"I was born in Singapore in 1952 to English parents and then moved to London
when I was 14 years old.
I spent 4 years in art college studying Design at Harrow Art School and St Albans Art school and found myself moving more and more closer to the camera and decided that this was to be my vocation. Three further years were spent at Harrow Technical College where I completed a diploma course in photography, supported the student bar and generally behaved like one is expected too while one is a student.
At the age of 20 I left college and went to work for 3 photographers who shared a studio in Kensington as 1 of 3 assistants. I mainly assisted Rex Bamber, a well known food photographer, Murray Irving; a fashion photographer, and Desmond Waring; a beauty & fashion photographer. All three were extremely talented and I learnt most of the 'nuts & bolts' of photography from my 2 years at this studio also having the opportunity to assist many well known and respected advertising photographers.
The next 1 1/2 years were spent with Geoff Sturdy working as 2nd photographer to Geoff. Geoff is an extremely accomplished Industrial Photographer who studio was based in Bushey, Hertfordshire and Central London. Here I worked on ICL, General Motors (Opel) and various other large companies too numerous to name.
In 1975, I managed to score a job with Tony Willan a photographer with who I hold the highest admiration. He has been running a company called Indusfoto in Central London longer than he would probably care to admit too. I was taken on as his main photographer for a contract which he had with Conoco Oil. My job was to fly up to Scotland and the North Sea to photograph the construction and day to day progress of a revolutionary 'movable' Oil rig. Many large Corporate Clients commissioned 'Indusfoto' for their photographic requirements.
This brings me to the last 18 years of my career. I met my wife in the UK and we decided to get married in New Zealand, where she is from. After returning to London I made the decision that I would like to set up on my own as an advertising photographer based in Auckland the 'main' city in New Zealand. It is also the largest city. I set up with a photographer, also from London, called Syd Mannion. Our partnership has since folded, however we still keep in touch. Since moving to New Zealand I work mainly for Advertising Agencies & Design Groups. I shoot on all formats from 35mm to 10"x8", I work out of a 3000 sq ft studio in Central Auckland. I have an extensive digital system for retouching.
I am currently the President of the Advertising & Illustrative Photographers's Association in New Zealand. (AIPA).
I enjoy being involved in a campaign straight from the outset. I believe involving the photographer in the evolution of a brief will allow for the potential impact of an image to be fully explored."
--Mike Reeves