Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Willoughby.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m an editor by trade – I cut music videos in the 1980s and early 90s; Madonna, Michael Jackson, Van Halen – and from there moved on to commercials – Nike, Apple and lots of cars and trucks. My father, Bob Willoughby, was a famous Hollywood photographer covering films in the 50s, 60s and 70s. If you’ve seen photographs of Audrey Hepburn, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, John Wayne or anybody else from that era, you’ve seen his work. He was a remarkable artist with a remarkable work ethic. He understood the business, he knew the type of images the magazine and studios needed and, for twenty years, was never out of print. When he passed away in 2009, I took over the collection. Unlike most photographers, Bob retained ownership of his negatives and so I can now print, exhibit and publish his work. The Estate is represented by galleries around the world and offer both original and estate prints. My job is to increase awareness of his work and maintain his legacy in the world of photography.
Has it been a smooth road?
My father passed away more suddenly than expected. We thought we had time for him to go over aspects of the business and the collection, but that was not to be. The biggest struggle was learning the photography business, the galleries and collecting – figuring out how to run the Estate while respecting the way my father did things.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with The Bob Willoughby Photo Archive – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
The Bob Willoughby Photo Archive is the business end of the Estate – We own the negatives and original prints and we offer collectors the chance to acquire prints, either original (Bob was an incredible photographic printer), or Estate Prints – these are limited edition fine art prints made from the original negative. We stage exhibitions with our galleries – here in Los Angeles it’s Fahey/Klein Gallery – We have an Audrey Hepburn/Marilyn Monroe Exhibition Tokyo in April at Watanuki Gallery. We publish books and license images for use in publications, online and books, around the world through MPTVImages.
I think the thing I am most proud of is the work itself – the images are so wonderful, all you have to do is look and, even if you don’t know the subject, you can see it’s a work of art.
Plus, I can work with my dad every day.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The thing I like best about Los Angeles is the access. Anything you want; restaurants, hiking in Griffith Park, business resources, galleries are here – made miserable by the thing I like least about Los Angeles – the traffic.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.willoughbyphotos.com
- Phone: 323-854-1144
- Email: csw@willoughbyphotos.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willoughbyphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.willoughby.photography/
Image Credit:
Bob Willoughby/Christopher Willoughby
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