Photography as a profession has never been tougher. Photographers need to be ever more entrepreneurial to succeed. The Bigger Picture, written by Jeanne Griffiths, for many years the Picture Editor of Time-Life London, is not a 'how to take photos' book. Instead, it is a practical book packed with advice, contacts, leads and business ideas intended to help you find and create markets for your work.
With valuable advice from other leading UK picture editors and art directors, the book covers rates of pay, (and where to find recommended minimums), marketing, portfolios, fields of work and photography-related work. There are chapters on marketing, exhibiting, studios, producing prints and products to sell, finance, insurance, copyright, law and travel.
There is a chapter on photographers' agents, with a list of 70 UK agents, lists of grants and bursaries, card manufacturers, over 40 press agencies and the picture desk contacts for all UK national newspapers. There are leads to advertising agencies, magazines and publishers, including a list of over 30 specialist agencies that produce magazines that are not sold in shops.
Whether it is how to get a press card, have an exhibition, sell to the press, approach picture editors, become a unit stills, performance. sports, fashion, garden or landscape photographer, this book is essential reading for photographers, with over 1000 contacts, leads and ideas,
While mainly aimed at UK photographers, particularly in the financial and legal sections, it is applicable to any photographer who wants to break into the UK market or wants to exploit their field of photography to the full.
There is also a chapter for prospective students, with advice on how to find UK degree and other courses, create a winning portfolios, write a great personal statement, and what to expect at interview. There is also inside knowledge on photography courses - what the prospectus won't tell you but which students really need to know.
Jeanne Griffiths was Picture Editor of Time-Life, London, working with the world's top photographers. She is the author of six non-fiction books, including 'The Photographer's Project Book'. She has written extensively on photography, business and personal finance for many newspapers and magazine.
