Format (photographic agency)

Format was an agency set up in 1983 to represent women photographers, with the aim of documenting the world from a different perspective.^[1] The agency operated for two decades, and its end, in 2003, was marked by an exhibition.^[2] In 2010, the National Portrait Gallery, London, showed a range of work by Format photographers.^[3][4]

The idea of an all-women photo agency was the conception of Maggie Murray and Val Wilmer,^[5][6] and Format's membership over the years also included Jackie Chapman, Anita Corbin, Melanie Friend, Sheila Gray, Paula Glassman, Judy Harrison, Pam Isherwood, Roshini Kempadoo, Jenny Mathews, Joanne O'Brien, Raissa Page, Brenda Prince, Ulrike Preuss, Mirium Reik, Karen Robinson, Paula Solloway, Mo Wilson and Lisa Woollett.^[7][2]

References

1. "Women Photographers", Woman's Hour, Visual Arts Archive, BBC Radio 4, 24 February 2003.
2. "Ultimate Format | Format Women Photographers 1983 – 2003", Photofusion.
3. "Format Photography Agency 1983 - 2003", National Portrait Gallery.
4. "Format Women's Picture Agency at NPG - January - July 2010", Roshini Kempadoo.
5. "Art, photography & architecture: Wilmer, Val (12 of 13). Oral History of British Photography", British Library, Sounds.
6. Amanda Hopkinson, "Raissa Page obituary", The Guardian, 21 September 2011.
7. "Format Photographers Agency 1983–2003".