Where to Find A Good Portrait Photographer
Life goes by in a flash, so capture it for future generations with international portrait photographers Anthony Buckley & Constantine
By Asia Tatler, 13.Dec.2011
Mary Keterrer, daughter of Edward Hoting, poses in front of a portrait of her grandfather Sir Robert Hotung
Life goes by in a flash, so capture it for future generations with international portrait photographers Anthony Buckley & Constantine
Mary Keterrer, daughter of Edward Hoting, poses in front of a portrait of her grandfather Sir Robert Hotung
Memorable portraiture is the ability to capture the personality and even the mood of a sitter. Whether you want to preserve a legacy or just a moment, look no further than British company Anthony Buckley & Constantine (ABC). Royally appointed by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, the company is world renowned for high-quality portraiture. Their know-how and integrity has inspired some of the world’s great leaders to get in touch.
As Grant White, director and photographer since 1993, recalls, “one of my first overseas assignments as an assistant was to go to Baghdad to photograph Saddam Hussein at the time he became president of Iraq. Little did we think at that time that things would turn out as they did! But we don’t hold political or religious ties against clients. We meet them purely as a person.” Other famous “sitters” include Imelda Marcos, Run Run Shaw, Li Ka-shing and the last governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten.
ABC maintains a very strict ideology when it comes to portraiture, though. The traditions established in 1951 when the company was founded are still practised today. Photographers only use film, photos are not retouched unless the client specifically requests it, and the portraits are all handmade, with the larger ones being embedded into canvas.
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To maintain privacy and achieve a relaxed setting, they also photograph exclusively in clients’ homes throughout the world. They’ve shot portraits for every occasion and have even photographed up to 30 family members in a single frame. The company is also incredibly discreet, as White says, “A lot of our work is done by word of mouth, personal recommendations. We don’t do advertising.”
While White visits Asia on a regular basis, bookings should be made at least six to eight weeks in advance through its website (www.buckleyconstantine.co.uk). Sitting fees run from about US$1,000 to US$4,000, while the portraits themselves can run from US$1,200 to US$2,400 per piece.
