Before launching Dappled History, I spent over a decade as a senior Photo Researcher at DK Publishing (formerly Dorling Kindersley).

During my tenure, I ascended from assistant to senior researcher in just five years, contributing to some of the most notable publications in DK’s Knowledge department over the past decade. I had the privilege of contributing to more than 600 titles in various capacities – but forgive me for blowing my own trumpet.

My responsibilities included:

• Selecting the most contextually appropriate images for books based on briefs from creative teams, sourcing from leading photo agencies, photographers, artists, and institutions.
• Securing rights and permissions from authorities such as museums, government offices, artists, and photographers for the use of their intellectual property.
• Negotiating rates and print usage rights while adhering to project budgets.
• Acquiring high-resolution files, and meticulously cataloguing and processing images within the internal digital asset management system.
• Conducting image rights audits for historical publications, which honed my skills in interpreting legal contracts and understanding the intricacies of copyright, property rights, and personality rights.

Additionally, I managed data rights for figures, texts, research results, and quotes, alongside marketing rights and more. For the past four years, I’ve also overseen a team of researchers.

I excel in research – both images and data – and possess a comprehensive understanding of intellectual property rights. I offer expertise in image usage, risk assessment, contractual nuances, and related matters.

It’s worth noting, I thrive on organisation and streamlining processes.