Sam Reynolds set up the agency just under 12 months ago. Prior to this he had worked as a press photographer for about five years at two local newspapers.
Shoot The Living specialise in Editorial Portraiture, which can be classified as any image created to accompany or front an article intended for print, in a newspaper or magazine, or online. Business is going well so far for them, and their client list is growing every month. There latest and most prestigious client was Vice Magazine, which was a big deal for Sam personally as he has been a fan of the magazine for years.
The branding for Shoot The Living was designed by Liverpool based designers Jmeel Allen and John Lees, and the website was designed by Preston-based web designer Jon Saul.
A statement from Sam,
"I have always enjoyed photography, and I started my career as an editorial assistant in the photographic department at local paper the Lancashire Evening Post in 2006.
I began training to gain qualifications in Press Photography whilst working at the paper. I completed my qualifications at another local paper, The Lancashire Telegraph, and had a happy few years there learning my trade before taking voluntary redundancy to start up my own business in May 2011."
The branding designers Jmeel Allen and John Lees,
"We've both known Sam since meeting at uni and have remained good friends therefore knowing him so well gave us a good starting point in the development of his identity. His ambitions for the company are big, so to us the key was to convey a big agency feel but keep Sam's personality and ethos at it's core. The name Shoot the Living was reflective of Sam's offbeat character and photographic style, we wanted the creative direction of the identity to follow suit. Typographically we took reference from quirky old shop signage, as if to reference his work as a collection of 'curiosities' (which often it is) yet still kept it looking modern enough so not to alienate his more corporate editorial clients."
Jon Saul, Shoot The Living web designer has said,
"Myself (Jonathan Saul), Jmeel Allen, John Lees and Sam Reynolds met whilst studying the Graphic Design Degree program at Blackpool College.
The brief for the site was relatively open, it was clear Sam was keen on an editorial/magazine style site, which I also felt would be appropriate. With such a solid foundation provided by John Lees & Jmeel Allen on the brand identity and the various pieces of design for print, the 'look and feel' of the site takes a great deal of influence from this offline work. The relatively stark and minimal style was something that I wanted to achieve from the outset, I was and still am very familiar with Sam's photography work and knew that to treat his images in any other way simply wouldn't do them justice."
It's so lovely to see something so special to come out of their education and even their friendship. They all seem to bounce off each other and work so well as a team. As their careers are progressing they are all going to just keep getting better and better, and continue to work on creative projects.
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Captions
1 - Ateeq Hazari, 16, achieved 12 A*s in his GSCE results
2 - Botanist David Belamy planted an oak tree at Earby Youth Hostel, to celebrate it being open for 100 years.
3 - Blaine Harrision of Mystery Jets performs at Liverpool Sound City, shot for VICE UK
4 - Two members of Callan Young Gangsters (CYG) who Sam met on Winckley Square, Preston.
5 - Albert Golding, 79, suffers from chronic lung disease, and is on a respirator. He has had problems with the NHS when it comes to receiving his flu jab.
6 - Tori Manning, 10, a pupil at Thorn Primary School in Bacup is wearing a new sports kit won for the school's contribution to the SPAR Lancashire Youth Games.
To see/hear/read/contact Shoot The Living see the links below...
