better mileage
The LPG is an informal professional group with a tiger in its tank – definitely
going the distance since its foundation over 30 years ago. Diane Smyth
interviewed prime movers of the London Portrait Group.
T
he London Portrait Group of the LPG in 2000, but his rich
is an informal gathering of speaker programme continues. Un-
portrait photographers that der Mark Seymour’s chairmanship
meets on the first Tuesday (2004-2008) high-profile profes-
of the month, every month, and sionals such as Bob Carlos Clarke,
has done since the mid-1970s, Barry Lategan and John Swannell
when it was founded by photog- gave presentations, while current
rapher Paul Kaye and business chair Ivan Finch has booked award-
guru Michael Freedman. Informal, winning photographers such as
relaxed, and not affiliated to any Maz Mashru and Henk van Kooten
trade organisation, it’s nevertheless (who flew in from the Netherlands
a lynchpin for professional photog- especially). And he also ensures he
raphers in the south. includes marketing advisors and
“I’ve been going every month experts from other fields apper-
since Paul set it up”, says long-time taining to portrait photography.
fan Maurice Rubeck. “Apart from “We always have good, diverse
anything else it’s very sociable”. speakers but we try to mix it up”,
Sociable it certainly is – cur- he says. “Last year we had a couple
rently held in a Thai restaurant, it of fashion photographers, who you
attracts around 30 people every wouldn’t usually come across on
time. But it’s much more than just the social photography circuit. But
a social club, and it has been from they had some really interest-
the start. “I set it up because I ing lighting ideas that were very
realised that everyone goes to con- relevant to our audience. If we
ferences and learns and is very en- have a big name, we can attract
thusiastic, but then they go home about 70 or 80 people. Fortunately
and forget about it”, says Kaye. “I Epson, one of our sponsors, lets us
set up a monthly meeting to make use their Hemel Hempstead offices
sure we actually progressed. for these meetings.
“Originally the intention was “For a long time photographers
that it would be in a different wanted to know more about digital
photographer’s studio every month capture and workflow, now the big
but in the event it became a issue is how to make money in a
regular meeting at my studio in recession. We need to help photog-
central London. It attracted up to raphers find ways to maximise sales”.
60 people at a time from as far
away as Devon. People valued the Photography critiques
opportunity just to meet up, but I
also always made an effort to get The LPG also runs extremely
interesting speakers. We decided popular Print Critiques four times
the topics as we went along – they per year, in which well-established
were often on aspects of photogra- professionals critique participating
phy or technique but also included photographers’ work. There are four
areas such as sales”. categories with a quarterly award
The latter are remembered with for each. At the end of the year
particular fondness by Len Dance, the overall winning photographer
another LPG fan who’s been going gets the “LPG photographer of the
since the 1970s. “Mike Freedman year” award and prize, which is
was brilliant”, he says. “He really donated by sponsors Epson UK. But
taught photographers to believe in the real prize, says Ray Lowe, is the
themselves. When he came along, taking part.
photographers were still using 10 “The critiques are so important”,
x 8 prints to sell their work. He he says. “Getting feedback on your
was instrumental in saying ‘No,
Above: photographs by Ivan Finch LMPA, LPG Chairman.
work is the quickest and best way
your work is worth more than that to learn, and it means you actually
– project it onto a wall and really
For further information please contact Ivan
take what you’ve learned and put
show it off’. Now everyone uses it into practice. Too many people
projectors. It’s all about having Finch on 07973 204489 or email him at these days think they can learn
that confidence”.
info@townandcountryphoto.co.uk
photography on-line and out of
Kaye resigned as chairman books, but nothing is better than
16
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