The Business of Photography:
A Panel Discussion with Top Industry Photographers’ Agents

Moderator: Louisa Curtis – Chatterbox Enterprises

Panel:
Neil Binkley - Wonderful Machine
Patrick Casey - Marge Casey & Associates
David Laidler - Aurora Select
Frank Meo - Meorepresents
Laura Reid - Redux Pictures
Tricia Scott - MergeLeft Reps

Members of the panel may be subject to change due to last-minute availability

Tuesday, September 29, 2009    6:30PM - 9:00PM
Price: $25.00

Event Description:

The shifting business landscape has affected not just photographers, but the agents who represent them as well. How have the options (and the opportunities) to find representation changed in recent years? Or have they?

Louisa Curtis (Chatterbox Enterprises) presents a diverse panel of top artist representatives to share their insights on today’s photo industry from the agent’s perspective. Our panelists cover a cross-section of different approaches to representation; from a niche agency specializing in photojournalists, to a long-established, high-end advertising stable of talent, to a boutique web-based collective and a renowned photo agency that spans not just the country but also the globe, covering commercial and editorial photography as well as stock.

After introductions to their backgrounds and a presentation showcasing examples of each agency’s work, Louisa will ask the panelists to weigh in on the following pertinent topics:

• What exactly does an agent do on a daily basis, and what should a photographer expect when signing with an agent or an agency? For many photographers, it is like entering into a marriage, so you’d better be ready.
• How does each agent find new clients? Do they make appointments with potential buyers?
• What is the typical cost of doing business with an agent or an agency?
• How has the digital revolution affected the way agents seek out work for photographers?
• How does a photographer get an agent’s attention, let alone get an appointment with them?
• What can a photographer without representation do to survive?
• What advice would they give to someone considering a career as a photo agent?
  

And there will be ample time for the audience to ask questions during the discussion.

Requirements:

Attendees should bring items for note taking during the Workshop.

Level: This Workshop will be most suitable for emerging photographers who are starting to examine the ‘business’ of photography, as well as established professionals who are looking to advance their careers.

Biographies:

Louisa J. Curtis – Creative Consultant - Chatterbox Enterprises

Louisa J. Curtis is a creative consultant based in New York City. After spending a number of years in the commercial photography industry, she formed “Chatterbox Enterprises” to offer photographers a variety of creative consulting services – ranging from portfolio and image reviews to customized marketing packages designed to help refine your vision, target the appropriate audience as well as create and implement an Internet-driven business plan.

Her experience ranges from Archive magazine, to the Black Book, photo representatives Watson & Spierman Productions, PDN’s PhotoServe & IPNStock as well as database services ADBASE & Agency Access. Besides her creative and marketing consulting, Louisa also works as an event coordinator, panel moderator and seminar speaker. She has regularly presented programs for Adorama, APA, ASMP, Miami Ad School & Photo Plus Expo.

Her web address is: www.chatterboxenterprises.com

Panelists:

Neil Binkley – Photographers’ Representative – Wonderful Machine

Not quite two years ago, Neil Binkley and photographer Bill Cramer created Wonderful Machine, in their suburban Philadelphia office, with exactly three photographers. They have since grown into an international brand, providing marketing and production support for their members, now spanning 50 American cities, almost 50 countries internationally, and across all photographic specialties. With its small, but comprehensive group of photographers, Wonderful Machine has become a unique resource for art buyers looking for high-quality talent. Neil’s background in the advertising and corporate design worlds, and in the film industry, informs his take on connecting photographers and art buyers. In the May 2009 issue, PDN recognized Wonderful Machine's rise and success, and Neil has been asked to judge one of PDN's upcoming photo contests.

His web address is: www.wonderfulmachine.com

Patrick Casey - Photographers’ Representative – Marge Casey & Associates

"As a young boy I slept on piles of contact sheets and was surrounded by great talent that inspired and refined my creativity," says Patrick Casey.

As Creative Director of Marge Casey & Associates, Patrick Casey continues in his mother's footsteps by cultivating a roster of international talent. Having been immersed in the world of photography from a very young age, he brings a deep passion and progressive perspective to the team. Patrick’s fresh approach to marketing promotes the agency’s emerging and established photographers in a visionary way, while building on the agency’s reputation and commitment to service as leaders in the creative community for over 30 years.

His web address is: www.margecasey.com

David Laidler – Artist Representative – Aurora Select

David Laidler heads Select, the NYC based photographer representation agency affiliated with Aurora Photos. Driving opportunities for a boutique roster of commercial and editorial photographers, the artists receive enhanced exposure in advertising, magazine, gallery, book publishing, fine art and new media arenas.

Former director of Getty Images' North American assignment division, Orchard Represents, he was instrumental in the exciting growth of this start up within the stock giant. Before that, he ran the editorial news team at Corbis for four years after being acquired during the purchase of Sygma Photo News in 1999, as the senior news editor.
While in London, David worked at various photo agencies, deejayed, and generally had a lot of fun. He has a degree in physics, before you ask.

His web address is: www.auroraselect.com

Frank Meo – Photographers’ Representative – Meorepresents

Frank Meo has been repping photographers to the commercial sector for more than twenty years. His company Meorepresents has worked for such clients as Nike, American Express, ESPN, IBM, Acura, Pfizer and Xerox.

Meorepresents has worked with every major ad agency, and their photographers have worked for every important magazine and newspaper around the world.

Meorepresents has carved out an important niche in the photography community by representing world-renowned photojournalists for commercial assignments, which in turn allow these photographers funding for their projects which involve shooting the important issues of our time. With offices in New York City, and affiliations around the world, Meorepresents has the reach to produce any job anywhere.

His web address is: www.meorepresents.com

Laura Reid – Photographers’ Representative – Redux Pictures

Laura Reid debuted her career as a photo department intern at the once glorious Budget Living magazine (RIP). It was there she developed a passion for the industry and has spent the last three years as an editorial rep at Redux Pictures, a New York-based agency whose roster spans the globe.  With a network of international partner agencies, they are able to cater to a wide variety of clients such as The New York Times Magazine, GQ, Glamour, The Sunday Times of London, Monocle and Stern. With a background in business and the arts, she feels particularly suited to this line of work. She has taken part in Parsons Portfolio Review, ICP Career Day and has worked on various gallery shows, both photographic and otherwise.

Her web address is: www.reduxpictures.com

Tricia Scott – Photographers’ Representative – MergeLeft Reps

Tricia Scott hung Sebastiao Salgado photos on her wall when everyone else had Teen Beat covers. This prompted her to go to photo school, RIT, where she graduated from with a degree in Photography.  Upon graduating she moved to New York City to assist photographers, which evolved into wardrobe styling, and studio management. All this experience eventually turned into MergeLeft Reps, a partnership with photographers to create, nurture and profit through commercial photography. Five years later, her husband Brett Sahler, became a partner at MergeLeft. He produces the photo-shoots and is the master of spreadsheets. MergeLeft is a boutique agency that keeps a small roster to cater to their photographers and clients alike.  Clients range from Rolling Stone, Warner Brothers Records, Williams-Sonoma, State Farm Insurance to Jack Daniel’s.

Her web address is: www.mergeleftreps.com

Register:

Price: $25.00
Schedule: Tuesday, September 29, 2009    6:30PM - 9:00PM
Location: The Adorama Building, 42 West 18th Street, 5th floor.