012 – Present) | DMLA (2006 – Present) | Pro Arts, Jersey City (2005 – Present) | Art Directors Club of New York (2001 – 2003) | Presidents Council, International Center of Photography (2003) | Judge, NJ Art Director’s Club Award (2002) | Panel Monitor, Photo District News 30 under 30 (2001)
Recruited for multiple speaking engagements with FIT, New York University, The School of Visual Arts, Fotofusion, Photo Plus Expo New York, ASMP Boston, Getty Images
EDUCATION
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY | New Brunswick, NJ
Masters of Communication and Media | GPA 4.0 | Graduated 2023
CARNEGIE-MELLON UNIVERSITY | Pittsburgh, PA
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Academic Honors | Augusta Fisher Porter Award | Studied painting and photography in Florence, Italy through Syracuse University
THE SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS | New York, NY
Coursework in Drafting & Architectural History
Susan would like to thank Florence Buchanan for the creative direction and implementation of this website.