‹ Home

Jon Alderman is a commercial photographer based in Vermont, U.S.A. He has dedicated a grand part of his career to capturing military-related photography. Additionally, he devotes his time to photographing architecture, people, food, and landscapes. To see more of his liveBooks8 website, visit: www.jonalderman.com.

I first picked up a camera (Canon AE-1) as a military “brat” living overseas in Italy. At the time, I did not think it was something I’d end up doing as a career. I just knew I had a passion for making photographs. I enjoyed the allure as well as the challenge of working with film – right down to the mystery of what will come off the film I was capturing…that even includes whether it came out or not. It did not dawn on me until I moved back stateside that this “hobby” that I loved so much more than the various jobs I had at the time – could actually turn into a lively hood. So I pursued an education in the arts to dive much deeper into this world of photography and “develop” my passion into a marketable trade. Coming from a military family, I always had a fascinating and respect for the individuals who serve this country; their sacrifices, dedication and service. I guess this aspect of my personal life has flooded into the commercial side of my business as a majority of my work is related to military advertising. I feel very fortunate to capture and work alongside amazing military members while showcasing their very unique occupations and capabilities for my viewers.

Q: How would you describe the aesthetic of your website in three words?

JA: Clean, elegant and simple – the good kind of simple.

Q: How often do you typically update your website?

JA: You know…it varies, depending on my workload and new imagery. No major updates – as in layout overhaul, just refining image selection/sequence. Why change a great layout design?

Q: How do you choose the photos that you display on your homepage?

JA: Honestly, they choose themselves. The wow factor plays a big role in this selection. As the photographer, I am sometimes “too close to the fire” so I have some peer input to help me when I am struggling to decide.

Q: What is your favorite new feature of liveBooks8?

JA: I’d have to say my favorite new feature, and it may not be a feature but more of a bonus, would be the new design templates. Well thought out and plenty of options to personalize how you’d like to present your work. That paired with a great, easy to understand back-end user interface, wins it for me!

Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to someone designing their website?

JA: Sit back and think about how you’d like to view your work and how you’d like your clients to. liveBooks offers plenty of options to hit the ground running. It may feel overwhelming at first but just take your time learning the back-end and familiarize yourself with all the features and tools you now have access to.

Have a website you’d like us to feature? Email us at social@livebooks.com.