WORKSHOP: The Editorial Industry

Jason Lock came in to give us an editorial masterclass, with his own research and experiences in the industry and tips we need to know. We have already had this lecture last year, but I felt like I needed to see it with a fresh pair of eyes, especially seeing as I have grown photographically since last year. He planned to cover the following areas:

~ Industry Overview: Specific area of work

~ The Importance of Research

~ Note-Taking and Archiving

~ The Contact Sheet

~ The Published Feature 

The Importance of Research

He started off talking about reading and research, as well as asking questions about the specific topic he is photographing. He stressed that we need a deeper understanding of the subject before we begin exploring and shooting, as to create a well informed story and not offend anyone. He also talked about having a personal interest in the subject, checking whether the idea has been done before and if it has been done before, how can you make it better? He spoke of photographer Mark Power, who used to research into an idea and if he found something remotely similar, he would scrap it and start again. Although a very strong principle, I don't want to recreate other people's ideas and stories, which is why I believe also that research is super important. 

He spoke about his own work, and how he gets given jobs from magazines with a very small timeframe to complete them in. He recently was given a commission for a football magazine, to photograph sellers of a particular magazine that they wanted for a story. With such a small time frame, he began by mind mapping contacts that he knew and they stemmed from there. It's really important for me to began in making a book of contacts that I meet, especially models and make up artists, to make sure I have a wide range of contacts to call upon when I need assistance for shoots. 

Notes and Archive 

Jason spoke about the differences between digital and traditional copies of ideas, and how there are benefits to both. I currently use digital copies of ideas when I am out and about and transfer them to my laptop later, as well as writing them down in a notebook or address book. I find that using both approaches makes it easier to make sure that my notes are lost forever, due to either loss of notebooks or loss of digital copies. He also spoke about keeping books of people's names, contact details, telephone number, address and email address to contact them later for help photographic shoots and series. Model release forms are also a massive part of photography, especially for the publication of stories and images for magazines. I always keep a catalogue of model release forms, but I don't always keep on top of it, which I need to make sure I do when I plan to get my work published in magazines towards the end of the summer. 

The Contact Sheet

A contact sheet is the traditional analogue workflow, and was used with older photographers when they shot on film and then began the process of choosing their images for publication and printing. Nowadays, we have the digital equivalent, where we can print our images in small format and then chose the best. I use the traditional contact sheet on the computer using Adobe Bridge, where I star rate my work according to how good they are. The best images are starred at 5 stars, whereas images that the model asked for are starred as 1. This makes sure that I get all the images to the model, especially if we work time for print, as well as editing the photographs I am happy with. Jason spoke about how he used contact sheets to archive his images, especially when he was travelling to choose different images that are better suited to different briefs. Martin Parr used to print his images on 7x5 prints, lay them out on the floor and then one by one, turn them over if he was not happy with them. Printing my photographs would be a better way to decided whether I like my images or not, because I am always changing my mind about my best images. 

Stuart Franklin - Moss Side, Manchester

Martin Parr - Bad Weather

Peter Marlow - Margaret Thatcher

In conclusion, this workshop was especially inspiring for me, as it gave me an insight into a possible future career choice that I could have. Jason Lock was very inspirational and seeing his own personal editorial work was good and helped me believe I could be successful too.

PDP Development - Task 3 - UCLan Collaboration

I got my first email directly to my website the other week, which was really exciting as it is nice to see that my website was getting noticed on social media. It was from a group of students from the University of Central Lancashire, which is near where I live, who were interested in collaborate on a high concept shoot that would be exhibited in Preston for their final major show. I was really excited for this, and enjoyed every second of the shoot! We shot at the Grand Theatre in Blackpool, and I was astounded by the amazing architecture and painting that hung from all the walls. The interior of the building was stunning, and knew from then on I had to put 100% into the shoot to get the best possible images for my portfolio. I used two red head lights to create contrast and depth to all my images, and found myself standing on chairs, hanging from balconies and lying in the centre of the stage in all the dust and muck. It was, hand on my heart, one of the best and friendliest collaborations of my photographic career, and I look forward to working with the group again on future collaboration.

