Agent-at-Large are offering a rare opportunity for photographers to meet with three top tier agency professionals and complete a full-service health check of their work and approach to market. This is career changing stuff, but it’s not for the faint hearted.
What is a full-service health check?
An in-person meeting, held in London on the same day. You get one to one time with agent and managing director Peter Gearing, and art buyers and producers Julie Hughes and Leah Mitchell. Between them they bring over 95 years of coal face experience. If it’s worth knowing, they know it.
Before the meetings you’ll need to complete an in-depth questionnaire and supply portfolio images. The meeting will take approximately 3 hours. The subjects covered will include, but are not limited to:
- Curation of your portfolio
- Which direction to pursue creatively
- Improvements on your work
- How to present your website
- Advice on marketing strategies
- Advice on your current pricing structure
- Feedback on your pitches and treatments
- The type of ad agencies and clients who will be interested in your work
- How to secure meetings, present and liaise with agencies
- Barriers to your success
Any photographer applying for a health check should be aware that this is not an ego stroking exercise. We won’t be unkind, but we will be honest. This is an investment in time and money, so it needs to be a productive meeting. Please prepare yourself to receive honest feedback to help push you in the right direction.
Who are you meeting?
Peter Gearing, founder and managing director of Agent-at-Large and head of talent. Pete started out as a runner at Tapestry on Frith St, Soho, straight out of school at just 16 years old. From there he progressed to retouching, back when it was all done by hand. We’re talking brushes and dyes, so beware that Peter’s attention to detail is second to none.
During his time at repro houses, Peter witnessed the many hands involved in bringing creative work to life and wondered if there might be a more joined up way of doing things. Less people, more expertise, faster turnaround and frankly, a more pleasurable, streamlined experience making for better creative work, which is how his second act as an agent and full service production house began. Twenty years later and he’s still going strong.
Peter knows anyone who's anyone in the industry, he’s a bit of an institution! He’s worked with every style of photographer going and is known for being quick to assess and direct photographer’s portfolios, their working style and deliver feedback in a constructive and pleasant fashion.
You’ll also be meeting Julie Hughes. Julie’s career spans over 25 years, kicking off at Conde Nast Publications where she dealt with syndication and copyright for all publications, including Vogue. She swiftly gained notoriety for her negotiation skills, administration and organisation.
Julie went on to work in fashion as a model booker for Storm and then as a commissioning fashion editor in magazines. From there Julie moved into advertising, as head art buyer at Grey Worldwide and later DLKW, where she worked on global business such as Hugo Boss, Laura Biagotti, Pantene and Clairol. Later Julie headed up production from day one at the Nespresso Content Studio as well as working directly with photographers Ken Griffiths and John Swannell as their producer.
Julie is a formidable force on set, totally unflappable and a magician at removing problems. Calmly confident with an unscrupulous eye for detail, her vast knowledge of brand expectations means her commercial advice is top tier.
Additionally, you will be meeting the creative production force that is Leah Mitchell. Leah has had a deep and varied career in advertising and production spanning more than 30 years. She's worked in numerous guises as head of art buying, head of visual inspiration, head of production and as an exec producer straddling both agency, direct to client and on set production, to create award winning work.
Leah has collaborated with and commissioned industry greats, including Richard Avedon, Annie Leibovitz, Patrick Demarchelier, Helmut Newton, Nick Knight, David LaChapelle, Steve McCurry, Steven Meisel, Don McCullin, Peter Lindbergh, Paolo Roversi, Martin Parr, Elliot Erwitt, Bailey, Rankin, Lord Snowdon, Mary McCartney, Platon and Pamela Hanson. She has twice judged D&AD and been a guest speaker and judge at the AOP and curated international exhibitions. In Leah's own words; 'My hunger for discovery is woven deep into my DNA'.
When is it and how much does it cost?
Meetings will take place on Saturday 29th November 2025 in Soho, London and are only bookable in advance. The fee is £1350 and is non-refundable. There are a limited number of meetings due to their in-depth nature, so we can only meet with a small number of photographers. To book your place please contact peter@agentatlarge.co.uk
