Google Fell In Love With This Woman's Vacation Photo Of A Seagull Eating A Chip, Bought It And Used It In Their Summer Campaign
Google fell in love with this woman's vacation photo and decided to use it in their latest summer campaign in the UK.
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Back in 2011, photographer Hannah Huxford snapped a picture of a seagull devouring a chip in Bridlington harbour, Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Fast forward 10 years into the future, and the photo was noticed by the tech giant Google who loved it so much, they decided to purchase the photo and use it in their latest summer campaign in the UK.
We have interviewed Hannah to hear her side of the story, and she said that she had quite the success with the picture back when she took it in 2011 - but nothing quite as big as the Google success. Google discovered her photo back in March when she reposted it on her Instagram account, and she was contacted by a design agency via a private message, asking how much she would charge to license the picture. "At first I thought it was a joke I didn’t think it was real and I ignored it to start with," said Hannah. "They then tracked me down through one of my blogs that I had written over the last decade and my email was on there and they contacted me via the email and then I realised that it was for real."
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Image source: Hannah Huxford
Initially the company that contacted Hannah couldn't reveal who the buyer was, only that it was a big tech company. It was only after she signed a privacy contract that she was told it would be Google. "I was told that Google absolutely loved the picture and they really wanted to use it for the summer campaign which they have here in the United Kingdom and Ireland it’s all about doing a summer search," said the photographer.
Image source: Hannah Huxford
"The billboards went live here in the United Kingdom over the last month and they are all throughout most of the other United Kingdom cities and towns," said Hannah.
Image source: Hannah Huxford
The photographer isn't allowed to disclose what payment she received due to the contract but says it was not all about the money. To her, it's just a really nice kudos to be able to say that her picture was chosen out of millions of others, especially since it received no more than around 100 like when she initially shared it. Hannah hopes that he story will show others that they don't need to have thousands of followers to be chosen and have success.
Image source: Hannah Huxford
Hannah says that she's an amateur photographer, and that she studied photography at Sandwell College back in the early 90s, although never pursued a career in that field due to the lack of confidence. Nowadays she loves sharing pictures on her social media accounts and her blog, and has hundreds of followers.
Image source: Hannah Huxford
The photographer says that he dream is to one day release a photographic coffee table book featuring the photographs that she took over the years, paired with inspirational quotes. "I would love to be able to get in touch with publishing company or someone to help make this dream come true," says Hannah and adds that she enjoys all of the lovely messages and comments from people who felt inspired by her story.
Image source: Hannah Huxford
Image source: Hannah Huxford
Back in 2011, photographer Hannah Huxford snapped this picture of a seagull devouring a chip in Bridlington harbour
Image source: Hannah Huxford
Initially the company that contacted Hannah couldn't reveal who the buyer was, only that it was a big tech company. It was only after she signed a privacy contract that she was told it would be Google. "I was told that Google absolutely loved the picture and they really wanted to use it for the summer campaign which they have here in the United Kingdom and Ireland it’s all about doing a summer search," said the photographer.
10 years later, the photo was noticed by Google, and the company loved it so much, they decided to purchase it and use it in their summer campaign
Image source: Hannah Huxford
"The billboards went live here in the United Kingdom over the last month and they are all throughout most of the other United Kingdom cities and towns," said Hannah.
The photo had quite the success back in 2011 - but nothing quite as big as Google success
Image source: Hannah Huxford
The photographer isn't allowed to disclose what payment she received due to the contract but says it was not all about the money. To her, it's just a really nice kudos to be able to say that her picture was chosen out of millions of others, especially since it received no more than around 100 like when she initially shared it. Hannah hopes that he story will show others that they don't need to have thousands of followers to be chosen and have success.
"The billboards went live here in the United Kingdom over the last month and they are all throughout most of the other United Kingdom cities and towns"
Image source: Hannah Huxford
Hannah says that she's an amateur photographer, and that she studied photography at Sandwell College back in the early 90s, although never pursued a career in that field due to the lack of confidence. Nowadays she loves sharing pictures on her social media accounts and her blog, and has hundreds of followers.
Image source: Hannah Huxford
The photographer says that he dream is to one day release a photographic coffee table book featuring the photographs that she took over the years, paired with inspirational quotes. "I would love to be able to get in touch with publishing company or someone to help make this dream come true," says Hannah and adds that she enjoys all of the lovely messages and comments from people who felt inspired by her story.
Image source: Hannah Huxford
Hannah hopes to one day release a photographic coffee table book featuring her photographs paired with inspirational quotes
Image source: Hannah HuxfordDE
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