A Sad Loss for the Audiovisual industry, Bob Prior

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of Bob Prior, a friend and colleague of FOCAL International.

Bob Prior died in December, 2025 after nearly 70 years spent in the visual content industries.

He was the founder of the website footageMarketplace, amongst others; and staged international events that united stock and archival libraries with a diverse userbase. Previously he was the publisher of a range of era-defining magazines for the professional photographic, design, and ad industries.

Bob began his career in the 1960s working as a lettering artist. He then became a book editor for the publishing division of ATV. In the ‘70s he started a publishing company that evolved over many decades, working with Penny Foulkes, producing numerous specialist magazines.

The 1980s saw Bob developing a stable of titles aimed at the creative sector including Hotshoe International, Graphics International and Ads International. They showcased the work of some of the world’s greatest photographers, designers and art directors, frequently giving them their first public exposure.

Bob enjoyed new technology and moved online in the ‘90s with the creation of a range of stills’ stock and footage websites. To complement them he established several industry events, in London and New York, offering exceptional networking opportunities and featuring masterclass seminars. An advocate of people rather than pixels, Bob believed strongly in bringing the visual community together to talk, do business, learn, and shape the future. His unique technicolour personality, underpinned by huge professional experience, always left a lasting impression.

Bob was a true one-off. His unrelenting passion for all things visual translated into a career devoted to the image industries in their myriad forms. Across seven decades, he left his mark.

Rest in peace, Bob.

---

I’ve worked with Bob for years. He contacted me often asking for me to send him news about StormStock. He was fascinated with weather but mostly he was excited just to help others succeed in the industry. He was full of energy, optimism and was an all around great person. His personality and presence will be missed by many. 
Martin Lisius, StormStock