Black Book, Dead Book...

This may come as no surprise to many of you, but it sounds like Black Book may be in its last run.  Before I go too far, I will make sure you all know what Black Book is.  Some of you new photogs may not have heard about Black Book or similar industry books, since they have become a "thing of the past".  

In the old days, you didn't have such a huge internet presence.  Art buyers, directors, and people in the industry that hired photogs received a sort of "phone book" or "Yellow Pages" to flip through.  They had big ads with your contact info and samples of your work.  They were expensive to advertise in, but could bring you huge jobs and huge returns.  

Black Book was one of a few big books that you wanted to be listed in.  Well, as the internet became more important and traditional books were relied on less, these expensive productions (Black Book looks expensive to make, and it was... nice paper, hard bound, beautiful reproduction) started looking like fossils.  

The 2009 issue of Black Book was delayed, most likely due to lack of ad pages being sold, but is finally coming out.  They trimmed a few months off the expected delay (though many advertisers are still furious that many months have been lost in reaching important new clients), and they sent this message to ASMP members:  

ASMP has received word directly from Black Book that AR 100 and Photography Volume 3 books, that were originally to be distributed in the fall, are now expected to be delivered by theend of May. Advance copies are in the possession of Black Book and we are told they “look great!”

We have also been informed that the future of The Black Book - in its current form - is uncertain. In any case, we are told that all books will be delivered and ads fulfilled. The website will remain up and running to the end of each and every contract, while next steps for The Black Book are determined.

For any questions, please call Black Book at 212.979.6700.

ASMP will continue to update on this issue as necessary.

Eugene Mopsik Executive Director, ASMP

So, no surprise...  But still sad.  This pretty much states that the last Black Book published will be this year's issue.  I remember flipping through books like Black Book when I was still just a photo assistant.  I dreamed of having a big two page spread, showing off my work.  I imagined all the New York art directors flipping through its pages, then stopping on my images.  Then I'd get a call from some prestigious ad agency with big news:  "We want you for the new Coca Cola campaign!"  

OK, so I was young and stupid.  But dreams like that fueled my efforts to push for bigger. better work and make a name for myself.  I won't ever see that spread in an industry book, but that's OK.  Spending several grand on one would be as silly as buying a big ad in the Yellow Pages today.  When is the last time you thumbed through a Yellow Pages after all?!?  No, not their helpful Yellow Pages website, but an actual, real, big, yellow, fat copy in your hands?  I thought so...