We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Scott Ritchie. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Scott below.

Scott, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

I have always taken pride in being as proactive and responsive as possible in all aspects of the different jobs I’ve held. Turning out great creative work as efficiently as possible became my mission. At various points in my career, I had both coworkers and customers tell me that I was “a machine.” So when it came time to open my own photography business, I felt the best option was to simply use the name that others had given me. Thus, The Machine Photography was born.

Scott, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I spent over 20 years as a graphic designer, art director and brand manager for one of the largest energy companies in the U.S. During that time, I designed and produced the full gamut of creative projects – from print, to web, to broadcast.

Over the course of my career, I worked with many photographers and developed an interest in the art. I directed shoots, and in turn I received the digital images upon completion. This gave me the opportunity to both ask questions of the photographers in the field, as well as analyze camera settings via the metadata contained in the final files.

As I began winding down my corporate career, I purchased professional photo gear of my own and began shooting on weekends. Since I had used Photoshop for over 25 years, post-production work was second nature to me. Once my photography skills reached the level required for successful commercial work, I decided to go out on my own. And having commissioned professional photography for most of my career, I know what clients are looking for: clear communication, detailed planning, great images and quick turnaround.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The circumstances under which I opened my photography business are unusual – having done so at the end of a corporate design career at a fortune 125 company. Two decades at a company with over 40,000 employees allowed me to cultivate a huge professional network. When I retired and started my business, I was able to secure a great deal of commercial work from my former employer. In turn, that led to word-of-mouth referrals for work with other companies in my geographical region. Satisfied customers create a fantastic marketing network – with no advertising cost – and have proven to be the best source of new commercial work for me.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

As a career brand manager, I understand how important every piece of creative is to producing a positive, cohesive image for a company. I approach each photography assignment with a focus on creating the best images I can on time, on budget. Getting to see how the photos I create are used in print or online is hugely satisfying.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://themachinephotography.smugmug.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themachinephotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themachinephotography/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-ritchie-33373494/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyz4Mjhojs6WFudeng7Z61A

Image Credits

All images copyright The Machine Photography