Who's Who in Sonoma: Andrea Potts

Born in a small town outside Baltimore, Andrea Potts was drawn to creative writing and was always on the lookout for images to inspire her. As it turned out, it was images that led her to her dream job as a photo producer. For the past 20 years she has been producing photo shoots for a myriad of companies, including The Gap, Clorox, Target and Genentech.

After leaving Baltimore, she moved to Aspen where she lived for seven years. In 1988 a friend introduced her to a photographer who was looking for a studio manager, and she’s never looked back.

Potts moved to San Francisco, and eventually found herself on the way to a successful freelance career, fittingly called Pottsticker Productions, playing mediator between the client, agency and photographer.

Sonoma Patch: What does a photo producer do?

Andrea Potts: I’m called in by a photographer, photographer’s rep, a design firm or advertising agency to aid in the creation of an ad in a magazine, website, brochure, store poster or packaging. I’m given a layout and asked to prepare an estimate for what it will take to create the concept.  

SP: What does that involve?

AP: It’s across the board depending on the project, but it can involve location scouts, casting, hair and makeup artists, wardrobe stylists, prop stylists, caterers, insurance, locations and parking permits, sa tudio teacher if children are involved, photo assistants and a digital technician.

SP: Wow. What does a typical day look like?

AP: On the actual days of the shoot I am on set, making sure we stay on budget and that things run smoothly. I have to make sure everyone is comfortable, happily fed and watered.

SP: Have you done shoots in Sonoma?

AP: Occasionally. This is a very film-friendly town. There are some great houses listed in the database of one of the San Francisco location scouts I use.

 SP:  How long have you been in Sonoma?

AP: Five years.

SP: How are Baltimore and Sonoma different?

AP: In the 70’s, Baltimore was a small provincial city that I always longed to fly away from.

SP: You picked a nice place to fly away to-- Aspen.

AP:  Sonoma is a lot like Aspen in many ways: the mixture and caliber of fascinating people and the strong sense of community.

SP: Why did you decide to settle in Sonoma?

AP: After many years in the Bay Area, I longed for the small town rural flavor that I missed from my Aspen days. I wanted land and proximity to the ocean.  At the time I was in my sixteenth year as studio manager/producer for a commercial photographer who had recently moved back home to Sonoma, Jock McDonald.  I was  intrigued with the layout of being close to town yet in the country.

SP: You seem to have settled in.

AP: I have the best neighbors on earth, a decent commute to San Francisco for meetings and studio shoots, my horse is five minutes away, and the Sacramento airport is convenient. I could go on and on.

SP: You have a program called “Buy Fine Art Before You Are 60.”

AP: In the late 1990’s, when I was working for Jock, I started collecting his photographs. My friends began asking me where could they get quality photographs for a good price. So in 1998 I launched the program, found a location that was donated and rounded up some very talented photographers. The shows got so popular I had to call in a blind jury (me)!

SP: When is the next one?

AP: This winter at Cornerstone. And the guest list has expanded from friends to art buyers, art directors, photo gallery owners, and interior designers.

SP: If you weren’t a photo producer, what would you be doing? 

AP: Now, don’t laugh, but the first thing that comes to mind is talk show host!  Part of my job on set is to entertain and I’ve gotten very good at it.  Also, I am passionate about horses so I would love to learn how to train horses or work with emotionally and physically challenged children and adults with therapy horses.

SP: Unless the Oprah replacement people call, of course.

AP: Of course!