One of my favourite art buyers in the business has started up her own representation agency. Josette Lata, formerly head of art buying at JWT and at BBH before that has gone to the other side of the business with the launch of an agency in her name.

She’s started off with an impressive roster of photographers with such talents as still-life photographer Ben Pogue and portraiture shooter Ted Sabarese.

In the business of photography it’s interesting to see the types who are on the art buying/photo editor side of the business versus those who are the agents or producers. The industry is quite small and most movements tend to be lateral, either an agent moving to another agency, art buyers joining other ad agencies and it’s a little more rare to see crossover movement. But when the crossover does happen, you have to imagine someone experienced like Josette will have a tremendous advantage.

Beyond the fairly obvious, such as her list of connections, she will know exactly what art directors are looking for, and moreover has probably seen every single photographer’s rate around so will know exactly how to bid on any given project. (Josette has worked with everyone from Richard Avedon to Clang to Mario Sorrenti).

Congratulations Josette!