Features
Ableimages prefers to keep it small, keep it lean, and keep it keen
Stock industry veteran David Harrigan is running a stock production company called ableimages with a slightly different approach. Rather than focus on producing thousands of images to suit the needs of the many, ableimages is focusing on productions to serve the specialized needs of the few. “I did not want ableimages to be a factory churning out images based solely on ‘needs’ but a company that would work with its partners so as to create a body of carefully considered images that would perfectly suit their requirements” stated Harrigan. The small production company has been working with such partners as Getty, Corbis, Masterfile, and Uppercut Images to create images on a wholly owned basis. In addition Harrigan has stated plans to begin marketing its own images through Corbis and other channels over the course of the next few months.
Harrigan who has held such roles as Chief Creative Officer at Imagestate,
Director of Photography EMEA at Corbis, and Head of European Art at Getty Images, places great emphasis on communication as the key to the business “Call me old fashioned but I have always been a sucker for a bit of good old fashioned personal service and it was this quality that I decided that I wanted to build my company upon. I have always prided myself with being up-front, honest and forthright. Communication is key in any relationship and it was this quality that I nurtured at both Getty and Corbis with both clients and photographers alike”.
Ableimages production schedule for the near future is largely dependent on the requirements of its partners, but the company has a robust business having recently produced almost 1000 images in a one-month period for Getty last season on a focused educational theme. Ableimages has worked with such photographers as Jutta Klee, Gary Houlder, Russell Underwood, and Julian Winslow, with the majority of the productions happening in the UK and Europe. However, Harrigan points out that ableimages has developed a network of contacts around the world and offers his partners the option to produce content in a variety of locations.
True to the initial approach to the business Harrigan offered the following colorful response when asked about plans to produce footage or music. “Am I absolutely Barking Mad? No way, like I said I know my limitations and the skill sets of my crew, lets leave this specialized market to the big guys who know what they are doing in these fields.”
Harrigan appears to have carved out a unique corner in the stock photography industry where he is able to focus his business on a core set of values. ”The premise of ableimages was to offer individual contact and personal service, keep it small, keep it lean and keep it keen. I want to know the names of my clients, to be able to hold a conversation on any level with them, to know their likes and dislikes, to understand their foibles and needs, how else can a relationship develop?”
Web: www.ableimages.com - Click here to view ableimages content at Getty - Click here to view ableimages content at UpperCut Images
David Harrigan can be reached at
Posted in: Features, Photographers, Stock Photo Companies, Stock Photography 101
