Rick Fienberg, former Press Officer
American Astronomical Society
The American Astronomical Society (AAS) used to rely on volunteers to shoot photos at our semiannual meetings which attract as many as 3,000 attendees. When we eventually realized that we were doing ourselves a disservice, we hired Imelda Joson. The results were immediate and gratifying. Imelda elevated the quality of our meeting photography through a combination of professionalism, technical skill, and artist's eye. Our members enjoyed interacting with her and often asked for copies of her photos, for example, to use in press releases about the discoveries they presented at the meeting. Imelda also helped the AAS navigate the transition to digital imaging and social media, enabling us to post images online in near-real time during our conferences. When you work with Imelda, you don't feel like you're in a manager-client relationship, but in a partnership.