CREATIVE LEAD · ART & FILM DIRECTION

ABOUT ME

A photographer’s eye. A creative leader’s perspective.

 

 

I’m a creative lead with more than 10 years shaping campaigns, films and brand identities in hospitality, lifestyle and wellness.
 

At Hilton Creative Studio, I led 43 films in 18 months across a portfolio of 24 brands, from Hampton to Conrad and LXR, each from the brief to the final cut. At The Freeman Company, I created the Camp Buck brand and led a new direction for Studio Blue that was adopted in full, and for Freeman I created the Chaos to Calm campaign. At MaryRuth’s Organics, I built the brand’s photography from scratch, from the first shots I took myself to the studio productions that followed. Along the way I’ve led creative teams of designers and videographers, up to eight people at The Kabbalah Centre.

 

 

HOW I LEAD

I'm happiest at the start: finding the idea, setting the direction and building the world around it. Then I stay close to the work, with writers, designers, photographers, filmmakers and animators. Good direction gives a team something clear to build from without dictating every answer. My job is to set the vision, connect the pieces and help talented people make the work better than it would have been.

 

WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR

An in-house creative leadership role where photography and film are central to the brand. I'm relocating to Seattle and open to hybrid and remote roles.

 

LET'S TALK

valbalashova@gmail.com

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