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Southshore Graphics
Mililani, HI  Let's Talk ↗

SOUTHSHORE GRAPHICS is the creative studio of John Weaver. Video editing, art direction and digital design for surf, lifestyle and brands that want to move people.

JOHN WEAVER

I help brands, publishers and creators tell sharper stories by cutting video, directing visuals and building digital experiences that carry the energy of the islands to audiences everywhere.

My perspective is shaped by the ocean: timing, rhythm and reading conditions. Fourteen years at Freesurf Magazine taught me to work fast, stay authentic and make every frame count.

The result is content that feels alive, and work that's built to travel well beyond the reef.

Over the past decade I've worked with Freesurf Magazine and its YouTube channel, Hoku Scientific, Local Motion Hawaii and independent brands and photographers across Hawai'i. I was also nominated for a Big Wave Award in 2016.

Get in touch ↗

Portfolio

Explore editorial, video, web design, branding, and photography.

Freesurf Magazine, Art Direction · PrintEditorialFreesurf MagazineMagazine covers, editorial spreads, and print art direction. Eli Hanneman at Backdoor, Athlete EditVideoVideo & EditingSurf films, athlete edits, and broadcast work. Brian Bielmann Photo, WordPress · HostingWebWeb DesignWordPress sites, redesigns, and development. Kabuki Samurai, Vector IllustrationBranding & DesignDesign & IllustrationVisual identities, posters, and vector illustration. Luke Shepardson, Surf PhotographyPhotographyPhotographySurf and lifestyle photography from Hawaiʻi.

Capabilities

Eight disciplines, one point of view. Pick a service to see what it covers, the tools behind it and where to find the work.

Video Editor &
Art Director
Eli Hanneman at Backdoor, athlete editFreesurf Magazine coversMokulele Airlines Surf Team, magazine layoutHonolulu Rainbow Film Festival, 2017 brandingKabuki Samurai, vector illustrationBrian Bielmann Photo, website and hostingLuke Shepardson, Big Wave Awards nominated
AIClaude · Gemini · ChatGPT
01Eli Hanneman at Backdoor, athlete edit

  1. Story-first edits for YouTube, social and broadcast, from 15-second teasers to full features. Cut to the beat, with the one wave everybody replays.

    Deliverables
    • Athlete edits
    • Throwbacks
    • Compilations
    • Show openers
    • Trailers
    • Social cuts
    Tools

    Premiere Pro, After Effects

    Edits for the Freesurf YouTube channel and the Board Stories TV show opener on Spectrum OC16.

    See the work ↗

  2. The look and feel of a publication or brand, held together across print, web, social and video. Photo selection, typography, color and the story each page tells.

    Deliverables
    • Cover design
    • Photo direction
    • Campaign looks
    • Social creative
    Tools

    Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator

    Art Director of Freesurf Magazine since 2012, covering every printed issue.

    See the work ↗

  3. Magazine layouts that read well and look sharp: features, news, ads and guides, built with writers and photographers and delivered press-ready.

    Deliverables
    • Magazine layout
    • Feature spreads
    • Print ads
    • Buyer’s guides
    • Prepress
    Tools

    InDesign, Photoshop

    Designs and produces each Freesurf issue, including the Beach Buyer’s Guide.

    See the work ↗

  4. Logos and identity systems with island character, from surf shops and bakeries to film festivals, built to work at every size.

    Deliverables
    • Logos
    • Identity systems
    • Festival branding
    • Brand marks
    Tools

    Illustrator, Photoshop

    Marks for Surf N Sea, Hawaiian Board Co., Hokulani Bake Shop and the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival.

    See the work ↗

  5. Posters, print ads and detailed vector illustration, built point by point and made to be seen from across the room.

    Deliverables
    • Gig posters
    • Print ads
    • Vector illustration
    • Event graphics
    Tools

    Illustrator, Photoshop

    Concert posters for The Strokes and 50 Cent, plus ads for DaKine, Kona Brewing and Surf N Sea.

    See the work ↗

  6. Fast, editable WordPress sites that clients can update themselves, plus the unglamorous parts: hosting, migrations, speed and custom plugins.

    Deliverables
    • WordPress builds
    • Migrations
    • Hosting & care
    • WooCommerce
    • Custom plugins
    Tools

    WordPress, Salient, WPBakery

    Moved freesurfmagazine.com to new hosting and redesigned it, plus seven client sites.

    See the work ↗

  7. Surf and lifestyle photography from the North Shore to the South Shore: big days at Pipeline, quiet sunsets and the moments in between.

    Deliverables
    • Surf
    • Lifestyle
    • Events
    • Fine-art prints
    Tools

    Photoshop

    Big Wave Awards nominee in 2016. Prints available on Darkroom.

    See the work ↗

  8. Practical AI that speeds up content production without losing the human touch: research, captions, copy drafts, image prep and repeatable workflows.

    Deliverables
    • Content workflows
    • Captions & copy
    • Image prep
    • Automation
    Tools

    Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT

    Part of my everyday workflow across Freesurf’s editorial, social and web work.

    Ask how it could help ↗

Resume

14+ years in
surf media
Experience
Freesurf MagazineArt Director & Video Editor2012 – Present
Hoku ScientificGraphic Designer & Marketing Assistant2009 – 2010
Local Motion HawaiiWebmaster & IT Manager2007 – 2009
Education
Kapi'olani Community CollegeNew Media Arts
Shawnee Mission NorthHigh School
Credits & Awards
Big Wave AwardsNominee2016
Screen Actors GuildMember2009 – 2020
Toolkit
Premiere ProAfter EffectsPhotoshopIllustratorInDesignWordPressClaude AIGeminiChatGPT