Photo-icons line up to speak at The Societies’ Convention 2011

04/08/10

‘Our 2011 Convention agenda is truly world-class. It gives photographers the chance to make a positive investment in themselves’ - Phil Jones CEO, The Societies.

In an exclusive coup for CEO Phil Jones, photo-legend John Swannell is set to speak and exhibit his work at The Societies’ Convention 2011.

Swannell, one of the biggest names in British photography - and a 1960s assistant to David Bailey, joins a groundbreaking platform of imaging talent trawled by The Societies’ directors for the week-long Convention, starting on January 10 at the Novotel west Hammersmith.

The 150-strong seminar/workshop speaker line-up includes photo-icons like Gary Fong (Lightsphere Flash Diffusor creator), award-winning wedding photographers, Doug Gordon, David Beckstead and John Denton; world renowned imaging guru John Henshall; Marilyn Sholin, a New York-based Master Craftsman Portrait Artist; digital imaging experts Mark Cleghorn and Damien Lovegrove, garden shoot specialist Clive Nichols and famous artistic nude and fashion duo Trevor and Faye Yerbury.

Said Phil Jones: “This event just goes from strength to strength and the quality of our speakers is unsurpassed anywhere on the planet. Each year we go the extra mile to bring photographers the biggest and best show of its kind in Europe. The 2011 event will see us host some of the biggest and most respected names in world photography. John Swannell, now an Honorary Fellow at The Societies, is a true legend in the business.

This man has been at the top for decades. Once, when asked to fly to Milan to photograph the latest Valentino collection he turned it down because he was due to look after his kids that weekend.

John will give a talk and slideshow about his remarkable life and we’ll have a special exhibition of the great man’s work on show too. This is simply an unmissable event.”

The Convention will also host over 40 hours of FREE seminars and demos; 350 hours of Masterclasses over four days; high-powered Superclasses - where the audience is restricted to a maximum of 15 - plus a comprehensive Business School format.

Said Jones: “The Business School is a boon for photographers who want to learn more about marketing, PR - and generally running a successful operation. It’s about how to run a business properly - which is far more than shoving a receipt or two in a shoebox and handing it to an accountant once a year.”

Location shoots across London are being planned too.

Said MD Juliet Jones: “Doug Gordon’s Big Red Bus Tour was a huge hit at the last event so we are progressing the location theme in 2011. There will be more news about venues later but we promise a compelling agenda away from The Convention base at The Novotel.”

The Trade Show element of The Convention (Jan 14-Jan16) has almost sold out already.
Added Juliet Jones: “Once again we’ll have around 250 companies at the show. We’re still six months away from opening the doors but most of the stand space has already been snapped up.”

For more information about The Societies’ Convention event 2011 go to www.swpp.co.uk/convention/