( CHN BUSINESS PERSON IN THE SPOTLIGHT )
CHN BUSINESS PERSON IN THE SPOTLIGHT
This issue CHN’s Deborah Dempsey chats with Henry Kinchin of 1st Class Images
has become one of the country’s leading equine photography companies. With a visible passion for the industry it serves, innovative approach, outstanding photography and excellent customer service it’s not hard to see why Henry and his team are official photographers at many of the countries premier equine shows.
M
Do you c ome from a horsey background? Yes, the whole family is ‘horsey’. My grand mother ran a yard with my mother just outside Lower Swel,l My Grand- mother was big part of the Heythrop pony club and was affectionately know as “Granny Hanks” by all she taught. My Mother was also a good horse woman and evented to a good level. I competed some great ponies in Pony Club showjumping and eventing, although dressage was not my forte - I think I still hold the fastest test record in the Heythrop PC. I then went on to be an amateur jockey for a number of years.
When did you start working in the Equine Industry? When I leſt school I worked on Guy Avis’s hunting & breaking yard. He’s a great horseman and I learnt a great deal.
What is your inspiration? I love working with competitors to create a brilliant memory of their achievements, however big or small. I understand how hard it can be even getting to the event, and then having to put it all together on the day is a great achievement. I want to produce photos that the competitors are proud of.
How do you juggle your horses with running the business? I have one horse and he’s fairly new, so I haven’t yet been through the busy spell with a horse but I think my friend and co owner Matt Cadman will be my secret weapon!!! Also, last year 1st Class Images merged with ES Photography and Sarah, the former owner helps me enormously in running the business.
What are your greatest successes? Equine-wise winning the Heythrop Members race a few weeks aſter my Grandmother had died, I also rode the horse for a great friend which made it that bit more special. Business-wise the greatest achievement and something I am most proud of is my team; they are awesome and so dedicated to the job, sometimes photographing or printing till late in to the night. It’s thanks to them that we were awarded contracts like Horse of the Year Show, Windsor, Bolesworth International, Dublin and The Pony Club Championships.
What has really worked for your business? Putting the images in to individual rider folders has always been well received. I also employ Pippa a.k.a Queen of the Collages’, she manages to make our collages unique.
54 MAY/JUNE 2019 Photo by:
www.1stclassimages.com
What has been the toughest challenge to date? Cancellations of events at the start of the 2018 season presented us a serious challenge when stand fees for later in the year kept coming.
How do you relax from the Business? I ride my horse, play squash and recently I have started running with my girlfriend’s sister and we are doing a half marathon on 6th May, just before Windsor so hopefully won’t be too sore!
What are the top products that you could not live without? A Canon 1DX Mark II and a 70-200mm lens and a pair of Blundstone work boots!
What are your ambitions? I would like 1st Class Images to have a couple more leading international shows
What are your loves/hates of running the business? My hate is people screen-shotting images and my love is when someone picks up a collage and either gets emotional or has a great big smile on their face, you know our job has been done well then.
What advice would you give to someone coming into your line of Business? Don’t get complacent and always look at developing your skills and the services you offer the customer.
www.1stclassimages.com Download schedules & updates from
centralhorsenews.co.uk
any of you will have come across 1st Class Images whilst out and about competing. Founded in 2010 by Henry Kinchin & Colin Baird, 1st Class Images
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