1854 owns award-winning platforms, from the oldest photography publication to some of the world’s most viewed exhibitions and a community of 2+ million creatives, connecting global brands with top talent. Recurring customers are +70% since the last raise and 1854 are now raising capital to accelerate growth.
British Journal of Photography has been an authority since 1854. Following a management buyout in 2013 we've built an influential community of millions and are solving two big problems:
1. Helping great photographers get noticed and succeed
2. Helping brands create imagery that cuts through the noise of 3 billion photos taken daily
We aim to build the platform that photographers need while connecting brands to global talent - often before they become established - via four symbiotic pillars:
1854 Awards
Annual celebrations of diversity and equality inc. Portrait of Humanity & Female in Focus which attract 90,000+ paid submissions from 118 countries & global media attention.
British Journal of Photography
2m+ international community inc. many of the world’s most influential creators, media & arts institutions. International subscriptions +139% since 2018.
Studio 1854
Clients include adidas, Panasonic & Visit California, who commission photographers & filmmakers from our community to create visual content for their marketing campaigns.
1854 Access
Membership platform launched April '19 offers photographers access to our awards, content & brand commissions in one unified subscription. Paid membership +70% since 2018, yet still just 0.4% of our community.
Now, we plan to further accelerate paid membership growth, with bold plans to launch the most ambitious project in our 165 year history.