Happy Christmas/Holidays and New Year

Can I take this opportunity to thank all the students on the City and Guilds Photography courses for all their hard work since joining the courses in September.

Thank you for all the hard effort and commitment that you have all shown, and I wish all of your a very Merry Christmas and Holidays whatever your faith, and also have a Happy New Year as we move into 2012.

Case Study Response

Based on the studio visit last week to Adrian Heapy Photography I want you all to start and put together an in depth response to that visit in the form of a Case Study. In this way you will be meeting the requirements of the course.

It needs to take the form of an analysis of each area of the business clients and professional practices.

Offering the opportunity to investigate processes and skills associated with positions of responsibility in the workplace, and also the associated legal, ethical and practical constraints.

Plus expand further with the usual reflective writing to explain fully the impact, influences, thoughts and ideas this visit will of surely caused.

What were the questions that were asked and what replies were given to your questions and that of others, evidence all of this on your blogs with supporting images and videos that you took.

Studio size and location (why there)?

Type of work they undertake and why?

How has he been in photography and where did he start?

What areas have been profitable over the years and why?

Client depth and breadth across uk?

Requirements of kit, type and suitability to subject and why?

Etc...etc...etc...

Type of cameras used and why?

What does he use now, what processes used to exist before digital and where were they done?

Digital Workflow and how it is managed, what methods do they use and why, security, Archive systems etc...

Photoshop and it uses within the studio..etc...best practice

Brochures and client work that you saw...what style was it, etc...etc.

Client confidentiality, dealing with clients, being professional and what this means.

Client expectations and examples of pressure and working to tight deadlines

Repercussions of not meeting deadlines...what was said and in what context

Copyright issues and examples of infringement / breaches

Intellectual property rights, ownership , plaigarism, etc etc..

Health and Safety at work and public liability.

Roomsets

Client typical brief

Layouts and design methods

Mood boards

Construction by stages, chippy, builders, etc...

Wallpaper and painting / prep area...

Props and prop stores and their useage

Working with stylists benefits and costs, search fees..etc..(what company do they use)

Lighting Arri type, why this type...etc

etc...etc...etc....

Plus upload all your images and videos to your blogs please.

Ofsted Exhibition

In light of a visit by Osfted to the college on the 5th December I wanted to make sure that our area is well represented.To do this I would like everyone to gather all their best images together (anything between 25 and 50) so I can put all of them together on a gallery showreel. Some images I may well have but since this course is fairly new I expect there will be images shot fairly recently that I haven't seen.

Can you provide these as jpegs only please as this will allow me to put this together quicker and can you put these all on a DVD on or before the 3rd of December. We need to do this as Ofsted will come in the day time and miss all of our sessions which would be a real shame as there is some really good work happening.

The format of the exhibition will probably be a website / showreel to show off all the work from a large TV screen at the end of our corridor.

Studio Visit!

                                                     www.adrianheapyphoto.co.uk

The visit to this studio will happen in 2 parts, the date / times will be from 9am until 4.30pm Wednesday 23rd November, and 9.00am until 1.30pm on Saturday 26th November.

The correct post code is DE56 1UP , for sat navs, plus look at the location map on the website.

As this is a professional studio the expectation is that you arrive no later than 9- 9.30 am so we can start on time, arriving on time is vital please.

The expectation is that you arrange all the travel yourself by 'car sharing' or by train (the railway station in  Belper is very close to the studio). A nearby landmark is the Lion Hotel and you can park in the pay and display car park nearby. Look at the directions map on the website please for further information.

Take time to look around the website to get familiar with what they do and specialise in, so that you are aware also of the types of clients that they have and in what genres of photography.

The day will consist of seeing how a professional studio works and what workflow they use to resolve a variety of client work from concept to output. You will need to bring your cameras just in case we need them along with any laptops and ipads as wifi is available. Lunch can be bought nearby in the high street or bring your own.

The studio is a 'live' working environment and as such we will have to respect any last minute changes to what they are able to provide and show to us. The main subject will be the concept and construction of a room set, and will include whatever stage it is at when we arrive, it should be in its early stages and will allow you to see how the studio prepares and constructs this from its resources.

