march 2012 - ECLIPSECORP MARKETING CAMPAIGN

This image, shot by Eclipse Studios is the first part of a marketing campaign for EclipseCorp showcasing all three divisions (Eclipse Studios, PageOne Productions, and Solar Imaging). Eclipse Studios shot the image of Ty building his boxcar, as well as the three product shots in our studio. They then sent a photographer to Delaware, OH to capture the ambiance of a working woodshop. PageOne Productions then retouched this image by changing the background to the actual woodshop image, altering the light to create a more dramatic effect, adding smoke coming off of the wood car, and creating a paint spill. Solar Imaging printed the “Woodshop” as a vinyl banner for the final piece in this campaign. Click here for more details and to see the final version!

february 2012 - ECLIPSECORP MARKETING CAMPAIGN

This image, shot by Eclipse Studios is the first part of a marketing campaign for EclipseCorp showcasing all three divisions (Eclipse Studios, PageOne Productions, and Solar Imaging). Eclipse Studios shot the original fruit-filled blender on a white plexi background, as well as the component parts for retouching including juice splashes, and individual fruit explosion parts. PageOne Productions then took this image and created a “Blender Explosion”, and Solar Imaging printed the “Blender Explosion” as magnetic mock menu board. Click here for more details and to see the final version of this campaign!

december 2011 - HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The EclipseCorp 2011 holiday card was inspired by the AMC hit television show "Mad Men". The Top Steakhouse in Bexley was the perfect location for our photoshoot. And, we absolutely must credit Yvette Henry for the fabulous styling! We will be updating the EclipseCorp Blog daily with information about the actual shoot, who's who, details on The Top Steakhouse, and more - so check back often!

october 2011

Business First FAST 50 Awards

EclipseCorp (which includes Eclipse Studios, PageOne Productions, and Solar Imaging) is proud to be included in the Columbus Business First FAST 50 Awards for the second year in a row! We would not be here without all of our clients. Your success is our success! Thank you for making us one of the Fifty Fastest growing companies in Central Ohio!

april 2011

Business First - Corporate Caring Awards Supplement 4-15-11 Article
CORPORATE CARING AWARDS 2011 HONOREES - Human Services - Small Business Category

The staff at EclipseCorp tries to make the clients from Easter Seals Central and Southeast Ohio feel like rock stars.

The company's photography studio has a way of making everyone feel special, said Rob DuVall, director of development and marketing for the nonprofit agency. "We are definitely a priority," he said. "It's rare to work with a company that is so invested."

Giving to the community is an important part of the business, said Sandra Burt, who owns the studio with her husband, Jeff. "I believe in karma," she said. "I absolutely believe you've got to make a difference. We're only here for a short amount of time."

Eclipse has provided Easter Seals with photographs and print products so the agency can share its message, DuVall said.

Using the talents of its employees means the company's charitagle works are less dependent on the economy, Burt said. "In a bad economy to help with things we are already doing" is easier on the bottom line, she said.

The company also helps the Children's Hunger Alliance. For more than 10 years, it has taken and printed photos of the organization's annual fundraiser.

"The photos Eclipse Studios has taken for us have indeed allowed us to effectively tell the story about the need to end the cycle of childhood hunger in Ohio," wrote Mary Lou Langenhop, CEO of the alliance in a letter nominating the company for an award.

The company tends to focus on helping organizations that work to improve the future of the next generation, Burt said. "Throughout the years, the company has contrubuted the most time and resources to Columbus organizations that make consideragle investments in the lives of young people," she wrote in her application for a Corporate Caring award.

feburary 2011

Eclipse Studios had two images win a total of four Addy Awards in the 2010 ADDY Competition!

december 2010

The 2010 Eclipse Corp. Christmas Card was inspired by Dr. Seuss's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Follow this link to learn more about how we transformed ourselves into "Who's"!

october 2010

Conway Family Business Awards

Eclipse Corp (which includes Solar Imaging, Eclipse Studios, and PageOne Productions) is proud to be included in the list of companies recognized at the Conway Family Business Awards! The Conway Center for Family Business Awards Program was established in 1998 to recognize excellence in family business and has honored more than 115 Central Ohio family businesses during its first 11 years. The 12th annual awards are scheduled for November 5, 2010. More than 115 companies have been honored during the past 11 years Eclipse Corp. is honored to included in this year's list!

september 2010

Business First FAST 50 Awards

Eclipse Corp (which includes Solar Imaging, Eclipse Studios, and PageOne Productions) is proud to be included in the Columbus Business First FAST 50 Awards! We would not be here without all of our clients. Your success is our success! Thank you for making us one of the Fifty Fastest growing companies in Central Ohio!

june 2010

Daily Reporter 6-04-10 Article
Picture Perfect Business

Thanks to a high school football injury, Jeff Burt is now the owner of a thriving imaging company that makes a variety of signs and displays for such customers as Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works and Cardinal Health. Business is going so well, in fact, that he expects revenues for one of his subsidiaries to double in the next couple of years thanks to the purchase of some new equipment.

