Creative Economy Placement

From this preparation, the next attainable step in my development would be assisting. Looking at organisations which focus solely on assistants to dive deeper into that world and see what they have to offer.  Assist London is a company which is dedicated to promoting and helping people find assistants in and around London. Showcasing professionals who are the best of the best, making note of their skillset to the finest detail. Their mini profile has skills and equipment, still their personality comes through by the use of their profile picture and individual skillset- some which aren’t related to photography. Eg- next level latte art, useless trivia supplier, optimistic and always up for a laugh.  This reinforces that your personality and presenting yourself authentically can go along way. Being in the art world, its important to have the correct skill set but equally as important to be someone that is nice to work with, it doesn’t have to be so black and white like a constru...

Being a member of the AOP allowed for the opportunity to attend a webinar led by Ira Gioretti which was all about being a great assistant. The panel consisted of professional photographers and assistants who had varied discussions- from shared experiences to asking questions about what makes a good assistant, gaining insight from one another and sharing with those who tuned in.    Ira Gioretti is a board member of the AOP and works internationally for well known brands such as Disney and Gaytimes.   Key points and top tips    ·         Be personable when introducing yourself   ·         Having a good sense of humor and lightheartedness to lift atmosphere    ·         Be present and aware throughout participation    ·         Don’t be afraid to ask questions   ·      ...

  It's great to know what to expect when out on shoots and managaing your independent time when freelancing . Its wise to additionally learn about preparation for enetering the work environment and being with other people. Especially since I’d like to grow in creative spaces such as galleries and studios.   Watching Ten Bullets by Tom Sachs on youtube I learnt that to operate respectfully and efficiently its best to  -respect for the space -understand rules which surround organisation -being on time  -keep a list - proof and  receipts General respect and consideration for the environment and people in it, if everyone follows the rules and communicates, its easier to work in harmony.  I have transferable skills and practice with respecting a work environment from my part time job, ive seen the effects of careless work from one person and it has a knock on effect to everyone else. It takes effort and mindfullnes to be a decent employee. https://www.youtube.co...

Another insights day helped deepen my understanding of a practicing photographers life. Izzy Leach is a fashion photographer based in Scotland. Her work resonated with me, making a career in photography seem attainable only being a few years out of education, with similar themes throughout our practice, such as cyanotypes focusing on memory and fashion with friends. Main takeaways to ensure shoots run smooth and effectively include- creating a moodboard with reference images and an overarching theme, prepped beforehand. A great way to start working towards photographic development outside of education would be to collabotare with friends and other local creatives. This helps to get used to envisioning work with others and builds a foundation to work from.  Networking and having an online presence is a head start to get work out into the world. Making zines and projects for enjoyment, share your authentic view and clients may come to you. Izzy was found on Instagram by Dior who like...

  Drew Forsyth is a professional photographer who focuses on portraiture and commercial work. He gave a glimpse into the world of a full-time photographer. It’s imperative that you are organized and time efficient. Recognizing that 90% of the job is admin and laptop work (production, marketing, finances, archive and development). The remaining 10% is time spent physically shooting.      3 Backups! 2 hard copies, 1 on the cloud.    Consider the time it takes to set up equipment and always shoot tethered to Capture One. When on a shoot with models, making small talk and helping them feel at ease will enable them to relax and become more comfortable as the shoot goes on. Playing light music to add ambience and atmosphere. Start far away and slowly make your way towards them.      A thing that will remain with me is the energy that Drew had. He was very enthusiastic and uplifting .His positive outlook on his career is very inspiring.   ...

Stills are a photographic gallery based in Edinburgh, they put on three major exhibitions each year, have a library of photobooks and also have a community work space. Their facilities includes a darkroom, printers and computers. They run courses to make photography accessible for everyone, from beginner level to follow up intermediate. It’s an important space for photographers.   Made up of a dozen team members, the organisation is carefully organised and looked after. It also has 13 board members, free lance teachers and invidulating volunteers. Ben Harman recently moved on from the role as director to work as a senior curator of photography at the national gallery of scotland. Their new director Vivienne Gamble has experience in curating and runing her own gallery-  SEEN FITFTEEN in peckham. Alongside technician Joseph Wilson who I met on a previous visit, there is a team of highly experienced professionals who run Stills, helping it play a huge role in the photog...