1. Many readers will know you from your business Pro Sign and Graphics, where you specialize in vehicle wraps and wide-format printing. How did you get started in the industry?
My father started as a sign painter at age 16 back in the 1960s and later started his own business when I was very young. We built everything from banners to large neon letters, electrical cabinets, sand-carved signage, screen printing, and more. I was raised in the sign shop, with some of my first memories being the smell of paint thinner and the sight of blue chalk patterns.
2. You also started wrappermapper.com, a website for connecting pros in the wraps industry. What’s your biggest lesson from the 10 years you’ve been maintaining the site?
Personally, I have learned so much about web development and content creation as well as been exposed to entirely new aspects of the industry as we grew into a global resource. Perhaps the biggest lesson I try to impress upon the shops in the industry is the critical need to take extra time to showcase their wraps well in their own content. We have so many incredibly talented wrappers in the world and it is still a common mistake as they fail to use those projects to create excellent photos and videos that really present the work well.
3. You’ve attended wraps events around the world. What international event do you recommend to wraps professionals?
I recommend the Federation of European Screen Printers Associations (FESPA) series of shows. Not only do they have an amazing circuit of events all over the world, but they also combine those shows with the World Wrap Masters series of wrapping competitions. Ole “Sunshine” Ravn, Kiss Lajos, Ivan Tenchev, Duncan MacOwan, and Michael Ryan have spent years developing and running these great wrapping competitions around the planet. The next World Wrap Masters Finals will be in Berlin, Germany, May 8-9.
4. Over the years you have become the ‘official unofficial’ wraps industry photographer. What’s your go-to camera setup?
I’m not sure about the title, but I learned a long time ago that good photographers shoot what they love. Perhaps that’s why I get such good results with my wrapper photos. I know the craft, appreciate the skills, and can anticipate the angles. I still get such a thrill capturing these guys and gals doing what they love as well. I’m a Sony user personally, due to its excellent capability in low light. I started shooting underground techno events in dark rooms with lasers, fog, and fast-moving people so that experience has served well with the Sony products. My most-used pairing currently is my Sony A9ii with the Sony G-Series f2.8 24-70mm lens.
5. What’s your advice for wrap shops looking to document and promote their work through photos and videos?
Either take the time to learn how to improve your photo and video skills internally or hire a local professional to regularly do that work for you. I firmly believe that a shop can improve significantly by doing this work in-house with some dedicated time. Pay attention to things like clearing the environment (don’t shoot clutter), taking a moment to wipe the surfaces down, and staging the vehicle in interesting locations. Simplify the image composition and find interesting angles. Even a moderately recent smartphone can capture great images if you take the time to think it through. Also, learn a bit about developing your images well. You would be amazed at the effect that a little editing can have on a shot.
