The Big Freeze Worldwide has brought professional production services to the entertainment industry for over four decades.

Masters of frozen moment content capture and robotic camera technology, The Big Freeze understands what it takes to visually render content and capture effects that will inspire an audience to view, share, and remember branded content.

Detailed planning and professional execution of all things considered for a successful production, The Big Freeze offers truly extraordinary service for film scenes, commercials, and live events. Fast action slowed or frozen in time, those hard to render scenes are done successfully with ever-evolving Big Freeze technology and professional crews.

"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." Thomas Edison

"Bring us your inspiration."

"With fall in full swing, this means shooting for 2023 has begun! 

Planning and strategising is the topic of the day, and that means new food and drink content needs to be created (customers are spending more on experiences, finally feel like they can have those parties, and are traveling more too). So let's capture something that will tell a story and highlight the appetite appeal of the product."

Photographer and director Brent Herrig can help. Based in London and New York, Brent supports in-house design for brands and agency clients to achieve stress-free productions that hit the brief.

"We are excited to work with you and your team as soon as next month or next quarter. Either way, let's all push forward into 2023 and make tomorrow together."

Some of Brent's recent clients, including Nespresso, Pepsi, and Moet Hennessy, rely on Brent to capture their vision of food, drinks, and products in the most collaborative, efficient way possible.

What can Brent help you with? Contact him directly to talk about your next project.

Welcome to Showcase Chicago, brought to you by Production Paradise. This issue features some of the leading photographers, directors and photographers' and illustrators' agents based in Chicago.

More creative professionals and facilities for photographic and film production are available in our Chicago Photo and Film directories.

Be sure to catch our recommended events:

• Refracting Histories features eight artists looking critically at the traditional canon within the history of photography. Each artist challenges, probes, or deconstructs well-known art historical legacies, revealing the contributions of overlooked makers. Until 3rd April at Chicago's Museum of Comtemporary Photography.
• A Field Guide to Photography and Media - From 19th November to 10th April. The Art Institute of Chicago has been exhibiting photography since 1900 and collecting it since 1949. This exhibition celebrates that remarkable history through the Art Institute’s collection and offers an occasion to think anew about the photography’s place in the museum and in the world.

Our cover image was shot by Tom Michas for PPI Beauty.

Emily Inman is a Chicago-based artist representation firm that has been representing photographers and illustrators for many years.

Emily Inman’s talent has worked on global ad campaigns, large packaging projects, OLV, brochures, web content and book publishing. Her agency talent has the perfect blend of artistry and technology coupled with top notch production. Her agency's high-end, award-winning talent includes:

Brian Wright - still / motion food photography. His story telling light helps bring major CPG companies products to life.

Tim Pannell - engaging lifestyle and sports photography. Tim shoots projects flawlessly all over the globe.

Barbara Karant - architectural and interiors photography. From skyscrapers to room sets, Barbara brings a unique point of view to each location.

Karant Canines - another facet of Barbara Karant’s talents: creating beautiful dog portraiture. She is the author of several books including 'Small Dog, Big Dog' and 'Greyhounds The Book'.

Chris Sheban - sophisticated, humorous illustrations that are both fun and captivating. Chris is a gold and silver medal winner with the Society of Illustrators.

Powell Jordano is an experienced tabletop photographer specialising in food, beverage, and product imagery. Whether he is working with restaurants, magazines, or global brands, clients love his ability to capture dynamic and inviting, yet natural-feeling light within a controlled environment. Through keen attention to detail, Powell takes his work beyond the visual and aims to entice his viewers’ other senses.

Powell primarily works out of his Chicago-based studio, but is able to shoot remotely with clients across the globe or on location nationwide. He prides himself on working with a wide variety of clientele, ranging from small local businesses, like The Spice House and Cottage Door Press, to top brands like Miller Lite and Brach’s candy.

Powell is represented by Emissary Artists and would love to collaborate on your next project!

Photographer and director Stephen Hamilton is known for his craveable drips, pours and crumbs, expertly capturing food you want to immediately pick up and savor. Stephen has determined that flaws certainly aren’t flaws, they are imperfect perfection. Collaborating with an exceptional group of food and prop stylists, Stephen is able to deliver on any client request.

Hamilton’s fully equipped studio is based in Chicago, but he brings his vision to clients all over the globe. His versatile facilities cover over 11,000 square feet including three studios and a 4,000 square foot prop room.

The Stephen Hamilton Productions team offers an integrated, comprehensive, and client-first approach to any size production. Their full-circle capabilities include broadcast spots, OLV, still photography, social media content, how-to videos, and textured macro videos. Stephen’s unique perspective, lighting style and incredible team are why brands have trusted him for over 25 years.

Barbara Wrigley McDevitt is an award-winning Florida-based photographer with over a dozen years of experience behind the camera. She specialises in commercial and editorial food and beverage photography.

Over the years, Wrigley McDevitt has worked in a variety of different photographic disciplines allowing her to hone her talents, and since 2011 has focused her talent on food and beverage photography.

Equally comfortable shooting in-studio or on-location, she has a distinctive style that encompasses a broad range from clean and contemporary to dark and moody.

Wrigley McDevitt’s passion for storytelling and her ability to find artful arrangements utilising multiple camera angles allow her to maximize the interplay of subject, light, color and contrast in her images.

Wrigley McDevitt is available to shoot remotely in-studio or on location.

After years spent working with an exhaustive list of high-profile photographers as a creative image retoucher, operator, and assistant, Benjamin Norton has been privileged to produce work for such diverse clients as Marks and Spencer, British Museum, Stanton Williams and The Royal Academy of Arts.

Ben strives to create strong and long lasting professional relationships, by listening to and delivering on his client's objectives. Using digital capture, Ben works directly with clients or remotely from a shoot location to effectively ensure their vision is fully realised and executed.

Recently he’s produced work for, amongst others, The Lava Centre and Earthquake , RBPW, Donhoff Kargl Nall and The Cincinnati Contemporary Art Center.

Benjamin Norton Photography is a member of The Association of Independent Architectural Photographers and is available to work internationally.

Rob Grimm is an award-winning food and beverage photographer and director with studios in Chicago and St. Louis. Rob often travels outside the studio walls to locations from coast to coast, creating still and motion content for his clients.

“My job as a photographer and director is to create appetite appeal that forces the viewer to feel hunger and thirst. It boils down to eliciting the basic emotion of desire in the viewer. Creating content that engages with the audience while bringing the brand message to life drives me every day. If you are hungry and thirsty after seeing my work, then I have done my job.”

Just a few of Rob’s clients include Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort, Woodford Reserve, Bacardi, Kraft, and Panera.

To discuss a potential project, please reach out to Rob. Or visit his website for additional still and motion content.

Joe has been an industry leader in product and food & drink photography for more than 20 years. Also an accomplished painter, he has brought his artistic sensibilities to national campaigns for Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Kellogg's, Tyson and Ziploc and for the past 11 years has shot virtually all of Subway’s national and international print and outdoor ads as well as their in-store displays.  

Unflappable, Joe has made a career delivering memorable imagery with the utmost professionalism for products ranging from Scrubbing Bubbles to Jim Beam.  

Shoot days find his studio abuzz with clients snacking on mini candy bars while Joe and his group of top food stylists, special FX and digital technicians descend on every shot with a practiced efficiency and provide proven success.