Honored for her outstanding contribution
AAF-Akron is pleased to announce that Autumn Bland Hudson, producer and photographer for Todd Biss Productions, is the 2022 recipient of its inaugural Penny Award.
Autumn earned her BFA in photography at Myers School of Art at The University of Akron. While still in school, she began her career at Todd Biss Productions.
Among the many “hats” she wears, Autumn is a talented photographer and meticulous producer. She tirelessly works to achieve an excellent finished product in everything she does—be it capturing portraits, assembling crews and managing logistics for productions, or dressing a set. Introducing new ideas and communicating effectively with a variety of individuals top the list of her ongoing accomplishments.
Autumn also demonstrates personal creativity with her own work as she is passionate about documenting the community, including her Portraits of a Pandemic project and published book. The series documented the duality of life that the COVID-19 pandemic created among those with essential jobs and those staying at home. She has photographed over 700 people and written short stories to help continue to connect the community. She embraced the theme that “We Are All in this Together.” While photographing this project, she came across people she could help. From scheduling and transporting people to get the COVID vaccine to starting meal trains and encouraging a family whose dad was in the hospital with COVID, her selflessness is inspiring.
An AAF-Akron special committee chose Autumn during a closed session vote in early September. She will be presented the Penny Award at the AAF-Akron Annual Meeting on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 5:30pm at The Knight Stage in downtown Akron. For more information and to make reservations, visit aafakron.com.
About the Penny Award
AAF-Akron’s Penny Award recognizes young professionals, under 40 in the Greater Akron area, who have made outstanding contributions to advertising as well as have been active in furthering the industry’s standards, creative excellence and responsibility in areas of social concern. The award pays homage to AAF-Akron’s first president (1945) and charter member, James Penfield (Penny) Seiberling. Akron’s American Advertising Awards were known as the Penny Awards.
