Work placement infos

So it's been a while and I thought I better write something about work placements, and where I'm concentrating my research. In all honesty, I'm not sure what I want to do when I leave university. All I know is, I don't want to be a photographer. I'd like to do photography on the side, as I don't believe it would give me a stable enough income. I have 'dream jobs' obviously, but I am also very realistic and know it's going to be hard to get those. Nonetheless, I have looked into these industries.
I believe that email is the first port of call. Bigger companies tend to check their emails regularly, and I have found some have specific emails for work experience enquiries. As I have a long list of people I'm going to email, this also means I can create drafts and adapt them for each company - something which I'm currently in the process of doing. If certain places don't get back to me, then I can always phone them, but this is something I'll only do if I absolutely have to. Try and guess how much you think I hate phoning people, and then times it by a million. That's how much I hate phoning people.

The companies which I am going to email enquiring about work experience are as follows:

Magazines: I am interested in both the photography side and the writing side - possibly assisting photographers/writers, making sure models are looked after, street teams, writing articles/reviews/interviews etc. The industries I would love to be involved in are music, alternative modelling and fashion.

• Rocksound - music. Based in London.
• Kerrang! - music. Based in London.
• FHM - fashion, modelling, tech. Based in London.
• Zoo - fashion, sport, films, modelling. Based in London.
• Front - alternative fashion, music, alternative modelling. Based in London.
• Outline - local music magazine. Based in Norwich and the surrounding areas.
• Cosmopolitan - fashion, lifestyle, beauty, advice. Based in London.
• Esquire - fashion, modelling, films, design. Based in London.

Photographers: A bit of a shot in the dark but I may as well.

• Tom Barnes - band/artist photographer. Based in London and the surrounding areas.
• Walnutwax - fashion/alternative model photographer. Based in London.

Estate agents: Bigger properties tend to need impressive pictures to show them off.

• Savills. Based in Ipswich, Norwich and Cambridge.

Auction houses: Also need pictures to show off what they're selling, for the internet and brochures.

• Durrants. Based in my local town.

Other:

• Contacting local gig venues/pubs which have music and ask them how I can get into photographing acts. Norwich UEA, Norwich Waterfront, Waterfront Studio, Norwich Arts Centre, The Brickmakers Arms, B2 etc.
• Tim Bray @ Jinjafish Photography - a local photographer who my parents know, who does all sorts. Based in my local town.

I will be drafting up emails and sending them off towards the end of the Easter holidays.

More changes to my website

http://srichesphotography.weebly.com

1. I changed the main font of my website from Segoe UI to Courier. I'm not overly sure why, I think I just fancied a change, and I like it.
2. The menu bar has changed, and has some different main tab headers.
3. The home screen picture has changed, from a photo of myself to an example of my work. I think this just adds in an element of curiosity, making the audience more likely to look through the rest of my work.
4. The 'about' section is new. I think this is important so that people can connect with you as a person, and not just see the work you produce.
5. I have condensed the 'year 1' and 'year 2' into one tab. I have also taken out some of my university work that I'm not so keen on, and that didn't really flow with the rest of the site. I don't want there to be loads of work, as I would rather people look through the whole website. I have also changed the titles, from whatever the module was called, to something more exciting. 
6. The 'contact' section is also very important and I can't believe I hadn't put it in before. This page now contains a direct way of emailing me via the website, my contact details, links to my social networks and a picture of me.
7. I have tried to add little descriptions to each page, to give viewers some context about the work.
8. The way the audience views the photographs has changed (again). Using the 'photo gallery' option crops your pictures horizontally to either a rectangle or square, and sometimes makes them blurry (don't ask me why). It also makes them relatively small on the page. I decided to go for a slideshow - as this is also a feature many professionals use. As you can see, there are thumbnails on the left, and a title at the bottom. You can play and pause the slideshow with controls in the top left corner of the photograph as and when you want to.

Domain name

At the moment I have not bought a domain name for my website, and it's not something I'm particularly interested in doing any time soon. I understand that having a domain name is more professional, but at the same time I don't think it affects traffic, and I don't think the URL really matters, especially in comparison with things such as content. I think in this day and age, where people (such as me) are very stingy with their money, using a free website isn't uncommon, and doesn't put people off.

