Dr Michael Pritchard has a practical knowledge of studio and location photography, b/w darkroom processing and printing, and digital photography.  He joined Christie’s, the fine art auction house, as a photography specialist in 1986 and grew auctions of cameras and photographic equipment and associated material, setting many world auction records. He was also an auctioneer, and became a Christie’s Director and International Business Director for collectibles across the company. In 2007 he became a consultant for Christie’s working on a new cataloguing and property control system.

He also undertook a PhD in history of photography between 2007 and 2010. His thesis examined photographic manufacturing and retailing from 1839-1914.  He has taught history of photography at MA level at De Montfort University and catalogued and organised the Kodak Historical Collection at the British Library for public access.

Michael was recruited to the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) in 2011 as Chief Executive, becoming Director of Programmes from 2018-2023. During his tenure he brought a renewed public profile for the RPS  and oversaw an expansion in its public activities, not least growing its membership to the largest in its history. The RPS moved in 2019 to a new building with public spaces that introduced an enhanced public exhibition, education and events programmes. During the pandemic the public programmes pivoted to online delivery, and subsequently to a hybrid model, to reach new audiences.

In 2024 he established his own consultancy. He continues to support the RPS.

Michael continues to actively research the history of photography and regularly delivers conference papers and publishes across the field. He edits the British Photographic History blog and The PhotoHistorian. His knowledge is regularly sought and he shares his expertise and knowledge of photography and its history with other academics and institutions, students, collectors and the general public.  

He gives regular talks and has broadcast on a wide range of photographic subjects. His most recent book is A History of Photography in 50 Cameras (Bloomsbury).  

Recent publications, lectures and appearances

Lectures and presentations

• June 2024. Educating the photographer’s assistant, Photographic History Research Centre conference, Leicester

• March 2023. The early literature of photography. Conference paper, Bodleian Library, Oxford, UK

• May 2023. Photographic Societies and Club. Keynote conference paper, Birkbeck , London, UK

• June 2023. The amateur’s photographic darkroom. Conference paper, University of Westminster, London, UK

• December 2022. The camera and the photograph. Keynote conference paper, University of California at Riverside, USA

Publications

• A History of Photography in 50 Cameras, (Bloomsbury)

• John Hannavy (ed), Encyclopaedia of Nineteenth Century Photography, (Routledge); advisor and contributor

• Robin Lenman (ed), The Oxford Companuion to the Photograph, (OUP); contributor

• Phaidon Design Classics (Phaidon), contributor

• Technology and Art (editor), RPS Historical Group, 1990

• A Directory of London Photographers 1841-1908 (PhotoResearch, 1984, 1986)

Appearances

• Who Do you Think You Are?  various, photography expert

• Great British Railway Journeys with Michael Portillo, expert contributor

• Daytime television with Alan Titchmarsh, expert contributor

• BBC television news programmes, expert contributor

• BBC and local radio, expert contributor

• Icon - Music through the lens (Sky Arts), expert contributor