by Lisa Tucker
WW Interactive Communications
Besides the many people at Sundance calling themselves filmmakers, there is another genre of folks here also taking pictures. With so many celebrities on hand, there are massive amounts of photographers here taking photographs. One such person is Todd Williamson, freelance photographer working Sundance on behalf of WireImage.
Williamson got into the photography business just 5 or 6 years ago when he decided to quit his job on Wall Street to go to film school to become a director. When he saw that no one in film school was getting a job, he took a job as a production assistant on the set of a VH1 show where he tried his hand at shooting video. That job lead to a job shooting corporate videos, and eventually to shooting stills. He soon fell in love with still photography, and that is where he has remained.
But he didn’t stop there.
A cover shot for a now defunct magazine, led Williamson to the idea of starting his own magazine. The idea was realized last year with the first edition of “h” magazine.
In its eighth month, the magazine is a publication in the same vein as Vanity Fair or W. It includes celebrity profiles, movie reviews, sex columnists, and a conspiracy column. It is a free, LA-based magazine, the second largest of its kind in the city, with a circulation of over 25,000. It can be found in over 500 locations through LA, including Blockbuster, Bally’s, coffee shops and grocery stores.
Set in large, tabloid format, the magazine is stunning – showing off the prowess of its chief photographer, Williamson. He has shot such well-known celebrities for the cover such as Bryan Greenberg, Sam Rockwell, Lili Taylor, Mira Sorvino, Michael C. Hall, and next month, Sarah Michelle Gellar. Williamson and the magazine’s editors choose the cover models based on reasons other than how big of a star they are.
“We like to profile talented people – people who don’t normally get a lot of press,” said Williamson. “You won’t see Lindsay or Paris on our cover.”
The goal for Williamson is to continue shooting freelance, but also to break even on the magazine, eventually even making a profit. But more than anything, says Williamson, “We want to make a magazine that leaves an impression on people.”
If you live in LA, pick up the magazine next time you are in the grocery store. If like me, you live in a fly-over state (ha!), you can still subscribe to the magazine via the website – Hmonthly.com.
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