Chandler West is a visual storyteller.Hi, I'm Chandler! I started my visual storytelling journey as a student at Loyola University Chicago. After graduating with a B.A. in journalism and photography, I worked full-time as an independent photojournalist telling stories around Chicagoland. During that time, my work was published in the Chicago Sun-Times, The Guardian, the Huffington Post, Vice, and The WSJ's Photo Journal.
Being a photographer was always a way for me to explore learn about the world around me. However, after 5 years as a photojournalist, I decided I wanted to apply my experiences in the field to being an Editor. I wanted to advocate for photographers and visual storytelling. This led me to New York City where I worked as a Photo Editor at Refinery29 -- a digital-media company for young women reaching an audience of 550 million. While there, I commissioned documentary stories directed at millennial women. I managed a roster of independent photographers and gave art direction to match R29’s distinct visual style. In 2016, I shifted to politics joining Hillary Clinton's 2016 Presidential campaign. As the campaign's Photo Editor, I primarily managed the campaign photo operations and archive. However, I'd occasionally hit the trail to photograph President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and First Lady Michelle Obama. After the election, I took refuge in California and joined the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a philanthropy founded by Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, as the organization's only Multimedia Specialist. In this role, I kickstarted the organization's storytelling engine by establishing the infrastructure, team, and protocol of the creative department. I was essentially air traffic controller and pilot for all of CZI’s creative needs. Most recently, I've relocated to Washington D.C. and now work as an independent contractor helping editorial and non-profit clients achieve their visual storytelling goals by creating compelling content and building scalable digital operations. Let's work together! |
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