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Patrick Harrison, the latest addition to the LPA family, was recently invited to test out the Nokia PureView 808 – a brand new phone with an amazing 41MP Camera!

With a small team including a Producer and Art Director from the agency Hugo & Cat as well as a local fixer, Patrick spent 5 days in Rio during Carnival shooting for 12 hours a day with the new phone. Here’s what Patrick had to say about the shoot…

‘Rio is an amazing city, with superb, diverse locations.  It’s hard to imagine anywhere else quite as vibrant and intoxicating.  The people and the place are just made for great images, the camera phone’s pretty good aswell!‘

Below is the final product tour film which will be used globally, in-store and on the device as start up screens and wallpapers.  The film uses images from Patrick’s shoot in Brazil alongside Ciro Candia’s shoot in London.

Here’s our latest newsletter with a few examples of what our photographers have been up to recently.

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Recently Lisa hosted Live Ask an Agent at Somerset House, London as part of World Photo London.

Inspired by Ask an Agent, a monthly feature on the LPA blog and photography’s first agony aunt, the live Q&A session answered 6 preselected questions about the photography business and inspired some lively debate!

As promised we’ll be sharing the answers here on the blog over the next few weeks.

The first question comes from no other than editor of The British Journal of Photography, Simon Bainbridge.

What sort of investment do you need to put in after college to be in a position where ad and design agencies (and agents) take you seriously?

Simon Bainbridge, editor The British Journal of Photography.

Well I reckon the answer to this question is pretty much based on how long and how much it costs to get any business up and running.

The key thing that graduates need to remember is that being a professional photographer is very much about running a business. You need to develop a product and a service that people want to buy. You need to be able to market and deliver this product as well as (or preferably better than) your competitors and you need to evolve with industry trends and client demands. When you are able to do all of this, that’s when the industry will take you seriously. But thing’s don’t happen overnight.

Being acknowledged as a professional photographer is usually a slow burner, a very gradual transition. You need to be persistent and consistent, ramp things up slowly and gather momentum.

Cost wise, people often imagine it’s just you and a camera and forget all the other costs of running a business. Fair enough you don’t usually need to invest in large premises, lots of staff and a warehouse full of stock but there are many things you do need to invest in over the years to be taken seriously. The main initial cost will be technical equipment and the sky is the limit on this one. You will also need to heavily invest in your marketing, not just a website and a business card, all the personal projects, networking expenses and subscriptions are all part of this don’t forget. And thirdly there’s all your general business overheads, insurance, phone, bank charges, computer software, the list goes on.

So how long and how much until you crack it?

I reckon 45K and about 5 years – here’s how I came to this equation.

The regular Ask an Agent monthly spot will return on the 2^nd July and thereafter the first Monday of each month. So please carry on sending your questions to askanagent@lisapritchard.com and we’ll answer as many as we can.

LPA Futures Photographer, Toby Coulson, was recently commissioned to shoot this brainstorming meeting for The Exchange.  This summer they’ll be opening The Rooftop Cafe overlooking London Bridge.

The brainstorming session involved Catch 22, a national charity that supports young people in difficult situations, who are helping design the Rooftop’s garden. From lawn bowls to silent disco’s and film screenings onto The Shard, guess where we’ll be hanging out this summer?

We love these images from Toby – sounds like an amazing project.

© Toby Coulson

© Toby Coulson

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In March Michael Heffernan was commissioned to shoot a large image library and an above the line campaign for Digicel, a mobile phone network provider covering Oceania, Central America and the Caribbean.

The shoot took place over 2 weeks and involved more than 50 models, some professional some street cast. Michael shot at a wide range of locations throughout Jamaica as well as a local studio.

As you can imagine it was a really fun shoot and the results are amazing: a library of vibrant, spontaneous imagery capturing the essence of the Digicel brand. Check out some of the ads below.

© Michael Heffernan

© Michael Heffernan

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Culture Corner is a regular feature on the LPA blog showcasing something we think you will find interesting in the visual arts world.  This month we give you a few heads up for the bank holiday weekend and beyond.