Also we should be able have a short intro to the studio from the Director Adrian Heapy supported by access to previous client work, brochures and images.

On Saturday you can come back for the return visit to see how it has come together as a final styled roomset along with preferred lighting style. You may get chance to experiment with how you would light this will the studio lighting. This is subject to approval.

Please respect the fact that this is one of the studios where I have worked in the past and I am a close associate of, and you are representing the college and not just yourselves.

Clients / Portfolio Building / Mini Exhibition & Critique

From time to time I will act as a client and give you a brief to resolve which will be either specific to your theme, or broader for the whole group to resolve. I like to give warning for these but they may happen out of the blue. As last week we had a front cover to shoot for a college magazine which the whole group responded to. This went well and the image has gone to print, the client was delighted with the results. From this link with the Chamber of Commerce and Business Alumni within the college we should be getting to connect with more clients. I will keep you all posted on this development.

Also we had two jobs for clients come in from Ian Hey who is very well connected within the local council and National Forest. He has an awareness of a broad range of events that are happening across the borough and again these will open out to this group as and when they happen.

Also I will be expecting a broad range of research of your client and thematic approach to your work which explores and examines the specific genres of your photography.

And I would expect that in response to research and equipment that you initiate experimental test shots of your own in preparation and readiness for working in the area that you are aiming to find clients in,

ie, If you have prospective clients or would like to target, you are taking photographs at all times in preparation for working with them. These images can then be sent to these clients as loss leaders backed up with current, relevant images that you have taken.

If its fashion you are setting up fashion shoots to build your portfolio in this area, this needs to be ongoing and evaluated against original research to benchmark how well you are doing. These shoots have to be self initiated and to do this you must be as per all professional photographers, continually producing images as part of your continued professional development. Do not wait to be asked in order to produce these, you need to be very proactive (an attribute you need to develop to succeed in any area of photography).

In order to focus your minds we will be having a 'Mini Exhibition / Critique' of all the work produced so far in the last week before the xmas break in order to see where we are as regards your own work. This will include client work and experimental images aimed at prospective clients. All students will present their work to the group onscreen to avoid the expense of printing images out, and the rest will critique and discuss the images. All work needs to be post produced and sized to A3 300 dpi.

Catch Up

After the half term I want to catch up with everyone regarding the amount of client activity that has (or has not been happening). Preparation to shoot in the area of choice is also vital, so while you are waiting for the client work you should be doing practice, experimental and creative test shots. This is in order to show your full capability as and when the real client work comes in, but also to bolster your portfolio of work.

Can we all be mindful that this needs to be happening as part of the culture of loss leaders it is imperative to be able to show your creative and technical abilities to the full.

Hasselblad Digital Camera

During this session I will be going through how to use this system and its lenses. I will show you how to use it in the photography studio. I know we have some shoots happening at the moment that will benefit from using it.
I am also working on this being available on location with me, so I can keep an eye on our investment because of its value. These shoots offsite have yet to be approved and will only happen if you really show a high level of prep and convince me that your shoot deserves and merits its use.

Great start

Just wanted to say how pleased I am with everyones progress on this course, some really interesting links and projects are starting to happen. Remember that the units you are studying are on a rolling program and must have value added to them on a regular basis as you progress throughout this course.
All work needs to be labelled as you go along to ensure accurate self tracking of learning outcomes.Most of you now have a plan of action as to which direction you are heading in, more formal business plans will be opened out after we have our guest visitor from the chamber of commerce.

Business Development

I am trying to organise a visit by Burton Chamber of Commerce to come and give talk to the level 4 photography students regarding the Business units and planning that you have to do for the framework of this course.
This will include a variety of important relevant areas from 'Marketing Strategies' through to 'Funded Business Support Initiatives'.
I will come back with more information regarding this as soon as its confirmed.

Impetus....

I want to make a general comment that the level 4 students and their work production needs to gain some momentum with their projects please. The assumption is that work at this level moves quicker and takes place more often, can the people with sand still between their toes put in the required effort please.

Research of clients and their images needs to be populating blogs alongside research into intentions as regards direction and ability. Measure your work at all times alongside togs working in your selected areas.

Great Expectations.....