However, I have looked at how much it would cost me to get a domain name on the free site I am currently using:

Conversion:

1 year: $29.95 = £19.86

2 years: $24.99 per year = £16.57 per year = £33.14

5 years: $22.46 per year = £14.90 per year = £74.50

10 years: $19.27 per year = £12.78 per year = £127.80

Month breakdown (rounded up):

£19.86/12 = £1.66
£33.14/24 = £1.38
£74.50/60 = £1.24
£127.80/120 = £1.07

I really hope all this maths is right. I'm sure someone will correct me if not.

Registering for a domain name isn't as expensive as I'd thought, but you would have to keep renewing it if you buy the shorter year/two year packages. It's always nice to know it's there, so if I wanted to register myself one, I can do it and attach it to my current website. I wouldn't have to design another one.

This may be something I think about in the future, but not right now. I think I would rather save the tiny amounts per month so I can buy noodles physical things to benefit my course and my work.

Portfolios: an update

The posts I have written in the past have all been research into what type of portfolio I should get, and up until a few days ago I still wasn't particularly sure what I wanted. This is an update post to say, I have decided! Good job really. 
Having looked at print boxes, handmade books and folders, I have decided a folder would be best for my work. There is a bulk order of portfolio boxes going through at uni soon, and I decided to opt out of this, because I just really really don't like portfolio boxes. I don't want my work to be in something that I'm not proud of. I also decided against a hand made book, because it's not something you can add to. As much as I would like to make a book (we saw some lovely ones from our last module), I think a book project has to be a finished project - as you can't go back and add pages. That is the advantage of a folder - even though I read somewhere that you shouldn't edit your portfolio that much, but I think you're always gonna have new work you want to show off - as long as it's relevant. 

Plan of action:

All of our professional practice work is due after the Easter holidays (web presence, folio, blog and some kind of review thing), so, I am going to look into buying a portfolio over the break. I would prefer to see one in person before I buy it, rather than ordering online with the possibility of it coming, and me not liking it as much as I did from the website picture. There are a few stationary/art shops around where I live back home, so I plan to investigate those in the first week, hopefully buying a decent portfolio for a good price. If I don't find anything I like, I have an internet back up plan (the brown portfolio folder I mentioned a few posts back). I think having a brown portfolio makes it stand out, as everything seems to be black these days. If someone has a pile of black portfolios and mine is brown, I think they'll be more likely to remember it. 

I also need to decide what I want to go into my portfolio - maybe this is something my lecturers can help me with. Our narratives work (mine can be seen here) has to be the core of it - but I wouldn't say that's my typical style of work. I don't usually like working with people directly. I don't really have any other completed series', as the two I am working on at the moment are continuous. I think I would like to adapt my most recent work (here) so that it can be displayed in a folder, although I'm just not really sure how, as I am thinking of developing the project and adding descriptions, which I knew I should've done in the first place, but hey ho! Bloody hindsight. 

Arts degrees and photography degrees

BAs

As we are all going to be leaving university with an arts degree (hopefully!), I thought I would first research what it's like for graduates, being launched into the big wide world. It is a common belief that having an arts degree will get you nowhere once you leave university - as it doesn't lead you straight into a 'practical' job, and a career path is uncertain.  However, the possibilities of an art degree exist beyond the lonely artist painting in a small studio, only emerging for coffee. 

Art degrees focus on creating more knowledge and skills in a variety of different areas. As art students, we study ideas, theories, society and culture, which then informs our own work. Skills gained from an arts degree include flexibility and versatility, as we have to work around timetables, and many different deadlines at once. Art students also have good communication skills from working with different people, write critical essays, give presentations, are curious, naturally competitive, are able to think both logically and creatively and are internet/media savvy. These are all transferable skills, that can be taken from this course, to one job, and to another etc. 

A spell of being penniless after you've completed your degree where you're willing to do almost any kind of work to pay off your debt, is expected. The main problem is funding and paying the bills, and when you have first come out of university, any kind of job will do. Things will always present themselves, as long as you are enthusiastic and dedicated. If you live in the sticks, moving to a bigger city is probably a good idea, as it has more opportunities - artistic and otherwise. (That's not to say you can't do amazing work from the sticks though!). Getting involved with a recruitment agency could also be something to look into - as they get to know you, and are more likely to recommend you to people involved in projects that suit you. Small temporary jobs lead to bigger jobs, so be prepared to start at the bottom and work your way up.

