Dear Art Producer: Lisa Lee
With each episode, Dear Art Producer aims to bridge the gap between the photography and advertising communities, offering invaluable insights and fostering a sense of camaraderie among industry professionals. This week I sat down with Freelance Executive Producer Lisa Lee. Lisa’s career started in San Francisco, creating content for brands like The Body Shop, Williams-sonoma, The Culinary Institute and Cooking.com before she took the leap into the advertising world by joining the team at TBWA/Chiat/Day. There she launched their first Asset Management System and produced campaigns for iconic brands such as Apple, Nissan and PlayStation. After that, she relocated to Colorado to work at CP+B for over 15 years. Currently as a freelancer she continues working on big brands, crafting memorable campaigns and leading teams through their production hurtles.
The Early Days: Creative Immersion and Serendipity
Lisa’s career began with a love for photography, which she studied alongside creative writing. Her path was shaped by her willingness to dive into creative environments, from coffee shops in San Francisco to a gelato shop in Los Angeles, where she stumbled upon a job listing that ultimately led her to the world of advertising. Starting at Chiat/Day, she found herself learning from industry leaders like Jigisha Bucha, whose organized and visionary approach to art production left a lasting mark.
Lisa emphasized the importance of taking risks early in your career—choosing unique jobs and places that fuel creative energy—and being open to new opportunities, even if they seem unconventional.
Art Production: The Heart of the Job
Lisa described her role as a mix of problem-solving, mentorship, and leadership across multiple disciplines. Art producers are the conduits between creative teams, clients, and production crews, tasked with deciphering and synthesizing a multitude of voices. Patience, calmness, and resourcefulness are crucial traits in managing projects while maintaining positive energy on set.
“Being calm and patient sets the tone for a shoot,” Lisa shared. “It makes a huge difference in guiding teams toward solutions without imposing heavy-handed opinions.”
Industry Shifts: From Specialists to Generalists
The advertising and production landscape has changed dramatically since Lisa’s early days. What was once a field of specialists—photographers, broadcast producers, illustrators—has evolved into an integrated, multi-disciplinary industry. Producers today navigate complex deliverables, balancing legal, creative, and logistical aspects across stills, motion, CGI, animation, and more.
This shift has brought challenges, especially with tighter timelines and incomplete information. Lisa noted the prevalence of “false deadlines” and the increasing need for previsualization (previz) to streamline processes. “Previz is critical, and clients need to understand that once you commit, you really have to commit,” she said.
Breaking Down Misconceptions
For photographers and reps, understanding the art producer’s role can be a game-changer. Art producers act as messengers, often navigating incomplete or disjointed information from multiple stakeholders. Lisa encouraged patience and collaboration:
“Sometimes things feel disjointed because we’re not getting the full picture ourselves. We’re working across so many levels internally, and that takes time. We’re just trying to communicate the best we can with what we know.”
She also advocated for open communication, suggesting that direct conversations between photographers, reps, and producers can save time and prevent miscommunication.
What’s Trending: Deliverables and Motion-Forward Projects
Lisa highlighted the growing demand for diverse deliverables across formats. “Everything now has a motion component,” she noted, with many projects starting as motion-first before incorporating stills. The rise of CGI and animation has also opened new channels for agencies and brands, often bypassing traditional routes to work directly with animation houses or studios.
This layered workflow reflects the speed and complexity of today’s production environment. “Clients often don’t know everything they need upfront,” Lisa explained, “so we’re still educating them while managing their expectations.”
The Future of Creative Production
Our conversation underscored the adaptability required in creative production. From juggling multiple disciplines to navigating ever-changing client demands, art producers like Lisa play a pivotal role in shaping the final product while fostering collaboration.
Link Here for Episode 111 – Lisa Lee on iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify.
This weekly series shares conversations with Art Producers in Advertising, where together we can envision the future for this industry and take steps forward as a community. If you are interested in being on the podcast, please email me at Heather@Heatherelder.com – we are still recording episodes. And if you like the podcast, please consider sharing it on social media and leaving an iTunes review. We would love help spreading the word.
