info + contact
get to know a little bit about terenia thomas.
fast facts about me
creative haitian-american born in brooklyn, ny and raised in uniondale, ny
favorite fitness activities that i don’t do enough: pilates and swimming
over a decade experience in creative marketing & production [a list of my experiences can be seen below + watch some of my work here] and about a decade in fashion
turning photography from a hobby into a hustle [check out what I've captured here]
first photo exhibition was at grandchamps in brooklyn, ny from april 2017 to may 2017 and featured 14 stunning locations i captured throughout haiti
featured in the haitian times, sharetheexperience.org and more
some of the places where i’ve spread my creative glitter
(this isn’t everything i’ve done, but i appreciate every opportunity i have had)
freelance photographer / content creator | 2017 – present
photo contributor, getty images, nyc | 2018 – 2020
writer / producer, vh1, on-air promos, nyc | 2014 – 2017
freelance editor, yahoo, nyc | 2014
freelance editor, martha stewart living omnimedia, nyc | 2014
freelance writer / producer / editor, mtv networks, on-air promos, nyc | 2013 – 2014
freelance editor, hearst digital media - cosmopolitan, nyc | 2013
visual merchandiser, c. wonder, nyc | 2012 – 2013
wardrobe assistant / dresser, barbara berman backstage, nyc | 2012 – 2013
market week intern, alexander wang, nyc | 2012
freelance market week showroom assistant, lanvin, nyc | 2012
showroom visual display freelancer, lifestyle / trimco, nyc | 2011 – 2012
volunteer, mercedes-benz new york fashion week, nyc | 2011
freelance editor, bet networks, creative services, nyc | 2011
promotions producer, music choice, on-air promos, nyc | 2009 – 2011
producer / editor, bet networks, creative services, nyc | 2007 – 2010
production assistant, bet networks, creative services, nyc | 2006 – 2007
seasonal sales associate, bloomingdale’s, plus size, garden city, ny | 2005
video editing laboratory assistant, the pennsylvania state university, university park, pa | 2004 – 2005
seasonal sales associate, banana republic, garden city, ny | 2002
sales associate, j. crew, willow grove, pa & garden city, ny | 2001 - 2004
seasonal sales associate, macy’s, young men’s, garden city, ny | 2001
seasonal sales associate, polo jeans co., garden city, ny | 2000 -2001
current independent project
“made in haiti” – multi-platform programming initiative to change the narrative of haiti
through large media platforms to reveal the beauty & culture of haiti that is rarely seen
I compiled my behind the scenes photos and videos during some of my trips to Haiti throughout the years. (I visited Haiti in 1986, 1996, 1997, 2009, 2010, 2016 - twice, 2017 - thrice, 2019, & 2021.) You’ll also see my personal photos and videos from some of the various events I attended the last 4 years or so — some Haiti-related and some not. I attended all of them with the purpose of promoting/selling my photography of Haiti, networking, absorbing knowledge, sharing my knowledge, being entertained, convening with my people, and/or celebrating Haiti. I also included screenshots of a few social media posts where my photography has been featured and shared.
expertise
creative marketing, writing & production
created innovative campaigns promoted across platforms (on-air, off-channel, ooh, social media, and digital) that maximized appeal of programs and achieved record ratings
conceived, wrote, and produced vh1 promo campaigns plus social media video content that maximized appeal of programs and achieved record ratings
the breaks, a vh1 original movie - 1.8m viewers for debut led vh1 to order series and faxies 2016 finalist for marketing of a special
candidly nicole (s2) - faxies 2016 finalist for social media marketing
ti & tiny: the family huslte (s5b) - +7% viewership vs ti & tiny (s5a)
black ink crew: ny (s3 & s4) - #1 non-sports cable show in time slot and s4 viewership +4% from s3 plus outperformed prior seasons
black ink crew: ny (s5) - new night vh1's highest rated wednesday premiere ever, approx 4m viewers across premiere night, #1 cable series in time slot, 1m+ streams +87% from s4 debut week, weekly surpassed streams of prior seasons, and premiere #1 most social series
conceptualized, wrote & produced integrated marketing campaigns for mtv’s the challenge rivals ii x little caesers pizza, mtv x pizza hut’s discover great program, promos for the mtvu woodie awards and more
co-wrote, produced and edited music choice’s promos including image/brand campaigns plus sales reels for on demand’s thematic programs & interactive music video network swrv
comcast top picks: selena - usage +106.6% after the first promo aired with 1.1m+ views and music choice on demand had 35m views overall
collaborated with writers, produced and edited campaigns for bet’s programming
the mo’nique show (s1) - #1 telecast during season & #1 talk-show in bet history
tiny & toya (s1) - 2.8m viewers making it #1 original series premiere in bet history
baldwin hills (s2) - finale outperformed baldwin hills (s1) finale by 41% and #1 bet series
college hill: atlanta (s5) – #1 college hill season premiere with rating of 1.33
keyshia cole: the way it is (s3) - #1 telecast of the day last six episodes of season
