Jonathan Levin
Director. Photographer. Guitarist. Artist. Consultant. Teacher. Half baked comedian. Pretty nice guy.
A few years ago on a chilly March afternoon, I was born.
I come from a family of creative thinkers. My father was a photographer when he was not selling insurance policies. Growing up, art and music was my sanctuary. I am especially fond of the human figure.
Academically, I was every teacher's nightmare. I sucked at everything. And in keeping with Levin tradition, there was never going to be a sports star in my family. Ever.
Photography and music soothed my pain. I found that I was really good at those two things. I attended one of the last Ansel Adams Photography Workshops in Yosemite National Park. Ansel saved me from falling into some fast-moving water. How demeaning it would have been to be the first workshop attendee to be shipped home in a coffin.
I spent four years at Rhode Island School of Design. My major was photography, but I spent equal amounts of time in film, and even learned to love lithography and drawing with the amazing encouragement of friends and very open-minded professors. Art and music were everywhere. And not just the commercial shit. Art by real fine artists.
Around 1980, I opened my own studio in Chicago. And that my friends, is my resume for the next 42 years! I have to thank my mentors along my journey: Richard Olderman, Kevin Dole, Walter Raczynski and Budd Shehab. And a few very inspirational friends. And especially my wife Pam. Thank you so much for lending an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, and a smile for all my bad jokes and comments as well as sharing my success.
My work has been primarily in the areas of advertising and marketing. For the most part, pharmaceutical, hospital and healthcare. For the past 15 years, most of my paid work has been for colleges and universities. Working off of grant money, I put together educational and instructional videos. samples of this work can be seen on this site.
Please get in touch with me if you have an idea, and a little (or a lot) of dough.
Clients I Have Worked With Who Even Paid Me
DuPont Pharmaceuticals • Sandoz Pharmaceuticals • University of Chicago Hospitals • Rush University Medical Center • Benedetto Guitars • Abbott Laboratories • Methodist Hospitals/Houston •City of Hope/California • Illinois State Lottery • Pfizer Animal Health Group • WLS-TV/Chicago • Playboy Enterprises • Amercan College of Chest Physicians • University of Colorado Hospitals/Dnever • Loyola University Medical Center • Chicago Tribune • Rush-Copley Medical Center • Suntrust Banks • Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago • Gilead Sciences • Ikaria Medical • Kovitz Investment Group • Upsher-Smith Medical, and many more. Your company could be here if you work with me!
Special Services That I Offer
I am currently taking students who would like to learn about the photography business. Everything from getting clients, technique, organization, and staying creative. I don't know everything, but after 40 plus years I know a shit-load of stuff!
I'm also available for:
Director of Photography (DP) for video projects and independent films
Sound/Audio engineer
Post-production (Final Cut)
Visiting speaker for education and panel discussions
A beer
All content on this web site is Copyright Jonathan Levin/Chicago 2021. All rights reserved.