Dear Art Producer: Melissa Le Nicol

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 Melissa Le Nicol, Freelance Senior Art Producer. With over 20 years of experience in advertising, Melissa has held pivotal roles at agencies like Leo Burnett, DDB, Ogilvy, Cramer Krasselt, FCB Health, AbelsonTaylor, and most recently, Inizio Evoke Drive. Her impressive career includes collaborations on high-profile accounts such as Porsche, Corona, Hilton, Hyatt, and Pfizer, where she has consistently delivered award-winning content.

Melissa’s Career Journey

Melissa’s path into advertising began at a young age. After working various jobs in high school, her first role in advertising was with Leo Burnett at just 19 years old, where she started in the media department before transitioning to production. Over the years, she gained diverse experience working with iconic brands like Procter & Gamble, Kellogg’s, and 7Up. Her career evolved as she moved between agencies, worked as a photographers’ representative, and ultimately found her niche as an art producer.

A significant portion of Melissa’s career was spent at Cramer Krasselt, where she built lasting relationships and honed her craft. Reflecting on her journey, Melissa attributes her success to her diverse experiences and the incredible mentors she’s worked with along the way.

The Role of an Art Producer

Melissa’s current role as a freelance senior art producer involves guiding creative teams to select the right talent, managing triple bids, and ensuring seamless communication between clients, creatives, and production teams. Her responsibilities also include coordinating schedules, overseeing location scouting, casting, and navigating approvals, especially within the regulated world of pharma advertising.

Melissa emphasizes the importance of a strong working relationship between photographers and their producers. She notes that while talent is a major factor in her recommendations, the professionalism and efficiency of a photographer’s producer can significantly impact the overall experience and future opportunities.

Advice for Creatives

Melissa shared some key insights for photographers, directors, and reps:

• Understand the Producer’s Role: Art producers juggle numerous responsibilities to ensure projects run smoothly. Awareness of their challenges can help creatives collaborate more effectively.

• Strong Production Teams Matter: A reliable and organized production team is crucial. A producer’s professionalism can influence future collaborations.

• Communication is Key: Addressing issues directly and diplomatically can prevent minor hiccups from escalating. For example, if disagreements arise on set, clear communication between account teams and clients is vital to maintaining alignment and avoiding delays.

Marketing to Art Producers

When it comes to connecting with Melissa, email remains a primary method. However, she appreciates thoughtful, concise outreach that demonstrates a genuine understanding of her needs and projects. Personal connections and a strong online presence also play a role in how she discovers new talent.

Melissa mentioned that LinkedIn has become an increasingly popular platform for connecting with photographers, directors, and agents. She also highlighted the importance of keeping Instagram profiles updated, as it often serves as a supplementary portfolio for creatives. Thoughtful engagement on social media platforms can make a lasting impression.

What Sets Melissa Apart

Melissa’s colleagues often praise her organization and ability to maintain calm under pressure. She takes pride in creating a structured and harmonious environment, ensuring everyone is aligned and equipped to deliver their best work. Melissa’s intuition and knack for reading people allow her to address concerns proactively, fostering open communication and trust.

She also emphasized the importance of clear, constructive communication in navigating challenging on-set situations. Whether it’s managing client and creative team disagreements or ensuring timelines stay on track, Melissa’s solutions-oriented approach ensures successful outcomes.

Final Thoughts

Melissa’s extensive experience and passion for creative collaboration shine through in her work. Her journey from a young professional at Leo Burnett to a seasoned freelance art producer offers valuable lessons for anyone in the industry. Her insights into the evolving role of art producers and the importance of strong relationships underscore the collaborative nature of advertising.

Link Here for Episode 111 – Melissa Le Nicol 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.