A Guide for Internal Marketing & Communications Teams

How to Stand Out When Applying for Creative Jobs: Lessons from the Hiring Side As a creative professional—whether you're a photographer, videographer, designer, or multi-hyphenate—it’s easy to think your portfolio should speak for itself. But after reviewing dozens of applications for a recent role, I realized there are consistent oversights that hold talented creatives back from getting interviews. If you're currently on the hunt or plan to apply for creative positions, here are some must-follow tips to help you stand out—for the right reasons. 1. Read the Full Job Posting—Then Follow It Exactly This might sound basic, but it's critical: always read the full job listing, including how and where to apply. For our recent LinkedIn post, we specified two very clear requirements: You must be based in Colorado. Applications must be submitted via email and include a resume, cover letter, and portfolio. We received many applications from people out of state or who only submitted a resume through LinkedIn. Ignoring directions is a red flag. It tells us you either didn’t read the posting thoroughly or don’t follow instructions—neither of which instills confidence. 2. Customize Your Resume and Cover Letter Your resume should speak directly to the role you’re applying for. That means it might need a redesign, a reordering of experience, or highlighting specific projects more relevant to the job. A generic resume shows minimal effort. If you want the interview, show you understand what the role requires and that your experience aligns. As for the cover letter, it’s not just a place to list accomplishments. Show who you are and strike a balance between confidence and curiosity. Highlight what you bring to the table—but also express a willingness to learn, grow, and adapt to the company’s culture and processes. Even with experience, joining a new team means being a sponge. 3. Prepare for Screening Interviews Like You Mean It When you get a screening call, it’s your chance to show you're not just capable, but also invested. Here's how: Research the company—beyond their homepage. Know what they do, who they serve, and what their values are. Be ready to answer: "Why us?" and "What do you know about our work?" Make it personal and specific. Practice a succinct, clear summary of your experience. Prepare examples of challenges you've faced and how you handled them—especially those relevant to the role. Always, always bring thoughtful questions. Not asking anything signals disinterest or a lack of preparation. 4. Your Online Presence Matters—A Lot If you're applying via LinkedIn or referencing a portfolio site, make sure both are polished and up to date. That means: A professional (but authentic) photo on your LinkedIn profile. A clear headline and summary of who you are and what you do. If you’re open to work, activate the “Open to Work” banner. Ensure your portfolio represents your style and the kind of work you want to do. Curate it. Show your best, not just everything. 5. Creatives: Let Your Visual Work Speak—But Don’t Forget the Words Many creatives find it challenging to “sell themselves” in writing. We’re often visual thinkers, not marketers or salespeople. But remember: your resume and cover letter are your first impression. Make them count. If words aren’t your strong suit, consider working with a friend or mentor to tighten them up. Your visuals show what you can do—but your application materials show that you care, pay attention, and are ready to be part of a team.

