Royal Photographer Julian Calder to speak at Grays of Westminster Grand Christmas Dinner

Spend an evening with one of the world’s best portrait photographers, Julian Calder. Enjoy a superb three-course Christmas dinner in the magnificent period restaurant at the Institute of Directors (IoD) at 116 Pall Mall, followed by a rare opportunity to listen to Julian Calder’s extraordinary stories as he presents some of his magnificent portraits.

The IOD is a grand Regency building and its sweeping marble staircase and vast walls covered in 18th and 19th Century canvases provides a spectacular backdrop for the evening; the period restaurant at the IOD is a most fitting venue for this elegant, traditional Christmas celebration.

• Venue: Institute of Directors (IoD) at 116 Pall Mall.
• Date: Friday, December 2nd, 2011
• Champagne reception: 6.30 p.m. Introduction and welcome by Gray Levett
• Dinner: 7.15 p.m.
• Traditional Christmas Dinner or a Vegetarian Option
• Presentation in the morning room: 9.15 p.m. 
• Cost of the evening: £155 per ticket, £95 for current Nikon Owner subscribers*

Prize Draw:
The prize-draw will be held during the evening and one lucky attendee will walk away with a brand-new Nikon 1 J1 mirrorless camera worth £549, courtesy of Nikon UK! 

How to book:
Please note that there are now only limited places available, so do reply as soon as you are able to. To book a place, reply to me, Gillian Greenwood, by email only with your full name, Nikon Owner subscription number if available,  postcode, daytime mobile and landline, your menu choice (traditional or vegetarian) and the name of any guest you would like to bring with you.  It is important to note that we are unfortunately unable to take telephone messages with regard to your booking.

*if you are not already a Nikon Owner subscriber, you are welcome to join Nikon Owner when we call you to receive the benefit of booking the Christmas Event at the lower price.

About Julian Calder
Julian Calder has photographed numerous stories and assignments for leading national and international magazines. He specialises in portraits and his work has been published around the world and has been exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, London. His portraits of the Royal family formed the core of the Jubilee edition of Keepers of the Kingdom.

Julian has been a professional photographer for over 30 years. He worked for the Time Life Group, in particular Time Magazine and Fortune Magazine and has since worked for many of the world's best known and most influential magazines and newspapers, travelling to over ninety countries on all manner of assignments.

For the last ten years Julian has concentrated on portrait photography. A major body of work is included in his book Keepers of The Kingdom, portraits of titleholders illustrating the history of Britain which was published in 2001. This book will be republished next year with 25 new portraits. The book contains 100 portraits including those of Prince William as a Knight of the garter, The First Sea Lord at sea, The Archbishop of Canterbury in Thomas à Becket's robes in Canterbury cathedral, Sir Peter Maxwell Davis Master of the Queens's Music, Lord Rees Astronomer Royal and Sir Malcolm Macgregor Chieftain of the Children of the Mist.

His book, The 35mm Photographer's Handbook sold 1.7 million copies worldwide. Other books include Making Pictures - Vision, Imagination, Skills and Techniques in Photography, A Year with the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, A Year in the Life of The London Regiment, The Oldest: Everything that is not in a Museum and many others. Next year sees the publication of Trooping the Colour - the Queen's Birthday Parade.

Julian was commissioned to take 16 official portraits of Her Majesty The Queen and HRH Prince Philip wearing the Orders of Great Britain and the Commonwealth, all taken on a D3X.