"We think with these new purchases it can take us to a new level," Burt said. "We've always been pretty aggressive."

Burt started a commercial photography business, Eclipse Studios Inc., 16 years ago and since has expanded the business to include digital printing company Solar Imaging, and Page One Productions, a pre-press company. All totaled, Burt has 23 full and part-time employees, and two years ago the companies moved from their 8,000-square-foot Dublin location to a new 28,000-square-foot Gahanna site. He attributes much of the growth to the company's ability to take advantage of new technologies.

"We've had 16 years of growth ... we haven't been afraid to take on new technology. We were one of the first to take on digital," said Burt, a Cincinnati native.

His interest in visual arts started when he got hurt playing football in high school. "I got hurt and my dad bought me a camera and I would take photos of the (games)," Burt said. After college his interest in photography took him to California, since he felt that to be successful in that business he needed to be on one of the coasts. He ended up working at a photography studio in Northern California for eight years before the entrepreneurial itch struck.

Besides gaining lots of experience, California was also the place where he met his future wife. Eventually she took a job with Express in Columbus and the two moved to Central Ohio. "I started (the company) in a garage," said Burt.

While he certainly has a creative side, Burt said he also enjoys being a business owner and nowadays doesn't even touch a camera unless it's for personal use. "I always loved numbers and the business end of it," he said. "But I can take my camera on vacation with me ... I can go left-brain, right-brain." The company recently purchased a wide-format (grand) digital printer and a specialty cutting machine that will increase efficiencies by producing a greater volume of higher-quality products in less time.

Burt said the capital investment likely will more than double company revenue from $1 million to $2.5 million over the next two years. "With these new additions, we will be in a position to offer more capabilities to our clients and compete in new markets," Burt said.

The company is hosting a three-day open house at its facility from Tuesday June 8, through Thursday June 10 to showcase its new site and equipment.

april 2010

Business First 3-12-10 Article
Family-Owned Business
A Conversation with Jeff Burt, President and CEO | Eclipse Studios

Husband-and-wife team Jeff and Sandra Burt run three businesses under one roof in Gahanna – Eclipse Studios, founded in 1994; Solar Imaging, founded in 2001; and PageOne, founded in 2006. Eclipse specializes in commercial, advertising and industrial photography while Solar Imaging provides custom digital wide printing and PageOne focuses on color management services. Jeff Burt, 45, has been a professional photographer since 1986 and runs the businesses as CEO. Sandra, 44, focuses on marketing and client services. Jeff is a native of Cincinnati and has an associate degree from Antonelli’s School of Art Photography in that city. Sandra is a native of Whitewater, Wis., and graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Stout with a bachelor’s degree in clothing, textiles and design.

In getting through the recession, do you think being a family business helped in any way?

In any tough time, it’s always your family that gets you through. Not only do Sandra and I support each other through business decisions, we also count on our family of clients and employees to keep us strong and moving forward – we’re all in this together. This mentality has contributed to the strength of our business.

When you first noticed that a recession was setting in, what was your immediate reaction in terms of business planning?

The natural reaction to a declining economy is to tighten up and re-evaluate projections, goals and strategy. But instead of being reactive, we committed to be proactive. We knew we had to keep the bar high by continuing to be smart and conservative, yet progressive and aggressive with new business outreach and marketing initiatives. Instead of scaling back, we pressed forward. We recently purchased a new facility in Gahanna, which allowed us to bring all of our companies together. The appeal to clients is a solution to their own cost-cutting measures - all the resources under one roof for photo shoots, retouching, and large format printing.

You decided to not back down on marketing. What went into that decision?

We wanted to stay top of mind during the recession so we would be in a stronger position as the economy begins to recover. Fortunately, business has been steady and growing despite the tough times. We decided to focus on our strengths and move full-speed ahead. Because we've focused on marketing and new business development, we've experienced more opportunities than ever to grow and connect with more quality businesses and retailers. We have a full pipeline of new and potential business.

How did you convince clients to keep spending?

Our clients are major retailers and companies that have jobs to do. Recession or not, they need quality photography and printing services to meet their business objectives and boost sales.

You have other businesses, too. Did you embrace a similar or different plan for them?

We marketed each one as a standalone service that can be bundled with services offered by sister companies. They feed each other business.

What is the biggest business lesson you've taken away from the recession?

We have learned to stay conservative, yet proactive and focus on our strengths, especially as they relate to solutions that help companies stretch their budget. We've seen when we continue to move forward and provide strategic services, it attracts business. Moving forward, we'll continue to invest in delivering our message to companies outside Ohio's borders.

march 2010

Our most recent hire, John Lubinsky brings with him over 20 years of experience. “Rollergirl” is one of many great images in his portfolio. Please contact the Eclipse Studios to arrange to see more of his work.