Who is who: James Hancock

Meet James Hancock who recently co-founded a photographic agency by the name Hancock & Handsome, a sister agency of the London-based illustration agency Handsome Frank. James, who along with his passion for photography, brings 15 years experience in the media industry, is a player of the year runners-up medal for his under 11's football team and a sideline playing guitarist in East London's premier country rock band.

– How did you come up with the idea of founding a photography agency?

I've worked in media and advertising all my professional life, in magazines, online, outdoor, and in radio, but always on the commercial side. At the same time I've always been passionate about photography, and in a flash of inspiration, and with a well-timed beer with my friend Jon who runs Handsome Frank Illustration Agency, the idea for Hancock & Handsome was born!

– Which were the main challenges you encountered?

The main challenges have been in trying to create a consistent look and style to our agency. Pulling together incredible photographers from disparate specialisms, which on the surface have nothing in common, such as food photography and sport photography, finding common ground, and creating a strong tone of voice which fits our vision for commercial photography.

– Which are the most significant differences between the illustration and the photography agency?

Whilst illustration is great for branding and building a look and feel, it's not so great for exposition. If you want to show an actual product, action, or have people shots, you need someone behind a camera rather than holding a pencil. That's where our specialist expertise comes in, it's about putting the right person behind the camera. Hence, our decision to identify photographers who specialize in specific sectors. As for the bigger picture, thankfully we live in a world where the two mediums can co-exist perfectly and far as commissioning goes, it's the same people who would look at both illustration and photography. It's all about finding the right approach for the client.

Photo by James Cannon, one of the photographers represented by Hancock & Handsome

– Now tell us a little bit about yourself in our questionnaire! How you got into advertising in a sentence…

I sat down and wrote a lot of letters to a lot of people, some of whom replied, and one of whom was nice enough to offer me a job.

– The most recent campaign I’ve worked on…

Launching Mondial, the Rapha magazine. An amazing, fully realized brand. I love cycling so being involved with this is really special.

– The best piece of creative work around at the moment is…

Stop Funding Hate – their “goodwill” advert really hits home, and makes you ask questions about the difference between what brands say, and what they do.

– The next big thing in advertising is going to be…

A new boutique photographic agency, Hancock and something or other…

– The piece of advertising work I wish I had thought of is…

Sony’s bouncing balls ad. A simple idea, beautiful executed, and like nothing else at the time. And WHAT a song to soundtrack it.

– The internet/digital tool I couldn’t live without is…

I’m seeing a doctor about my Instagram addiction. It’s out of control.

– In a film about my life, I’d like to be played by…

David Thewlis or Rhys Ifans. Hancock lookalikes. Lucky boys.

– My last social media update said…

”How long does it take to boil a parsnip?” 8-10 minutes, as it turns out.

– My dream collaboration is…

Nike. Nobody does it better.