Brenda HUTCHINGS
After completing a BA in Photography and Film in London, and working as a photo researcher on Fleet Street, I came to New York for just a short-term, six-month freelance assignment.
I ran the U.S office for the South African organization Media 24 (editorial magazines/news/web.) Was a researcher/stringer for UK newspapers and magazines. As the industry shifted, I pivoted away from editorial work to commercial work eventually finding myself at the NYT Marketing department. In my free time I love to master the art of the perfect cocktail, Bike, hike in the mountains, visit art and photo shows and to scare myself silly watching horror films.
questionnaire
1. What was your very first job?
Paper Round
2. Please describe, in your own words, what your job is and what work it entails.
The Creative Marketing team at the NYT facilitates the development of creative work to promote and market The New York Times, its many products and its partnerships. I head up the Photo Producers/Art Buyers team and we commission and produce commercial assignments in close alignment with the Creative Brand team. We research and curate stills, video and illustration research from existing NYT editorial content. We handle all rights and permission clearances for NYT editorial imagery for commercial use.
3. How did you discover that the creative world was right for you? Was there a time in your life that you credit to this discovery? Was there a train of events that brought you to where you are today?
Never had a set plan. Just enjoyed art at school, bought an SLR camera and made the occasional smart choices along with good connections and a touch of serendipity along the way
4. In a constantly changing world, how do you find inspiration to keep your work fresh, innovative and relevant?
Working at the NYT keeps you on your toes, along with the access to Merlin- the Newsrooms DAM housing first class newsroom photo assignments. I am also (pre Covid) a regular fixture at museums, art fairs and galleries, and watch for award shows and emerging talent on IG.
5. Which creative disciplines do you commission most, and are most interested in seeing more of and why? Which of these disciplines are you most interested in seeing at CONNECTIONS? (ie photo, film, production, social, experiential, vr, cgi, animation etc)
Love to see emerging talent, or the classics and photographers that shoot motion.