Shortlisted Exports: Why Quality Content Matters At The Unfound Door, we’re passionate about creating high-quality video content that truly reflects the essence of your brand. One of the most impactful ways we do this is through our “Shortlisted Exports” – or, as we like to call them, “Shorties.” These curated, professional snippets are crafted to be versatile, visually captivating, and effortlessly shareable, perfect for both interviews and B-roll. What Are Shortlisted Exports? Simply put, Shortlisted Exports are professionally edited snippets from your raw footage, condensed into polished, usable clips. Whether it’s an interview or dynamic B-roll, these short, purpose-driven videos are designed to enhance your marketing, communications, and storytelling. Shorties go beyond just cutting down footage. They are thoughtfully edited to maintain narrative flow, highlight key moments, and present your content in the most engaging way possible. Our team leverages multi-camera angles, high-quality audio, color correction, and precise cutting to make sure your Shorties are visually and audibly flawless. Why We Provide Shortlisted Exports Our goal with Shorties is to make your video content work harder for you. By delivering polished, compact clips, we make it easy to incorporate high-quality content into your social media, presentations, and internal communications. Here’s why they’re essential: Efficiency in Storytelling: You don’t always need the full-length video to make an impact. Shorties allow you to convey important messages or captivating visuals in a fraction of the time. Easy Integration: Whether you’re updating your website, creating social media posts, or enhancing a presentation, these high-quality snippets are ready to use without the need for further editing. Enhanced Engagement: People’s attention spans are short. Presenting the most engaging moments first helps capture your audience right away. Versatile Format: Delivered in both 4K and 1080 HD mp4 files, our Shorties are compatible with a variety of platforms and editing software, including user-friendly tools like iMovie and Canva. Professional Quality: We ensure that each Shorty is visually consistent, crisply edited, and professionally balanced in audio, giving your brand a polished, reliable presence. Empowering Marketers: We know that marketers don’t always have the time, bandwidth, video editing expertise, or computer processing power to open massive raw Premiere files. Shorties are designed to empower you by being easy to use in basic programs like iMovie, Canva, and others. Why Shorties Matter: Don’t Let Quality Footage Go to Waste Not all the beautiful footage and sound bites we capture make it into the final edited deliverables. It’s Just the nature of video production – not everything fits the storyline or project goals. However, that doesn’t mean the other great content should go to waste. That’s why we create Shorties – to give you access to all the best moments that didn’t make it into the final cut. These are long, quality clips without music or fast transitions, perfect for other types of marketing. Whether it’s an extended shot of a project site, a particularly thoughtful interview excerpt, or captivating B-roll, we make sure you get the full value from the footage we’ve captured. Shorties for Interviews: Showcasing Authenticity Interviews are often rich with insightful content, but long, unedited takes aren’t always practical for every use case. Our Shortlisted Interview Exports address this by focusing on the highlights – the most authentic, relatable, and impactful moments – and presenting them in a concise, shareable format. We take special care to eliminate filler words, awkward pauses, and background noise while also using secondary angles to create smooth transitions and keep the visuals dynamic. The end result is an engaging, professional clip that communicates your message clearly and effectively. Shorties for B-Roll: Visual Storytelling with Impact B-roll footage can beautifully capture the atmosphere, setting, and essence of your story. However, raw footage can be lengthy and unfocused. Our B-roll Shorties are expertly curated to showcase the most visually compelling moments, allowing you to highlight your environment, team, or project without losing your audience’s interest. These B-roll Shorties can also serve as moving backgrounds for website banners or tradeshow booths – a perfect way to add a dynamic, professional touch to your visual presence. The Value of High-Quality Shorties We believe that high-quality video content is an investment in your brand’s reputation. By creating Shortlisted Exports, we ensure that your footage doesn’t just sit unused or get overlooked because of its length. Instead, you have impactful, professional content ready to use whenever and wherever you need it. With The Unfound Door’s Shorties, you’re not just getting video clips; you’re getting purposeful, powerful storytelling tools that enhance your brand’s visibility and message. A Standard in Our Video Packages Shorties are included in all Full Day Videography Project Scopes at The Unfound Door. We believe in providing our clients with as much value as possible, and including Shorties ensures that you can use the footage we capture in versatile, creative ways long after the main project is completed. B-Roll and Interview Shorties Samples:

A great logo tells a story. An animated logo brings that story to life.

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Allow us to provide clarity on the topic of copyright in the creative industry. This area is often complex and clients frequently have questions and concerns. Copyright refers to the legal right that a creator has over their original work. In terms of photography or videography, the photographer or videographer holds the copyright as the creator of the work. Think of it in terms of a painter and their artwork. The painter holds the copyright as they created the piece, regardless of who owns it. In the same manner, the photographer or videographer holds the copyright as the creator of the photo or video. As a client, you are granted specific rights by the creator through agreement. These rights typically include exclusive use of the work. This would be equivalent to owning the painting and having the ability to display it in your home, office, or business. In some cases, the creator may also use the work for their marketing purposes, which is often reflected in the contract. However, we understand the desire for confidentiality and are happy to accommodate if the client requests that the work not be shared. This complex system is a common practice in the creative field, providing protection for both the artist and the client. The end result is a beautiful work of art that is enjoyed by all. If you have any questions regarding the distinction between copyright and usage rights, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Understanding the intricacies of these rights is a crucial aspect of our services, and we are committed to ensuring that all of our clients are informed and confident in their rights. Let's work together to navigate this complex topic and ensure a clear understanding for all involved.

Before scheduling your photography session, we would like to provide some recommendations and considerations to help you get the most out of your headshots. Here are our top three tips... 1. Consider the style and look you want to achieve with your headshots. Do you want to convey a corporate and professional image, or would you prefer to show the individual personalities of your team? This will help guide the type of backgrounds, poses, and other details that will be included in your headshots. 2. Consider the backgrounds you'd like to utilize for your session. We offer two options: a solid color backdrop or an environmental background. The solid color backdrop provides a clean and consistent look, while the environmental background can add visual interest and a sense of place. You can also choose to have both options for added flexibility! 3. Consider how you want your team's photos to look together. Do you want each person's headshot to be cropped and framed in the same way, or do you prefer a more varied and unique look? We can work with you to find the right balance of consistency. Check out some recent examples below, and email us at ely@theunfoundoor.com to inquire about booking a shoot for yoruself or your team!

There is no greater storytelling tool for your business than video! We recently had the pleasure of creating a series of videos for Fransen Pittman Construction to tell the story of one of their team members, Saeed Saeed. His history and journey to Fransen Pittman is inspirational, and it was an honor to get to showcase his story, and how much the construction industry and Fransen Pittman mean to him. Saeed’s personal experience serves as the perfect example of Fransen Pittman Construction’s culture, and their mission to help everyone succeed. This video is a short take on the culture at Fransen Pittman, but you can head to our blog to view the longer version as well as some additional footage the team plans to use for their website, trade booths and more. Check out all the videos in the playlist, and some photos from our time together below!