2.Module Briefing and Explanatory Notes – 5/10/17

Reflection:

This lecture felt quite overwhelming but informative at the same time. It really got me thinking about what I want to do with my career after graduating as well as being told all the components needed to help me get there. It gave me that push to start researching and making it happen. Going through each section make me realise how hard I will need to work to try and get these components to industry standard. Writing down what I hope to be doing in my statement of intent really got the ball rolling. Starting to research an area of the industry (commercial/studio/ad area) should be helpful to getting a greater understanding as well as talking to other practitioners and how they fit in the industry and how they find it. Finding out their first hand experience will be helpful for me to actually get a feel of how I can go about making my way into the industry, I hope to get a few younger photographers (less established in the industry) as they will have more recently undertaken the transformation into the industry and will be more similar to what my experience could be, it would also be nice to get some advice from more established photographers who have been in the field for a significant time and possibly seen ups and downs of the industry.

 

Notes during lecture: (These notes written during cover module briefing and careers in industry as both were discussed in the same lecture)

  • Keep a journal of all efforts and enterprise undertaken to find work
  • Document work you’ve done, pictures of set ups etc.
  • Create a CV
  • For next week, Thursday, 12th Oct: Statement of intent for this year, aprox 350 words, email by 4pm. I will need to include, current intentions for after graduating, roles of interest, what has led to this decision, exit strategy, any previous experiences, or relevant skill set, any individuals or organisations that would form case studies?
  • Case study – What trends could affect my area of work? For example – a car photographer, was a big demand for car photographers, but then it shifted to Cgi, and so photographers aren’t needed like they were.
  • Entries into competitions (Put in research)
  • Funding opportunities (Put in research)
  • Campaign Magazine
  • Luerzers archive
  • The book
  • Sian Davies –
    • Advertisement
    • Corporate and design
    • Editorial photography
      • Two major changes – digital revolution and royalty free imagery.
      • Saying no to a bad deal is key to survival in editorial. There will always be someone who will do it cheaper
  • Sign up to editorial photographers UK, they are demanding better terms in their contracts with libraries like getty and corbis. http://www.epuk.org/

 

Content of lecture:

  • Module Brief
  • Submission requirements
  • CV’s Statement of intent
  • Mapping roles
  • Case study
  • Research
  • Developing an online presence

Submission requirements:

  • CV
  • Personal/artist statements/biographies
  • Emails to potential employers
  • Reflection on lecture relevant to personal interest
  • Budgeting examples (estimates, invoices)
  • Personal promotion material (business card, website etc)
  • Professional feedback/portfolio reviews
  • Work-based learning opportunities inc placements, volunteering
  • Live briefs undertaken
  • Feedback from tutors, peers and interim presentation feedback

Work experience document that includes:

  • A statement of intent (relating to work experience objectives)
  • A journal/diary of effort and enterprise undertaken to find work
  • Relevant images
  • Research on area/s of work experience for presentation
  • Documentation of presentation material inc powerpoint and notes
  • A reflective report on engagement undertaken (500 words)

CV’s:

  • Questions to ask –
    • What/who is it for?
    • Where do I fit in?
    • What do I need to include?
    • How long should it be?
    • What formats might be appropriate
  • Support we will be given throughout module ;
    • In design refresher workshops to help you construct your CV
    • CV workshop with Jim and Charlotte
  • Points to consider: Think about having two CV’s, one for photography, one for every day occupations.
    • Format-
      • Try to keep to 1 side A4, more experienced candidates may use 2 but keep it focussed.
      • Chose a typeface that is legible and isn’t distracting from the content and limit the font selection to one or two typefaces
      • 8-12pt
      • Be consistent if using bold, italics and SPELLCHECK
    • Contents
      • This may vary from job to job, what are they looking for?
      • Standard sections are (in no particular order), Name and contact details, personal statement, education, exhibitions/awards/commissions, employment, skills, references (not always required)
  • Letter of Induction / Personal Statement
    • The letter whenever possible should be directed to a specific person.
    • Be formal with your initial introduction and avoid first names, address people by their last name, Mr & Ms. If you do not know who to direct it to then send it to the Human Resources Office or the Creative Department with the introduction ‘To Whom It May Concern’. (Doesn’t always apply to contacting photographers)
    • Introduction- Remember the prospective employer usually knows nothing about you, so the cover letter will make an important impression. In the opening paragraph, explain who you are and why you’re contacting them. If position was listed, not where you saw it.
    • Outline your knowledge of the person/organisation: they would like to be confident that you know about them and have done your homework by researching their details. One of your key sources of information will be their website.
    • Outline the contribution you can make: here you might access your resume for details, stating your skills and experiences while identifying how they connect to your potential employer. (Don’t recount your entire CV).
    • Close your cover letter on a positive note: Thank the prospective employer for their time and restate your enthusiasm for working for them. Indicate your desire for an interview and affirm your flexibility in scheduling a meeting.
  • Biography:
    • Contact details: include your name, contact information and website. Some exhibition resumes list ‘Born’ below the contact information since galleries and museums often identify an artist as ‘British’ or ‘International’ and note the place of birth, including the city and country, along with the date of birth.
    • Education: this is often included on an ER, but unlike the job version, you don’t need to list every school you’ve attended. Most artists provide the colleges where they’ve attained their bachelors’ and masters’ degrees. Some artists include workshops and residencies here, but these categories tend to be placed later in the resume since the exhibition record takes precedence.
    • Solo & Group exhibitions: Since solo exhibitions indicate a level of achievement in the fine art world, the category appears high in the biography. Some artists will list ‘Public Collections’ and/or ‘Private Commissions’ before this category but younger practitioners will usually begin with this. In fact, many emerging practitioners simply begin with the category ‘Exhibitions’ or ‘Group Exhibitions’ as these reflect the starting point of their exhibition record.
    • Publications: this section contains listings of materials that you’ve written including reviews, articles, books, critical pieces and other published writings.
    • Public/Private collections: this is a record of places that have your work (whether purchased or donated) within their collection. Usually it focuses on museums, foundations, non-profits, libraries and universities. Dates are not necessary but provide the name of the institution, its location – city and country if applicable.
  • Artist’s Statement – More of a cover letter, serving the narrative to the details of the resume. As it’s a statement about your work, it can also be used by those writing about you for reviews, articles and other publications.
    • Format: One page is the standard and usually 3 to 4 paragraphs will suffice. Although an important reflection on your work, the statement is simultaneously a bit of promotion and should be long enough to have substance but short enough for a quick read.
    • Format the statement so it’s cohesive with your exhibition resume. Use similar margins, fonts, type sizes and tabbing along with your name and contact information.
    • Content: what you say can depend on the use of the statement. If it’s submitted for a specific exhibition, then the statement may also be more specific to that work. If it’s combined with grant applications and such, then it may be more generalized about your creative process.
    • It can be tough to summarize and articulate your creative process in several paragraphs. Consider approaching your writing like a critique. Jot down thoughts before committing them to type.
    • Note influences, if applicable, including other artists, historical references, environmental conditions, etc.
    • Be descriptive and personal, but clear in your reasoning and substantiate concepts and ideas. Use care with artistic terms and jargon, and avoid excessively pretentious language.

