Person
Keith Romanowski
Arts, Music & Media
Brand & Marketing
Technology & AIWho is Keith Romanowski in the Agency editorial?
Keith Romanowski, a product photographer interviewed in Creative.8 of the Agency editorial as its first American creative, says he was always drawing as a child and that art is how he understands the world. He likes product photography because every shot starts from a blank canvas, and creating something from nothing is his ultimate reward. The creative process is also spiritual for him, so he only takes on work he is passionate about. He uses AI as a visual storytelling element to reinforce his photography.
In short
Creative.8 is an interview with Keith Romanowski, a product photographer who works as The Lit Studio. The author introduces him as the first American creative interviewed and says he chose The Lit Studio for a packaging photoshoot after seeing Keith's work on Instagram; the two created images for the HHemp brand. Keith says he is 37, from Long Island, New York, holds an associate's degree in Graphic Design and a bachelor's degree in Photography, and learned more in one year at a commercial photo studio than in his academic journey. He talks about product photography, the cannabis industry, and using AI as a visual storytelling element. Issue.18 names him in its closing thanks.
Key facts
- In which edition is Keith Romanowski interviewed?
- In Creative.8, published on 24 July 2023, where the author presents him as the first American creative of the series. Issue.18 also names him in its closing thanks to the interviewed creatives.
- How did the author come to work with him?
- The author says he had a packaging concept ready, saw Keith's work on his Instagram feed and knew that The Lit Studio would be the right partner for the photoshoot. Together they created images for the HHemp brand.
- What does he say about AI and photography?
- He says he uses AI as a visual storytelling element to reinforce his product photography, and that he thinks a balance between AI and photography is where the field is heading.
How does Creative.8 introduce Keith Romanowski?
The author says he has the honor of interviewing the first American creative of the series and describes Keith as a photographer who invests high-end equipment, deep effort and much creativity in his work, joking that in his case the expression should be lenses for perfection. He explains that no amount of images or 3D mockups brings a packaging product to reality as a professional studio photoshoot does, and that this was his situation when he first saw Keith's work.
Since then, the author writes, he has followed Keith's work and is impressed by the technicality of the photos, the composition of the photoshoots and the colors and light of the post-production. Keith says of the HHemp project that things go more smoothly when you find someone on the same page, and that he still collaborates with the brand. The portfolio in the edition shows work for Jaunty, Black Tie and Package Bros.
What does Keith Romanowski say in the interview?
He says he is 37 and from Long Island, New York, and that being a father taught him to be better at listening, patience and empathy. He tells that public school did not work for him and that art is how he understands the world. He got an associate's degree in Graphic Design and later a bachelor's degree in Photography, but says he learned more in one year working for a commercial photo studio than during his entire academic journey.
About his craft, he says it is the creative process that he loves and that he likes product photography because he always starts with a blank canvas: two saw horses and a piece of plywood. In his words: “Creating something from nothing is the ultimate reward.” He says the creative process is also a spiritual process for him, and that no other form of photography interests him.
About the cannabis industry, where the author says The Lit Studio is well established, he says he follows what other cannabis photographers are shooting as a baseline, and that persistence and building relationships matter most. He defends the freedom to use cannabis responsibly and says he still does not know whether federal legalization would be a good or a bad thing. About AI imagery, he says we are entering a new era of smoke and mirrors that raises the issue of authenticity.
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.