oversaw development of all creative assets for deliverables at vh1, mtv, music choice, and bet including but not limited to: casting & booking talent, selecting music, directing sessions (voice-over, editing, & audio mixing), and supervising graphic design
directed celebrity talent and adhered to set creative direction at vh1 & music choice shoots
accountable for project budget while pushing high-quality creative at vh1 and mtv
collaborated with clients and other teams such as programming, digital, ad sales, affiliate sales and more at vh1, mtv, music choice, and bet
developed procedures and best practices with senior leadership to help department productivity and train freelancers, junior staff, and interns at vh1, music choice, and bet
edited episodes for various web series such as martha stewart and everyday food
formulated interview questions plus produced, conducted and captured interview with haitian filmmaker during 2022 new york african film festival for the taylor show on youtube
fashion & retail
ensured c. wonder’s windows and selling floor were appropriately merchandised in between floor sets, window installations and collection launches to optimize client experience
built partnerships and communicated c. wonder’s visual standards to sales associates & store management
supervised with visual manager implementation and maintenance of c. wonder’s visual merchandising guidelines including window installs, proper set-up, use of all fixtures, selling tools, and mannequins
assisted account executives during appointments with retail buyers, maintained visual displays, and dressed models during alexander wang’s market week and lanvin’s market week
supervised and dressed 20+ parade participants during the macy’s thanksgiving day parade as a costume crew member with the barbara berman backstage team
dressed models, maintained backstage area and/or prepped garments for events such as the oscar de la renta charity show, calvin klein resort 2013 presentation, and worth collection dvd shoot with the barbara berman backstage team as well as during nyfw with jenny packham, betsey johnson, and dkny
created visual displays, maintained décor, and performed data entry at lifestyle / trimco
conceptualized, wrote, and produced promo for tresemmé x mtv’s house of style vma recap special
edited video content for yahoo style’s unbuttoned and cosmopolitan’s youtube network, hello style
implemented visual merchandising standards, assisted management with rollouts, and advised customers on fit and style of merchandise ensuring customer satisfaction at j. crew
crew star in april 2003 & july 2003 for highest sales and credit card applications processed
ranked #4 in highest sales per hour in a week in pennsylvania/upstate new york region
march 2002’s associate of the month
photography
captured travel, nature, street, event, landscape, food and candid photography
photography exhibit featuring haiti’s beauty at the haitian restaurant, grandchamps in brooklyn
photography highlighting beauty of haiti & personal connection to haiti featured in the haitian times
selected by getty images to submit photos to sell as content to their users
community engagement
chairperson & inspector / poll worker, new york board of elections | 2012 – 2023
nassau county (2012, 2018 & 2023) and brooklyn (2018 & 2019)
volunteer, nypd - 67th precinct nostrand playground beautification project | 2022
member, new york women in film & television | 2018 – 2020
2019 designing women volunteer & 2019 muse awards volunteer
speaker, haitians building unity inc. - a night of remembrance | 2019
mentored & educated members of propelled media, an organization focused on young women 16-21 of caribbean & african-american descent about the tv industry as a part of their “calling the shots” workshop
speaker, propelled media - calling the shots workshop | 2018
featured speaker at haitians building unity’s “a night of remembrance” event. interviewed on the importance of changing the narrative of haiti through education and tourism
volunteer, viacommunity day - beautify prospect park | 2017
volunteer, viacommunity day - children of promise | 2016
education
school of visual arts, nyc | 2019
photography (continuing education)
fashion institute of technology, nyc | 2011 - 2012
digital photography & fashion styling (continuing education)
new york university: tisch school of the arts, paris, france | 2005
video production & french new wave (international summer program)
the pennsylvania state university: smeal college of business, university park, pa | 2001 - 2005
bachelor of science in marketing • minor in african-american studies
honors: penn state dean’s list, the national dean’s list, and bunton-waller scholarship
activities: army rotc: run club - president & the lion 90.7fm (wkps) - vice president / promotions director / on-air personality [created marketing strategies and organized events such as promotional parties, voter registration drives, fundraisers, and lion jam: aids awareness concert • established and maintained relations with college radio partners such as record labels and mtvu by assisting with artists’ promo and/or giveaways • effectively managed promotional team of 10+ and assigned various responsibilities and projects • set up stop-sets on quick pix, selected music, worked soundboard, and edited/rearranged music on cool edit pro and imedia touch productions • introduced music, promos, and news on the air]
