by Damian McGillicuddy Published 01/08/2015
Through his role as Olympus Principal Photographer, Damian McGillicuddy is opening up the world of commercial photography for everyone to experience. Last month he even invited fellow camera enthusiasts to join him on a live advertising shoot...
There's a lot that I'm proud of about my role as Olympus' Principal. When the David Bailey adverts used to play on TV, it became a childhood ambition of mine, to one day be doing what he was doing. I vividly remember telling my mum whenever the adverts were on, "One day that'll be me." So to actually take the position of Mr Bailey four years ago really was a dream come true both personally and professionally.
Just as important as the position itself, however, is the fact that it constantly reminds me where I started, and how I wasn't always the loud bloke with the ponytail creating havoc on stage at the SWPP Convention - once upon a time I was simply an aspiring photographer, eager to get my feet wet in the real world of photography and chasing any and every opportunity so that I could one day call myself a professional.
Fast-forward to today and it would be easy to take my position for granted, but something I genuinely believe is that when a person is successful they have a duty to give something back. After all, I owe a great deal of my own success to the good grace of photographers who took me under their wing, or who offered advice or opened doors for me to go on and do the things I've done.
Which is why it's important to me, as the Olympus Principal, to share the knowledge and the experience I have with my fellow photographers the way it was shared with me. And to its credit - and I truly, truly believe the company deserves to be applauded for this - Olympus sees things exactly the same way.
There are 223 days to get ready for The Societies of Photographers Convention and Trade Show at The Novotel London West, Hammersmith ...
which starts on Wednesday 17th March 2021