Stockland Martel

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What’s it like to work for Roxanne Lowit? Eric White, new media manager for the famed fashion photographer, gives us the inside scoop in this edition of the Studio Manager Questionnaire (which I adapted to accommodate his high-tech title)…
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How did you hear about this job, and when did you start?

I heard about the job through a friend that suggested I apply this past August, less than a week later I was sitting in my leopard chair, working side by side with one of my idols.

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What were you doing previously?

Prior to working with Roxanne, I worked as an intern at an online magazine and freelance retouched.

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What are your primary responsibilities as new media manager?

Work it: Eric White at Roxanne Lowit's Manhattan studio.

Any photo requests, retouching requests, graphic design and layout work, as well as archive management and film scanning that comes to the studio goes through me. I also assist Roxanne in any capacity I can with daily tasks, from backstage to lunch orders. I love that every day is something different. Being exposed to such an amazing archive of work has been like flipping through the pages of fashion’s yearbooks.

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What new media/social networking platforms do you use on Roxanne’s behalf (Facebook, a blog, Twitter, etc.?)? And can you talk a bit about how you use them to promote her work?

In our office we recognize the need to take advantage of all the new tools that evolving media has to offer. We see each new platform as an opportunity to reach a new audience with Roxanne’s work. We are currently connected on Facebook as well as our blog, Roxannelowit.tumblr.com. With these sites, I can instantly share her photos, videos, slideshows, press coverage, invitations, and announcements with the click of a button. This interconnectivity drastically streamlines the PR side of my job. Keeping in close contact with her audience has proven to be well worth the time.
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What’s the most unusual thing you’ve had to do?

If you ask anyone I grew up with (rural upstate New York) they would probably tell you everything I do is unusual. I think maybe making life size masks of World Famous Bob’s face for a shoot might rank pretty high for me.

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What’s been the greatest highlight so far?

Two moments come to mind, walking into Milk Gallery on the day of her opening for the Backstage Dior exhibition was one of those “this is it” moments. It was like I had stepped into a world that I had thought I would only see on TV and in magazines. I was truly inspired to see that hard work really does pay off.

Being backstage with Roxanne was another one of those moments. Since being here, I’ve been fortunate enough to observer Diane von Furstenberg and Pierre Cardin (HUGE heroes of mine) in a setting that very few people get to. Being surrounded by their art, and to simply shake their hands almost sent me over the top.

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Rate how stressful your job is on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most agita-inducing.

Truly depends on the day, the hour, and the minute you are asking about. Some moments are a 1/10 other are a 59/10. Luckily most days don’t break a 7.

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What is your creative passion—are you a photographer, artist, musician, maker of artisanal cheese, etc.? Tell us about it, and please include photos or a link to your work.

My passion is photography; I eat, breathe, and sleep, with a camera pressed against my face. My grandmother bought me my first camera when I was 6. Shortly after she decided that was a terrible idea when the next day I handed back to her all ten of the rolls of film she had given me, ready to be developed. I still thrive on the anticipation of seeing what I’ve shot, brings me right back to being 6 years old with my plastic point-and-shoot.

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Photos by Eric White.

Photos by Eric White.

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My portfolio can be viewed at: NICECLEANWHITE.COM.

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Thank you, Eric!

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