Tim Gruber and Jenn Ackerman use both photography and video to tell stories for editorial and commercial clients. 
Recently we traveled to Bismarck, North Dakota to shoot a portrait of the president of the only state owned bank in the United States. Making a portrait of a banker probably isn’t high on a lot of people’s list of exciting things to shoot, but Jenn and I were excited about this shoot as it took us to a state we’re completely fascinated with. Our subject, Eric, was easy to work with which always makes our job a joy. We had plenty to talk about including the Vikings and his daughter’s interest in photography.
As I kid I would travel with my parents and sister to make the long trek across the endless landscape to visit our relatives on the North Dakota/Montana border. The drive seemed to go on forever but it’s stuck with me all these years and it was nice to return and explore beyond the interstate after the assignment for a new project we’ve started. More on that in a future post.
A few photos -
The timing for this assignment from Minnesota Monthly was perfect for us. We had just returned from 26 days in Brazil and only had a few days at home before flying out to Sweden and Norway and we were glad it worked out that way because Alisha’s Care Center was one of those assignments that reminded us that being a photographer is often like being in the second grade with each class trip or in this case assignment exposing you to fascinating people and new places that you otherwise wouldn’t come across.
Below are a few photos and tearsheet from our shoot, but do yourself a favor and pick up the issue not because of our photos but because it’s the best of issue and it’ll leave you with countless new places to explore much like those second grade field trips.
Recently we traveled to the Wisconsin/Illinois border for the AARP Bulletin for a story on bariatric surgery. It was great to finally work with Michael Witchita, an editor we have known and have been excited to work with for awhile.
Postponing the shoot for a couple of days so I could get back in town was the first sign that this story was right up my alley. Julie Hartje had gastric bypass surgery earlier this year in response to her every-growing need for insulin to treat her diabetes. Michael asked me to take photos of Julie as she went about her new daily routine. Every aspect of her life has changed from the amount of food she eats to her ability to walk the dog. Since the surgery, she has gone from seven+ shots of insulin to two and has lost 80+ pounds. Thanks Michael for the great assignment and Julie for being a receptive subject!
A few photos of Julie –
We were delighted to hear from Nicole Fruge, who along with being a very gifted photographer is a photo editor at Education Week. Nicole had the type of assignment we love. Hearing, “go hang out and do your thing,” is music to our ears.
For a story about a rise in grandparents raising their grandkids, I got to hang out with Sandra Smith and her 12-year-old granddaughter, Jonea. Sandra has been raising her granddaughter for more than five years now. I quickly found out how much of a super-mom she truly is. Not only is she involved with her granddaughter’s PTA, she is involved nationally and helps with her Girl Scout troop. She also volunteers every week at another school she felt like needed her help. She is a pretty remarkable woman especially considering during this time she has fought cancer four times.
One of the reasons I love being a photographer is meeting the people I do during assignments. This is one of those days and I was happy to meet Sandra along the way.
Earlier this summer we were in Las Vegas to document the Miss USA pageant when photo editor Maggie Soladay reached out to us wondering if we would have time for a shoot at the Zappos headquarters right outside of Las Vegas.
After documenting the Miss USA pageant for 19 days straight, we were delighted to escape the strip for a few hours and having heard a lot of buzz about the Zappos brand and culture over the years we were excited for the shoot.
To say the Zappos offices are photo friendly would be an understatement. Every office, every cubicle, every possible inch of space has the flair and flavor of their passionate employees. As we normally do before a shoot we ask to look around to find potential areas to shoot and normally one or if you’re luckily two places jump out at you. At the Zappos’ offices everything jumps out you. Rooms are decorated by employees with themes and entire departments take on their own look. Everywhere you looked there was visual possibilities. It was like shooting fish in barrel in a corporate environment. Simply unheard of and it made for two very giddy photographers.
Thanks to Millie and Maggie for the memorable assignment.
Minnesota Monthly has quickly become one of our favorite clients to shoot for. Rob called us while we were in NYC to photograph the Univeristy of Minnesota president, Bob Bruininks, days before he was to step down from his position.
After receiving the assignment, we quickly turned into librarians and researched as much as we could about the president. We quickly discovered that he has a home on the Gunflint Trail in the far northern reaches of Minnesota. We got engaged along the Gunflint Trail a couple of years ago so we knew right off the bat we would all click. Bob also caught the second largest Walleye in Minnesota while fishing up north in the Gunflint area, earning him the nickname “Walleye Bob”.
Needless to say, thanks to Google we felt like we had a decent understanding of Bob and were excited for the shoot. We knew we wouldn’t have a ton of time with him, but with the time he did have he was very generous and we were able to shoot a few different scenes. From there Rob and the staff at Minnesota Monthly did a bang up job with the design. We love that opening spread!
Here is the story online.
A few photos:
Recently we spent a few weeks documenting behind the scenes at the Miss USA pageant. This year we wanted to get a little more intimate and bring people beyond the stage to get to know what their lives are like for the two weeks while they are there. We produced a film called the 19th Floor (renamed The Contestant Floor for security reasons). It was one of our favorite films we have ever produced for the pageant as it allowed us to do what we do best – get access into intimate and personal moments.
This year was the 60th Anniversary of the pageant which allowed us to photograph and interview some of the former title holders. It was interesting to hear their perspectives on the pageant after being away from it for 50 years.
We have been pretty busy during the month of May and are now just getting around to posting some recent assignments.
Jenn was sent to the state capitol in St. Paul to cover Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush for The New York Times as he was traveling around the country endorsing his education reform. Now that we have lived in Minnesota for about a year, we have been excited to be a part of the community and the interesting political environment here in the North. Here are some photos from the assignment.
As we’ve been getting accustom to calling Minnesota home we have been busy shopping our books around. One meeting we were excited about earlier this year was with Minnesota Monthly, who produce a great magazine and on top of that give photos great play. A win-win in our book.
Our first assignment for the magazine was to take a portrait of Lindsy Halleckson, a local painter. A very talented painter we might add. See for yourself on her website. Lindsy is the kind of person you hope for when you have a portrait assignment – full of life and open to trying anything to ensure you get a great photo. It was a great collaboration. Thanks Lindsy! The photo of Lindsy was to promote the Art-A-Whirl event that happens in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District. It’s dubbed the largest open studio and gallery tour in the US. We’ve yet to experience it so we’re excited ourselves to take it in.
A very warm thank you to Rob, Jeremy and Kirsten for the first of what will hopefully be more great assignments in the future.
Jenn’s work hanging at the Minneapolis Photo Center was mentioned in a Star Tribune review of the show. If you have a chance be sure to get to the Photo Center and see the work hanging. It’s an international show with photos from 14 countries and is up through April 17th. The turn-out for the gallery opening was quite insane and perhaps the biggest one Jenn and I have ever attended. It was great to see the photo community here in Minneapolis coming out in full force.
Along with the show they had panel discussion moderated by Mary Abbe, the art critic, for The Star Tribune, along with Darsie Alexander, chief Curator, Walker Art Center, Christina Chang, Assistant Curator, Weisman Art Museum, Stevie Rexroth, Media Chair and Katherine Turczan, Professor of Photography, Minneapolis College of Art & Design. Panels can be hit or miss, but this one was a gem that went beyond the cheerleading and left us feeling recharged.
Mary Abbe, the art critic, for the Star Tribune had this to say about Jenn’s photo for a review of the show:
I also very much liked Jenn Ackerman’s “Exposed: Betty,” in which a handsome, auburn-haired over-70-something strikes a bathing beauty pose worthy of World War II pinup Betty Grable.
Jenn's image featured on the home page of the Star Tribune for a review about the show.