Comments and feedback are expected to be happening between everyone on this network all the time. Also you will be getting feedback and comments from me as regards your images, research and development as a photographer. Only by working in this way can you progress and achieve higher.

You are expected at this level to be producing work very independently and proactively and taking complete ownership of all of your work and the meeting of the learning outcomes involved in this course.

This course will be all about contact with the photography industry and its clients. You are expected to be contacting prospective clients and providing photography for them. This can be someone you know, or a friend, neighbour , relative, who works in whatever line of work and produce photography for them.

Initially this can be done via what is commonly known as a 'Loss Leader' this is a method by which you do a totally free job in order to build contacts and confidence in each other without the added pressure of the costs being involved. However you will still have to meet deadlines in a very professional manner if you expect to work for these clients.This is a key way in which to get your photography in front of clients and should not be underestimated in any way.

I will taking the part of a buffer between you and your client, you will have to get the work that you produce past me first before it is returned to your client. This is to ensure a high quality of image is produced at all times. Don't be surprised if I tell that the work isn't good enough and I will be asking for work to be reshot if its not of the required standard (in a constructive manner that will help you to improve).

Remember 'you' must find these clients they will 'not' be provided for you, if you find you haven't got any then you must work harder at your marketing and advertising. Each client you try to work with and contact must be listed on your blog, alongside the date, time and response from the client, positive or otherwise. 

It's getting nearer...

We launch this new exciting course as from the 17th September 2011, everything is ready, are you?. Don't forget if you are interested at all in getting on board let us know now, whether you are local or abroad get in touch and get enrolled so you don't miss out.

If you aren't local don't forget you can enrol and do this course as a Distance Learning experience. You will still feel a close part of the team as we all network together via a Blogger website of your own. This allows total transparency and connectivity between me, yourselves , your peers, and the online mentors.

Hurry as places are going fast on this course, and this site will soon fill with the exciting content being produced by the new intake of students in a few weeks.

Another addition...

A commercial illustrator, Fred Gambino, has agreed to be a part of this program in respect to being an 'Online Mentor'. This will mean he can help with his extensive experience in concepts, designs, use of colour and light, along with art, illustration and photoshop skills.
All of these skills are vital when formulating creative ideas and outcomes to a high professional level.

Also alot of his work is a subtle combination of 3D design (with a program called Modo) and Photoshop to a level where it is difficult to see where the two blend. Some of Fred's work can be seen in the gallery at ;

www.luxology.com/gallery

Please also take a look at the website to view all the high calibre creative imagery he has done over the years.

http://www.fredgambino.co.uk

New Addition - Moving Image Production (Video)

Along with the photography aspect of this course it has now expanded to include Digital Media Production. This will mean that we are now able to provide a video filming provision with use of a range of continuous lighting and set building facilities at our college studio.
This may become extended into our larger industry link studio depending on facilities and timing, etc

This then opens up the possibility of producing short films, documentaries, promotional and music videos with the help of our film, edit, lighting and set building capabilities.

For the full specification you will need to download and study 'Unit 14' which has all the relevant information about this area of the course.

Context and Purpose

As a progression from Level 3 City and Guilds Photography this new Level 4 has been set up to start from September 2011. The course will encourage students to have an ability to initiate 'Business Start Up' programs, and to allow students to become more employable within this area of specialism. Self employment can then become a viable option to students who are out of work or interested in increasing their earning potential.

It will cover in depth the requirements that have to be considered for all people wanting to raise their skills level in order to gain possible employment or self employment within various sectors of the industry. Also it will allow the development of possible 'Creative Collectives' to develop over the two year program.

Within the course it is possible to start from a 'blank page' and develop an idea and aquire professional guidance along the way. At all times we will encourage external engagement with both industry and commercial bodies, clients and organisations. This will ensure that advise and guidance will be clear and professional at all times.

As the course development is evolving it is becoming apparent that other areas within the college could be part of this program. For example it is hoped that the Hair and Beauty Department will work alongside our students providing both models and styling to suit chosen themes.

Video production is now part of the City and Guilds unit choices and more information will be available soon, until then refer to Unit 14 of the City and Guilds handbook download for more specific information.