INDUSTRY RELATED EXPERIENCE

Sole Proprietor of DON CUDNEY PHOTO & VIDEO, Denver, CO
MAY 1994 to Present

Over the past thirty-one years, I have built, marketed, and sustained a successful freelance commercial photography and videography business based in Denver, Colorado. My imagery has appeared on more than 250 magazine covers, on websites, on buses, and on billboards, while my behind-the-scenes videos continue to attract thousands of views on YouTube and Vimeo each year. I am recognized internationally not only for producing exceptional imagery and capturing high-quality sound, but also for my ability to solve complex problems—whether working in a large NYC sound studio, on a remote beach in a foreign country, or within a cubicle-filled office building in Middle America.

Live Stream Camera Operator for RHINO Staging, Denver, CO
April 2017 to Present

As a live stream camera operator, I work closely with the show director, technical director, and video engineer—collaborate with touring bands and local sports teams to determine live shots, desired effects, camera movements, and lighting requirements. I also assist with setting up and striking the cameras at Colorado’s largest and most respected venues, including the Ball Arena, Coors Field, First Bank Center, the Paramount Theater, and Empower Field.

Staff Photographer for Mile High Sports Magazine, Denver, CO
February 2005 to January 2018

As a staff photographer, I produced high-quality images and behind-the-scenes videos of professional athletes and local models for both print and online distribution. My work has appeared on more than forty Mile High Sports Magazine covers, and I had the pleasure of photographing layouts for the annual Snow Angels swimsuit issue for over a decade.

Studio Photographer for Concepts Direct, Longmont, CO
July 1996 to February 1999

Concepts Direct, Inc. was a direct mail-order catalog company that sold personalized paper products, t-shirts and other casual apparel, home décor items, gifts, and collectibles. The company's catalog brands included Colorful Images, Linda Anderson, Linda Anderson Collectibles, The Music Stand, and Snoopy Etc. During my time at Concepts Direct, I photographed a wide range of products—from stuffed animals to holiday cakes. In early 1999, I also assisted the company with its transition from film to high-resolution digital imagery.

Sales Representative for Index Stock Imagery / Photolibrary, Denver, CO
May 1994 to June 1996

Index Stock marketed a library of over one million digital images through four brands—Index Stock Imagery and Index Open, which catered to advertisers, designers, large corporations, magazines, and book publishers; and Photos To Go and Photos To Go Unlimited, which served small business and home business image users. During my time at Index Stock, I was responsible for receiving and processing inbound sales inquiries from clients via phone, email, and online chat. I engaged customers in discovery conversations to identify their needs, recommended relevant products and services, and gathered key customer information. I also processed, tracked, coded, and managed invoices and internal reports accurately and on time using various computer systems.

FORMAL EDUCATION

Bachelors Degree in Commercial Photography & Videography Production

Colorado Institute of Art - Denver, CO January 1992 to March 1994

Associates Degree in Computer Science

University of West Florida - Pensacola, FL February 1988 to March 1990

INDUSTRY RELATED SKILLS

My skills include, but are not limited to:

  • Quoting project parameters and developing proposals for both small- and large-scale productions, locally, nationally, and

    internationally.

  • Organizing and adjusting itineraries due to weather, natural disasters, or client requests.

  • Supervising crew members across various departments in photo, video, and live broadcast productions.

I am proficient or familiar with the following computer applications and platforms:

Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Bridge, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Plugins, Adobe Presets, Apple Final Cut Pro, Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve, Audacity Audio Software, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive, etc.), Microsoft Office Suite, WordPress, Blogger, and Facebook Advertising Tools.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

I had my fifteen minutes of fame as a judge on a reality TV show called SHOOT! A Colorado Photographer’s Reality. It aired on Colorado Public Television (CPT12) and followed a group of photographers competing in weekly challenges around the state. Serving as a judge was equal parts inspiring and surreal. I got to review the work of talented photographers under pressure, provide feedback on the fly, and pretend I wasn’t totally awkward in front of the cameras.


I served on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Chapter of the American Society of Media Photographers from 05/2005 until 06/2009.