PAN is sad to report the passing of photo agency founder David Taylor who died today aged 68 after battling cancer.
David founded London based celebrity photo agency Xposure in 2000, building it with his son Dan to become one of the most respected names in the industry, commanding great image prices for its contributing photographers.
Xposure then merged with fellow celebrity photo agencies AKM-GSI and FameFlynet in 2017 to form Backgrid where David remained joint CEO until January 2024. Backgrid was acquired by Shutterstock in February this year.
Away from the celebrity photo gathering arena David was a serial entrepreneur starting and co-chairing many other ventures including most recently a sushi restaurant called Sekushi near his home in Bushy, London.
David was keen supporter of PAN and a good friend to me. I will miss our catch-up chats chewing over the photo industry. RIP.
• View memories to David in the comments below.
So sorry to hear this sad news. 😢 What an amazing career.
David was an incredible business partner at Backgrid and an extraordinary human being who left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. In our industry, he was widely respected; to many, myself included, he was a true father figure. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had David professionally and personally in my life.
One of the most special parts of knowing David was witnessing the close bond he shared with his sons, especially Dan Taylor, who was also my former business partner. Their relationship was truly beautiful, a testament to the kind of man David was—one who always put family first.
David’s kindness, wisdom, and friendship will never be forgotten. He will forever live on in our hearts and memories. Rest in peace, David.
I will always cherish the memories of this wonderful family. Their amazing dad was the best agent in the photo industry. You could never find a more honest and trustworthy agent like him. He looked after me for years and always brought joy with his great sense of humor. I was aware of his illness and thought the battle was over and he had won. I was so happy to believe that, but now I am truly sorry for his family and loved ones for losing such a great guy. My heart goes out to all of you. Rest in peace, David. You were a wonderful man who will be missed by many, including me. May you rest in peace, and may your family and loved ones find comfort.
RIP Mr Taylor, condolences to the Taylor family 🙏
I’ve been working for David for over fifteen years, and from day one, I recognised the caliber of the person he was, caring, funny, and always open to new ideas for moving the agency forward. I never felt I was working for him, but with him, even though he was my employer. Over the years, alongside his amazing son Dan, we built the entire Italian operations from the ground up. Though we faced tough times at the start, David and Dan always prioritised the needs of the photographers.
David was someone who always had a solution, a contingency plan, and his calm, reassuring way of handling every situation was second to none. The three of us became a very strong team, and it was a real joy to work together. I couldn’t have asked for better people to share this incredible journey with. I truly believe it wouldn’t have been possible with anyone else. David and Dan were always two steps ahead of everyone else in the business, and the agency’s success speaks to that.
Without a doubt, working with David has been one of the highlights of my long professional career. He was such a big part of it, and I feel deeply honoured and privileged to have worked with him. His legacy will continue to inspire me, and it’s an experience I will cherish forever. I’ll miss him so much.
Rest in peace, Tiggy.