     

  • Statement of Intent – Aprox 350 words
    • Be clear about your current intentions post BA. Don’t be too general.
    • Think of an area of interest and what roles might be involved
    • What factors have led me to this decision
    • Do I have an exit strategy?
    • Any previous experiences? Relevant skill set?
    • Any individuals or organisations that would form positive case studies

Mapping roles:

  • We got into small groups and had to quickly discuss any relevant job roles relating to specific photographic discourses and talked through what we thought with the whole group.
    • Commercial – Photographer, prop stylist, photographers assistant 1 or 2 depending on size of job, digi man, caterer, client, model, models make up artist, clothes stylist, location scouter
    • Fashion – Photographer, assistants, model scouter/agency, model/s, make up artist, clothes stylist, caterer, digi man, client, location scouter, models agent possibly?
    • Documentary – Photographer, camera man (filming), sound man, photographer/filming assistants, location scouter, casting director, someone who finds permission/asks, director, models/actors/public, caterer, editor, sound editor

Case Study :

  • It is a research strategy, empirical inquiry that investigates a phenomenon within it’s real life context
  • Case study research means single and multiple case studies, they can include quantitative evidence, rely on multiple sources of evidence and benefits from the prior development of theoretical propositions.
  • It provides a systematic way of looking at events, collecting data, analysing information and reporting the result.
  • The result of this case study will mean a gain of a understanding of the nature and context of an instance or situation, and what might become important to look at more extensively in the future.
  • I hope to base my case study on commercial photography, I will need to do more research to establish a more specific avenue in commercial photography, e.g food photography, advertisement, fashion, product.

Research I will need to undertake to help with my case study:

  • Interviews
  • Prepare my questions in advance, aim to use open questions, why, how, what, where? Avoid one worded answers, yes, no, both.
  • Think about using ‘active’ questions, talk about current project works
  • Library, online searches (think about accuracy)
  • Consider which sources of information may be most effective – Journals (BJP, Source photographic review) LRC online databases, and document the sources.

Analysis of research:

  • I need to leave myself time to collect and collate your information
  • I need to identify the core issues
  • Return to my question, is it all relevant?
  • Analyse the factors underlying the issue
  • I need to discuss and justify alternative solutions using information gathered
  • Do I need more research to substantiate my findings?
  • Come to a conclusion

Summarising:

  • Organise your presentation into sections
    • Introduction
    • Methodology
    • Information acquired/analysis
    • Conclusions
    • Areas of further research
    • Bibliography and referencing
  • I need to make sure I draw conclusions from my findings. I can still have questions that need further exploration
  • My presentation needs to be structured and rehearsed in a format that enables professional levels of presentation with Q&A within 20 mins. (So I could aim my presentation to be 10-15 mins?)

Evaluate summary:

  • I need to evaluate and reflect on:
    • Knowledge gained during this module
    • Areas of further investigation
    • Current strengths and weaknesses in relation to future aims and intentions
    • Try a SWOT analysis?
    • Determine strategies to improve success in moving towards future goals
  • I need to use my blog to demonstrate analysis and reflection of my submission across all my aspects:
    • Presentation
    • CV
    • Online presence