MONIQUE GRAY

Visual Media Professional

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Visual media professional with over 15 years experience for online and print med
ia. Worked with large corporations whose visual impact of diverse audience reach
across the globe. Organized self starter with significant expertise in photo re
search and editing, color retouching, creative and editorial assigning, photo il
lustrations, negotiating rights and clearance use, asset acquisition and managem
ent, and team collaboration.
EMPLOYMENT
2010 Contract AOL, Photo Editor - Dulles, VA
Responsibilities include extensive research, negotiation of use and legal right
s, maintenance of acquisition flow to archive management system, ethical use of
visual content within budget and daily deadline constraints, written and verbal
communication with customers.

2004-2010 AOL, Senior Photo Editor - Dulles, VA

Responsibilities included extensive research, assignment of freelance photograph
ers, photo illustrations, negotiation of legal rights and use, maintenance of
acquisition flow to archive management system, legal and ethical use of visual c
ontent within budget and daily deadline constraints.
* Increased the public relations efforts for BlackVoices, creating a strategic s
ocial media initiative through Twitter and RSS feeds that boosted the presence b
y over 10%; tracked the daily growth via internal search engine optimization too
ls.
* During a time of minimal resources, creatively researched and negotiated free
usage of rare memorabilia and website access for Black History Month package wit
hin a 10-day period and saving over $2400.
* Created a unique audience engaging experience, which garnered over 5million pa
geviews within 5 days (An increase of 35% for any gallery experience).
* Volunteered assistance to photography and legal contract acquisition team prod
ucing separate initiative specialized in researching, evaluating and procurement
of new vendors. Within three weeks five new vendors were acquired and negotiate
d two-year license for $25 per image national use.
* Initiated weekly meetings to ensure unity, open communication, individual grow
th, critical analysis of previous projects and development of new ideas. These m
eeting produced a 15% increase of productivity for team members.
* Integral in coordinating and compiling team status reports, ensuring prioritiz
ation of escalations, highlighting weekly successes and challenges.
* Resolution of difficult image requests with creative illustrations utilizing P
hotoshop, photographs and royalty free resources.
* Initiated and implemented photo imaging training for team in India, enhancing
the visual outputs and decreasing the cultural barriers and miscommunication. Co
nsistent integration of India team into daily planning and execution strategy fo
r increased efficiencies for overall productivity.
1986-2004 USA TODAY, Assist. Photo Editor, Vienna, VA
Produced visually creative results for various sections of newspapers including,
news, sports, money and life through lab processes, digital imaging, research,
collaborating ideas with photographers, editors and designers for compelling vis
ual impact on daily deadlines.
* Researched and completed, video frame edits, captions and archives of photos f
or weekly "Testdrive" and "Adtrack" columns. Strictly responsible for video Ad f
rame edits during Superbowl for deadline publication and weekly ads.
* Selected to serve as project manager for yearly bonus package, promoting natio
nal budget friendly festivities, including idea generation, photo assignments, i
mage research, editing and collaboration with graphic design department lead.
* Maintained scheduling and daily operations for a staff of five, including all
maintenance and budgets of over $12,000.
* Streamlined the assignment process for up to 150 jobs weekly by 35%, enhancing
the flow of communications with customers, ensuring appropriate urgency, exceed
ing the demands of multiple competing stakeholders.
* Selected to serve as primary liaison between over 15 operational leaders and p
hoto imagers, conducting needs assessments and translating the full concept and
messaging for production of film, print and digital images for print.

OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

* Exceeding with Others - two day workshop

* Communicating for Success - one day workshop
* AOL, Photoshop for Photographers with Ben Wilbur
* Northern Short Course, Picture Editing and Page Design
* USA TODAY, Photoshop workshop with Karl Kuntz
* Promoted from file clerk to Assistant loan officer within 6 month period

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
* YSB Magazine article, Freelance Imaging
* NNPA Newsmaker of the year photography Judge - 2000

EDUCATION
Corcoran College of Art and Design, Washington, DC -Photography
Academy of Art University, San Francisco - Web Design and New Media - Online

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
Mac and Windows platform
Photoshop CS,
Microsoft Word,
Flatbed and transparency scanners,
Introductory skills: Illustrator CS
Excel,
Powerpoint
MEMBERSHIPS
NAPP, National Association of Photoshop Professionals
ASPP, American Society of Picture Professionals
NPPA, National Press Photographers Association
Women in Photography

PROFESSIONAL COMMENTS
"Monique inspires others on the photography team by upholding quality, consisten
cy and integrity in her work.
..She is a natural born leader and is fair, honest, creative, and bold. She is a
lways looking out for what is best for the company..."
Lauren Dobkin, Manager Entertainment Photography, AOL
"Monique excelled at negotiating pricing and seeking creative solutions to enha
nce programming."
Samaruddin Stewart, Principal Editor, AOL
"Monique continues to be a respected visual contributor. She has a balanced and
positive approach to her work. She searches out new ideas and offers solutions t
o improve process and collaboration.
...Monique has an unwavering enthusiasm and vision for photography and more spec
ifically for visual quality."
Cathaleen Curtiss, Vice President Global Photography, AOL