Job research is key. If there is a particular career path you want to follow, make sure you know if there are any particular entry requirements, and what skills are more desired than others. You can tailor yourself to fit around particular jobs, using the skills you have gained from your degree. Know your skills, and emphasise what you're good at. There are lots of job options that can be considered, so don't rule anything out. Examples of jobs that you can get into if you have an arts degree include; a car designer, a puppeteer and a curriculum writer (so a wide variety).

Photography degrees

Photography is one of the most popular subjects, and competition for places is high. There are now over 100 courses - FdAs, BAs, MAs. However, a photography course isn't as simple as people may think - and it's not all practical work.

University should encourage creativity, independence and help students realise their potential. Photography is a funny subject, in the sense that a degree is not necessarily required to prove yourself. Many great photographers don't have degrees, as it's always about practice, and working to get your name out there. However, a degree is useful in seeking other strands of employment, and proves you have the dedication to complete a 3 (or more) year course. 

The following are some career options after leaving university with a photography degree:

• Studio. Setting up a studio can be relatively cheap, and can be done from home. Setting up studios in spare rooms, or renting a small room, is a common practice of students who want to earn an extra bit of money. Plus, it always looks professional when you say you own your own studio.
• Weddings. (Sorry Geoff and Mark) Wedding photographers can be freelance or employed through a company, and are always going to be in demand - even moreso in the summer months. The better you are at it, the more weddings you'll go to, and the more you'll be able to charge. To me, wedding photography is all based around word of mouth, and building up a good reputation for whatever locations you're working around.
• Science. Medical records, forensic and documenting technical procedures. However, working knowledge of the field would also be required - probably qualifications in the sciences/police force (forensics).
• Photojournalism. Newspapers, magazines, leaflets. Can either be employed through a company or freelance. Photojournalists are more likely to be required to have a degree, or a working portfolio. This kind of industry has different demands, and is fast paced, and requires you to work under pressure.

You can also gain practical experience on your course by choosing to do a work placement. This helps network, and builds up a list of contacts that you can call upon again. It also introduces you to the realities of the industry, and what it really takes to become a working professional. It doesn't necessarily have to be in photography - and taking a work placement in any area you're interested in is always going to be a valuable experience (more information to come about the work I am more interested in going in to!).

For more information about jobs after university, please refer to my placement task, a blog post that I wrote last month.

Websites used for research:

KinderArt

Guardian Careers

Career FAQs

Professional Photographer

eHow

Phil McDermott

Hand made books

Once again, another topic which I have no idea about! Hand making a book scares me slightly, but it's something I know I'd probably like to do in the future. Book making has it's advantages and disadvantages. If you decide to make a book you have complete control over what it looks like, so you can make it specific to your needs. This also means that it's easier to personalise and make it memorable - something which is vital when making an impression on clients/employers etc. Making your own book is also a very individual process, in the sense that no-one else is going to have the same book as you, another factor in making it stand out from the pile of portfolios. However, making a book can take a lot of time, and is a very delicate process. If you lost it it's not something you can just re-make quickly. The cost also varies, depending on how many pages you need, what materials you use, content etc, so it could be quite expensive depending on what you want and how good the quality is.

Blurb

Blurb is the online book making company that everyone has heard of. 

When you click on the 'make a book' link on the homepage it brings you to this page, giving you a selection of three book templates to choose from. I clicked on the most popular, which gives you custom photographs and text layouts, and also appears to be the best option for making a portfolio. You have to download a book making app called BookSmart. There are seven book sizes, two of which are specific to text.  From this you can also turn your book into an eBook for smart devices. You can upload photographs and word documents into the BookSmart app, customise the layout, text and colour. Finally you can chose from three cover options for your book. This seems like a relatively simple process, and there seems like a lot of options so you can make your book as individual as possible. I'm not sure about cost, as this would depend on how many pages and the size, however it says that prices for portfolio books start at £7.95 for a 20 page small square book (7x7 inches), and as sizes get bigger the price changes so you're getting the most out of your money. 7x7 for me, doesn't seem big enough, as I was looking more at having an 8x10 kind of size, so this would be more expensive, but the pricing doesn't seem too crazy. I don't know anyone who has ever made a book with Blurb but it would be interesting to see what theirs looks like in person, and how much they paid for it.

Bookbinding

You could also chose to make a book not using internet templates. I looked up local bookbinders to the Ipswich area. 

I found The Book Surgeon who is based in Kesgrave, whose prices range from £25 to £140 depending on the sort of thing you want. From the website, they seem to pride themselves on using traditional equipment and work methods.  Hard backs can be covered in leather, cloth or synthetic material, they stick and glue all pages, strengthen the spines, and all lettering is done in foil. Already this appeals to me more than using Blurb. 

