I had a great phone call today with a new client. It’s a solid company that operates in an industry that interests me. It also values photography and the marketing director loves what I do. She is enthusiastic, supportive and motivating.
This, to be absolutely clear, is a dream client.
I would never have been put in touch with the firm had it not been for Ivan Misner – a man whom, until last Friday, I had never met.
Ivan is the founder of Business Network International (BNI) and I’m a member of one of Ireland’s premier BNI chapters. The introduction to my new client came through a former member of my group. He will be recognized properly once the work is done and the photography is out in the wider world. It’s a new product, so certain non-disclosure restrictions apply. Let’s just say I would never have met him had Ivan not created a forum for us to meet, and a structured channel through which to refer business.
Ivan was in Ireland last week to speak at the national members day at Clontarf Castle Hotel. I spoke with BNI Ireland and suggested that I produce a series of photographs that documented a typical day in his life.
Here is a selection of my favourites, with some notes. I should tell you that Ivan spoke twice on the day and that I’ve ordered these personal favourites of mine so they hang together better as a story. This editorial liberty means that a couple of the photographs are not in their genuine chronological place. Please direct any complaints to my ethics department.
Signing books and enjoying a joke with members. (c) Roger Overall 2010
Ivan gave a series of interviews during the day. Some booked in advance, some impromptu. (c) Roger Overall 2010
Ivan checks his email while waiting for a telephone interview with 4FM. (c) Roger Overall
Ivan talking to 4FM in Ireland on the 2010 National Members Day, Clontarf Castle Hotel, Ireland. (c) Roger Overall 2010
Ivan is a man of stature and I wanted a photograph that conveyed that. I figured out which side of the stage he'd go up and waited for him to be called. I would have like a few more members on their feet, but I do like the scale of the man compared to his audience. (c) Roger Overall 2010
I'm not sure what's going on here. The people around Ivan are all representatives from chapters that took in six or more new members in a short period of time. Quite what is happening with the lady's shoes is a mystery. I like the fact that everyone else is oblivious to the exchange. (c) Roger Overall 2010
Ivan is a phenomenal speaker. Here he is telling the story of his first live television interview. It was explosive - both the story and the telling. My favourite photograph of the day. For this I wanted to show the audience's perspective. (c) Roger Overall 2010
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