Out of Focus

Out of Focus is the Saatchi Gallery’s latest delve into the photography world and as it’s their first photography exhibition since 2001, it’s a pretty big one!

With 38 artists exhibiting from across the globe, there’s definitely something for everyone whether that’s Broomberg and Chanarin, Mitch Epstein or Yumiko Utsu.  Whilst you’re down there, make sure you check out Richard Wilson’s oil installation as well.

Anonymous, Los Angeles, Boulevard 11 © Katy Grannan, 2009

Frontline Club – Photo Week 2012

With their fingers always on the pulse, the Frontline Club brings you their Photo Week 2012.

There’s portfolio reviews, seminars, a networking party and our highlight for the week, the Reportage Showcase by Getty Images with photographers Peter Dench and Tom Stoddart, in conversation with Getty Images Vice President of Assignment, Aidan Sullivan.

Foto8 Summershow

One the biggest shows of the summer on the London photography calendar, this years judges are Gerry Badger, Phil Coomes, Alison Jackson, Simon Roberts and Ossian Ward.

If you’re a photographer, you should definitely spend your long bank holiday weekend preparing your entry for the deadline on 15th May.  We’ll see you at the Launch Party on the 6th July.

LPA Style’s hair and make-up artist, Elkie Phillips, recently worked on a shoot for Really Wild Clothing with photographer Ciarán Spencer.

Elkie told us ‘It was one of the best shoots I’ve been on in terms of location and weather. The Oxfordshire countryside was stunning!’.

© Ciarán Spencer

© Ciarán Spencer

© Ciarán Spencer

Last Sunday Lisa hosted Live Ask an Agent at Somerset House, London as part of World Photo London.

Inspired by Ask an Agent, a monthly feature on the LPA blog and photography’s first agony aunt, the live Q&A session answered 6 preselected questions about the photography business and inspired some lively debate!

We’ll be posting the full answers here on the blog over the next 6 weeks so watch this space.

Just to give you a taster of what’s coming up questions included-

• What sort of investment do you need to put in after college to get yourself into a position where ad and design agencies- or even agents- take you seriously?

• I have heard that without an agent it is unlikely that you will get to see an art buyer or art director with your book or get commissions from advertising agencies. Is this true?

• I’m graduating in the summer and want to get work producing shoots. How can I get people to notice what I have to offer and not just be seen as recent graduate?

• I hear with many agents that without a good client base your chances of being represented are not good, I’m sure this is not the case with all agents but that seems to be the general consensus. Is this generally true and how does a photographer best approach an agent with a view to representation?

• If you stick to shooting only your personal vision will you end up in the commercial wilderness?

• Can you explain the different types of licences?

Thanks so much to all those that sent questions, came along to the event and followed the action on our live twitter stream – it was great fun!

The regular Ask an Agent monthly spot will return on the 2^nd July and thereafter the first Monday of each month. So please carry on sending your questions to askanagent@lisapritchard.com and we’ll answer as many as we can.

Main Image © Honeybunn Photography

Image on projection © Simon Tomkinson

Iain Crockart recently visited the Himalayas to document an amazing trip organised by Falkland war veteran, Robert Lawrence MC.

Robert Lawrence organises expeditions for ex-service men and women, many of whom are in wheelchairs and most of whom suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.  The shared experience enables them to find new physical and mental reserves to cope with their disabilities.

Iain’s images have been used for an article in Ritz magazine (April edition) and will feature on The One Show tonight on BBC 1 at 7pm.  Iain has also produced a 160 page book documenting the adventure in detail, including portraits of all who take part.

© Iain Crockart

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We love these vibrant new images of ‘young lifestyle’ by LPA Photographer Nick David.

As ever, Nick has captured the atmosphere of the day brilliantly, giving us a real taste for summer – remember that?!

With a very busy few months coming up including shoots for Playstation, Morrisons and M&S, Nick has also just launched his sparkling new website… good work!

© Nick David

© Nick David

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