In my search I also found Chris Bluck, who lives literally right round the corner from where I live at home (it's a small world, as my Mumma would say). His services also seem to centre around the traditional process of book binding. There is no where on his website that states cost though, which is a little annoying, but as I said, it depends on what you want. It would be really great if I could get a book bound at home, as it would minimise any additional travel costs. 

The examples on both of the above websites look wonderful. They look like proper books, and they're unique. I would love a leather bound book with my name written on the cover. However, I'm not sure how these sort of processes work when using photographs, and whether I would just have to stick prints in (although I'm not sure if this would bother me that much). On The Book Surgeon's website it says they make wedding books, magazines and comics so I'm assuming the same process would be used to make a portfolio type book. That's something I would have to enquire about when/if it comes to it.

Display books

I have always been more keen on display books, and after looking into portfolio and print boxes it has reaffirmed my initial feelings that having my portfolio in a book would be more suitable.

There are lots of places that sell portfolio books - and it's just a matter of looking around, in shops and online, to find out what you really really like. I'm yet to find my perfect portfolio but hopefully this research will give me a better idea of what I'm looking for.

High Street

I think shopping for a portfolio book in person is a much better experience, as you can physically hold the book before you agree to pay for it. You get to see exactly what size it is, what the paper is like, what colour is it etc, which you can't do when buying online. However, if you buy from a high street store online, sometimes they allow you to get it sent to the store, rather than to your home address, which could also be an advantage. WHSmith and Paperchase are the main two stationary/arty shops that I go in in Ipswich, so I thought I would see what they have to offer online (I am assuming that what is online is similar to what they have in the shops, or they can order in).

WHSmith

WHSmith have no portfolio books - at least none online. The only kind of portfolio storage they sell is these big carry cases, which don't look particularly nice and for me, aren't professional enough.

Paperchase

Paperchase offers slightly more portfolio related things. There are folders, books and files. However, the most impressive two I found on the website are the two most expensive (aka ridiculously overpriced). 

This folder looks clean and sturdy. It features inner pockets, a business card pocket, and it is also able to hold plastic wallets. I think if I managed to get some good quality plastic wallets, the combination of those and this folder would be a nice finished product. This portfolio case also comes with a shoulder strap and has a carry handle, so it's easy to transport, which is an important factor. However, as you can see, its £40, which to me seems far too expensive. I like it, but I don't like it that much. It would be £40, plus the cost of the plastic wallets, plus the cost of the prints - and that figure would be far too high.

The second portfolio that stood out is a display book (what is what I was looking for in the first place). The main feature of this book that I like is the leather cover, and the fact it has sheet protectors and paper inserts inside. Everything matches and looks sleek, and I wouldn't have to go and buy plastic wallets from another place. It's a shame this book is so expensive because I am really drawn to it - but it's just simply not in my budget.

Online

Silverprint

Silverprint also sells display books, as well as print and portfolio boxes.

Once again, I am drawn to the leather books. However, I think given the choice between buying from Silverprint and Paperchase, I would probably chose Silverprint - as they are more specific to the arts and understand what our needs are. These beautiful books however, range from £92.58 to £124.24, which is way, way too much money.

The Portfolio Store

The Portfolio Store has the most options out of all of the above by a long way, however I have never heard of them before - it just came up when I Googled where I could buy portfolio books from. I think if I was going to pay a large amount for a book I would want to make sure the company was a decent one and/or get some recommendations. All of these display books seems reasonably professional looking.

This book is the cheapest, that I liked the look of. It's faux leather, available up to A2 size, and contains 20 fixed sleeves. I assume this means you can't add to it - but 20 (to me) seems enough. I think it looks quite elegant, and I could add personal touches as there is an inside pocket.

This is my favourite find - a leather portfolio that is available in 3 colours (which probably is only exciting me because every other portfolio is in black only). This display book is made from real leather, has a lovely little closer tab, it enables you to add and take away pages, can hold up to 20 sleeves, and is available up to A3 size. Even though this book doesn't go as big as the previous one, it still comes in the sort of size I'm looking for. The prices don't seem too bad either, if you take into account that it's real leather, and the folder from Paperchase was only a £1 cheaper. I am definitely bookmarking this page for future reference, and if you're wondering - I'd get the brown one.