Mountain View, CA—SmugMug announced two strategic additions to its expanding family of brands. The first is the acquisition of This Week in Photo. TWiP is a beloved photography podcast network and media powerhouse.
SmugMug also announced that TWiP’s founder, professional photographer and influencer, Frederick Van Johnson, is joining SmugMug. Van Johnson will lead content and new media while continuing to grow and evolve This Week in Photo.
“It’s an ideal match,” said Scott Kinzie, SmugMug+Flickr vice president of Marketing. “Our purpose at SmugMug is building a better world through the power of photography. This Week in Photo has been inspiring, educating as well as connecting photographers for more than a decade. Naturally, we’re massive fans of [Van Johnson’s] work.”
“We’re among very few truly photographer-centric brands in the world,” added Kinzie. “We’re always looking for opportunities to support these cornerstones of the photographic community. So when we realized Frederick shared our vision for the future of photography, it became clear this relationship was great not only for photographers but also for the art of photography itself.”
SmugMug is known for working tirelessly to increase the influence and impact of photography worldwide. Just two examples are its acquisition of Flickr in 2018 and its SmugMug Films series.
“Frankly, it’s time for TWiP to evolve,” Van Johnson commented. “I’ve built a wonderful podcast and community of photographers. However, I believe TWiP can reach many more photographers, produce more amazing content and expand the dialogue around photography—and its impact on our world. I just had to find the right team to work with. SmugMug is the obvious choice because of its unprecedented brand recognition and reach into the photography industry.”
This Week in Photo
This Week in Photo, or TWiP as its fans know it, is an accessible media powerhouse. It offers regular podcasts, blogs as well as an active community covering the many facets of our industry. Pro photographer and marketer Frederick Van Johnson founded the company in 2008. Moreover, the network now boasts weekly photo critiques, interviews, courses and tech reviews.
Furthermore, Johnson is ideally situated to start meaningful conversations in the photography community. He has seen a lot of change over the years. From his transformative tour of duty, serving as a decorated combat photojournalist with the United States Air Force, to marketing and product work with industry giants like Adobe, Yahoo! and Apple.
“A decade ago, it was all about gear and the latest tech,” he added. “They also wanted to know how to build a portfolio or gallery with the tools of the time. People still love their gear. However, today we’re increasingly seeing folks get into business, trying to make a go of it as a pro photographer.
“The commitment to empowering photographers is what I’ve long admired about SmugMug since signing up in 2004. I’m stoked to join them in their mission of getting more photographers informed, inspired, as well as entertained. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”
