For this module, the aims were to demonstrate we were looking towards our
careers after university. To show we can organise time, projects, research and learning.
We needed to understand the processes, and to create an online portfolio,
business card, CV and printed portfolio. All these things would prepare us for
looking for work, getting ourselves known in the industry and having a career.
The idea that I had to research
and decide on my ultimate career path after university was very daunting. As I
went along to numerous talks, workshops and visits to places like Photolink, I
became more aware that I was uncertain about what I wanted to do. I enjoyed all
the workshops and talks, and enjoyed learning new skills and other parts of
photography I hadn’t yet discovered.
I pushed myself to work more in
the studio, and build on my PDP aims. I wanted to become over all more
comfortable with shooting in the studio. I wanted to explore the studio more,
and hoped that this would give me some inspiration. So I carried out some
shoots, and found I enjoyed working with other people and creating the look I
wanted. This included the clothing and makeup.
It wasn’t until a tutorial a few
weeks into the module, when I was asked what I actually like photographing. I
talked about how I enjoy capturing the products I talk about on my beauty blog,
a blog I’ve had for over a year and a half. I take a lot of time to make sure that
they look a certain way, and I am totally happy with them. I blog once every
week, and am very proud of what it has become. It only then became a real idea
to want to blog full time. I always knew it was possible, but had always been
narrow minded about the career I could have with my photography skills.
Blogging full time would be a job that I love, and feel passionate about. I
have researched current bloggers, and management agencies that look after their
‘social talent’. I know it wouldn’t be a quick success, but I feel with the
experience and work I have put in over this long period of time, I can aim
towards this. I want to also keep up with beauty portraiture, which I found I
enjoyed a lot during this module.
Creating a portfolio both online
and printed was difficult for me. I wasn’t sure how to get across my skills,
and interests in photography. But once I shot some products, and beauty
portraiture in the studio, I was able to build up a good collection on varied
work that links with the industry. I also found creating a Bio, CV and Business
Card hard, as I didn’t feel confident in whether my images reflected my
interests. I found my bio difficult, as I had to write in 3rd
person, something I have never done before, about my own work. But tutorials were
helpful in me being able to understand what information these documents had to
contain which made the process easier.
Over this entire project has made
me think about what I want to do in the future, and what the best steps are to
take to get there. I feel a lot more confident about what my plans are, and
feel my website, portfolio and CV will help me progress. I understand that it
will be a lot of hard work, but I am willing to do this to get to be where I
want. This module has made me understand all the processes to becoming
professional in the industry.
