Self Publish, Be Happy
- Text by HUCK HQ
- Photography by Ed Andrews
Bruno Ceschel was working in mainstream publishing when the freedom and innovation of the self-publishing revolution captured his imagination. Inspired by the zines and photo books he saw coming out, he founded Self Publish, Be Happy in 2010 to support this fledgling movement and create a platform that would help artists, photographers and indie publishers of all stripes to share their work and connect with a like-minded community, both online and offline – through workshops, live events and gallery takeovers.
In this film, Bruno shows us around his Dalston studio, where he houses his ever-growing collection of self-published photo books – from lo-fi zines like Gay Goths to hardcover beauties like Ying Ang‘s Gold Coast, which featured in Huck 46 – The Documentary Photography Special II.
When he’s not championing self-publishing, Bruno can be found sharing his passion for photography as a lecturer at the University of the Arts London. As a man who permanently has his ear to the ground, Bruno can spot a revolution before it burns. So for Huck 47, we invited Bruno to curate a list of the most exciting things happening in photography in 2015. Pick up your copy today.
Find out more about Self Publish, Be Happy.
Subscribe to Huck’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss another short film.
Latest on Huck
The inner-city riding club serving Newcastle’s youth
Stepney Western — Harry Lawson’s new experimental documentary sets up a Western film in the English North East, by focusing on a stables that also functions as a charity for disadvantaged young people.
Written by: Isaac Muk
The British intimacy of ‘the afters’
Not Going Home — In 1998, photographer Mischa Haller travelled to nightclubs just as their doors were shutting and dancers streamed out onto the streets, capturing the country’s partying youth in the early morning haze.
Written by: Ella Glossop
See winners of the World Press Photo Contest 2025
A view from the frontlines — There are 42 winning photographers this year, selected from 59,320 entries.
Written by: Zahra Onsori
Inside Kashmir’s growing youth tattoo movement
Catharsis in ink — Despite being forbidden under Islam, a wave of tattoo shops are springing up in India-administered Kashmir. Saqib Mugloo spoke to those on both ends of the needle.
Written by: Saqib Mugloo
The forgotten women’s football film banned in Brazil
Onda Nova — With cross-dressing footballers, lesbian sex and the dawn of women’s football, the cult movie was first released in 1983, before being censored by the country’s military dictatorship. Now restored and re-released, it’s being shown in London at this year’s BFI Flare film festival.
Written by: Jake Hall
In the dressing room with the 20th century’s greatest musicians
Backstage 1977-2000 — As a photographer for NME, David Corio spent two decades lounging behind the scenes with the world’s biggest music stars. A new photobook revisits his archive of candid portraits.
Written by: Miss Rosen