She enjoys helping people determine the value of photographs they own, especially when they think that what they have is "just a photograph," and it turns out to have a value that is life-changing.
NEW YORK, NY, November 05, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Beth Bencini Iskander has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Iskander has established herself as a distinguished figure in the field of photography as a photo archivist and researcher, copyright authority, and auction specialist and appraiser. She has made significant contributions to the industry through her roles at Time Inc. and Sotheby's. Since 2016, she has served as an independent photograph specialist, advisor, and board member of the Photography Collections Preservation Project, a non-profit dedicated to preserving history and culture by assisting photographers and heirs to organize, manage, and place photographic archives in institutions, leveraging her extensive experience to provide photography-related expertise.
Prior to her recent endeavor, Ms. Iskander served as Senior Specialist and Vice President in the Sotheby's Photographs department from 2003 to 2016, where she was a member of the most successful and respected sales team since the emergence of photography auctions in the early 1970s. Record-making sales included The Gordon Bennett Collection of Carlton Watkins Photographs (2004), Important Photographs from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Including Works from the Gilman Paper Company Collection (2006), Photographs from the Polaroid Collection (2010), 175 Masterworks to Celebrate 175 Years of Photography: Property from The Joy of Giving Something Foundation (2014), Robert Frank: The Americans: The Ruth and Jake Bloom Collection (2015), among many collections and institutions. In 2002, she worked as an assistant at Fern Berman Communications, a high-end food and hospitality public relations firm, representing Julia Child, Le Cirque, and others, following her role as internal consultant at Time Inc. from 2001 to 2002.
During her employment at Time Inc. from 1974 to 2001, Ms. Iskander was Director of the Time Inc. Picture Collection, responsible for an archive of 20 million images from various Time Inc. publications, including Time, Life, Fortune, People, Time-Life Books, and Sports Illustrated, for which she was instrumental in leading its transformation from analog to digital. This effort helped increase revenues for photographers and the company's syndication efforts, selling image rights for use in books, magazines, newspapers, and films. She was designated Director of Photography for the Editorial Services Division as a result.
Ms. Iskander's exceptional academic accomplishments have been fundamental to her professional achievements. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in art and history from Salem College, where she was elected to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, won the President's Prize in Art, and was president of I.R.S., Salem's social organization. Following her graduation in 1972, she pursued post-graduate studies in 20th century American and European art at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. Additionally, Ms. Iskander earned a certificate in decorative arts at the New York School of Interior Design.
A deep dedication to continuous learning is evident through Ms. Iskander's industry credentials, including the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisals Practice Certification she completed while at Sotheby's and Italian culinary training with Marcella Hazan and Giuliano Bugialli, accomplished between 1977 and 1983. She attributes her success thus far to positivity, a willingness to listen and take direction, and her genuine interest in connecting with people. Beyond her professional endeavors, Ms. Iskander is actively involved in civic organizations, proudly volunteering at Housing Works, as well as at The First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York, where she has also served as an Elder.
As the proud mother of two sons and two stepdaughters, as well as a grandmother, Ms. Iskander is also dedicated to her family life. Her interests include genealogy, and she has recently become a member of the DAR. Photography remains a passion, and she enjoys helping people determine the value of photographs they own, especially when they think that what they have is "just a photograph," and it turns out to have a value that is life-changing for them.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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