WORKSHOP: CV, Biography Writing, Statement Writing and Elevator Pitches

To begin the lesson we took at look at the website of Sophie Gerrard, and how she constructs her biography for her page to introduce herself. She complies a short but sweet biography, talking about her education, how she began her career, where she is based now and what she does. She also lists various exhibitions that she has presented her work at, as well as awards she has won. This impressed us in a small biography and makes us believe their is more amazing facts about this photographer that we do not know. My biography on my website is short and only looks at my biggest achievements rather than numerous things I have done. My biography is around 150 words in length, with lists underneath of clients I have worked for and exhibitions I have held. I think a smaller biography works better for me due to my lack of experience in the industry compared with award winning photographers such as Gerrard.

We then looked at an extended biography of the photographer Mandy Lee Jandrell, who talks more in depth about her work and how she began her career journey. Although an extended biography provides more information to the reader, I find that it goes on to a while, and I lose interest half way through. With this example, I found it was easier to read than other extended biographies. 

We then explores what is included in a biography. We decided that almost all professional biographies are written from a third person perspective, always commenting on the photographer does rather than I have. They also talk about their biggest achievements, where they have exhibited, where they have studies (especially if they have studies a Masters at a Univeristy regarded as being professional), areas and specialisms, where they have had work published, who they have worked with or for (such as clients and jobs) and awards they have gained because of their work.

We then began with a two line introduction to ourselves and our practice: 

"Laura Jane Parkinson is a published fashion and portrait photographer based in the UK. She creates her work in the style of fashion and magazine editorials, that explore beauty within the human form."

We were then asked to expand upon this with 50-70 words:

"Laura Jane Parkinson has worked for a number of magazines, as well as producing images for fashion brands and advertisements. Her studies at the University of Salford have fuelled her drive to produce imagery that explores colour, elegance and feminism. She is especially inspired by cinema and nature, and incorporates these themes into her photographic work"

It was interested to be able to see the biography of Moira and how she explained her work, I feel that my biography so far is strong and better than the current version on my website. I originally used the work exceptional to describe my imagery, seeing as this is written in the third person, I would expect this would be okay. However, Moira commented on he fact I had used it, and would only recommend using this word if it was retrieved from a quote, such as from a magazine or newspaper. I will plan to include quotes from the newspaper that documented our Islington Mill exhibition, so I can include feedback from reputable external sources.

Moira then asked us to speak about a specific series of work we have completed or is part of our continuing research and photographic exploration. She spoke about her recently completed series looking at coal workers, which was funded by the National Media Museum. She spoke about her project meaning, who she was funded by and how she presented it.

"Laura Jane Parkinson is currently exploring her love of beauty, elegance and fairytales, and intertwining them with food photography advertisements and issues of consumerism. Her work looks at both the beauty of fairytales, as well as the underlying issues within them that are unbeknown to the children reading them. She explores the small details within dress, styling and looks, whilst paying close attention to food used within these stories that will later fuel consumerism within society."

Moira commented on how she found my paragraph confusing, and feels that the series would need a title. Most people in the lesson began their paragraph with who they were such as "Laura Jane Parkinson is a fashion and portrait photographer who..." and including a title within their work, even if it was just blank, underneath, I have changed this paragraph.

"Laura Jane Parkinson is a fashion and beauty photographer, currently exploring her love of beauty, elegance and fairytales within the series titled "Consume Me". She intertwines food photography advertisements and issues of consumerism, with the beauty of the human form within fairytales. Her work looks at both the beauty of fairytales, as well as the underlying issues within them that are unbeknown to the children reading them. She explores the small details within dress, styling and looks, whilst paying close attention to food used within these stories that will later fuel consumerism within society."

After we finished talking about biographies and writing them, Moira advised us to join sites like Axis and LinkedIn. I am already logged onto LinkedIn, but had never heard of Axis before. It offers free public liability insurance when you sign up to the website, which is really helpful if I want to pursue a career in being self employed. Overall this workshop was extremely helpful, especially coming towards my graduation and further studies in the upcoming year.

PDP Development - Task 3 - Experimental Ballet

I was assisting a friend on a studio shoot a couple of weeks before Christmas, as she was photographing some ballet dancers and gymnasts and needed help setting up the lighting! Whilst on a break, one of the ballet dancers said she had seen my website online and would love to work with me sometime. With a studio and lighting right in front of me, I decided to set up the backdrop, simple lighting set up and outfit within 5 minutes, and we took a total of 20 shots. Here are my final three! Although these were very quick edits and shall not be appearing on my portfolio, it was nice to know that under pressure, I can produce this type of imagery.