CEPIC CONFERENCE - Prague, The Czech Republic |
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In June we went to Prague for our first attendance of the CEPIC conference, the Congress of European Picture Image Collections. Each year they hold a conference of European-oriented stock house libraries, with many international attendees as well. The goal is to network and collaborate with new photo sources. Many small and medium-sized agencies worldwide, especially those with specialty collections such as ours, meet with would-be partners to discuss working with each other. It gives each partner a new distribution opportunity to reach undiscovered markets, which is really a win-win for everyone, especially our own photographers who would not normally sell in these markets! In addition to networking, it's also a wonderful opportunity to spend time with industry colleagues in a fun and relaxed setting. There were several evenings spent sitting around the Old Town Square at outdoor cafes, having dinner and lighting Absinthe on fire! It's a cultural tradition in Prague, where absinthe originally was produced! The late night jazz bars were pretty fun too!
When all was said and done, we found several wonderful agencies with which we're now developing sub-agency agreements. One is based in the United Arab Emirates, offering outstanding coverage of both travel and culture from their part of the world. We also met a few super travel photographers of the highest caliber and hope to be adding their images to our site soon. I'm ever diligent about looking for new professionals that have in-depth coverage and/or access to all parts of the world—especially the more remote areas that are so hard to find! I realize my travel clients need fresh material regularly, and I do my best to keep it coming!
While in London we stayed with Lauretta and Martin Dives from The Kobal Collection and The Picture Desk. They were incredibly hospitable, and we really enjoyed spending time in the London suburbs and taking the Tube throughout the city. We got an excellent tour of their offices, and our son Davis (16) found their celebrity collections much more interesting than the travel and wildlife images he's grown up around! Do keep The Picture Desk in mind if you need any kind of historic or current celebrities. Their Hollywood movie star collection is tremendous!
So now I'm off to Anchorage for the World Global Environmental Congress, where many of the world's most committed nature and environmental photographers will be convening the first week of October. It'll be good to connect with some of my favorite photographers and meet new ones as well. There will be sessions not only on the environment, but also on Eco Tourism and its effect on local cultures, which has always been of interest to me, ever since I worked with Society Expeditions back in the early 80's. I work with many tour operators that feature some of the world's more remote areas, so I know quite a bit about the subject myself. It will be interesting to hear that presentation in particular.
Then it's on to Redondo Beach, CA for the International PACA conference, followed by Picturehouse in NYC, and then Photo Expo where I'll be speaking on a panel on Digital Editing, hosted by both ASPP and PACA. If you come to Picturehouse, please stop by our table and say hello!
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