W.M. Hunt has collected photographs for over 35 years, co-founding major Chelsea photography gallery Hasted Hunt (now Hasted Kraeutler). When he started collecting photography, there was something a little radical about it – fine art collectors tended to focus on more prestigious (and expensive) painting and sculpture. Today, much of that has changed. Photography has just as much prestige as painting, and the upper end of the market has expanded accordingly. What hasn’t changed is Hunt’s conviction that collecting photography is exciting and accessible to a wide audience.

Hunt stopped in to talk about his visceral approach to collecting, acquiring an eye for good work, and his advice for aspiring collectors. Today’s lesson? It’s all about pleasure and commitment.

On Saturday, May 14, he will warm up aspiring collectors at Aperture’s SNAP! Collector’s Workshop. An upcoming book, The Unseen Eye (Thames & Hudson), focuses on one of his collections.