Professional practice Workbook 1

Professional Practice work book 1

Research Book 4 will collate a photographic catalogue into a print-based tool by which to
showcase your skills and gain future employment. Photographic albums are available in many
different styles and types and are a great way to attract potential clients, being a tangible and
tactile item as apposed to web-based versions.
Photographic albums are an invaluable marketing tool, providing a tangible item in the freelance
photographers advertising and promotional suit of materials.
It is expected that your research will generally be portfolio based (blog) as you build up evidence
and material to support your development. However, the key is the critical reflection and thinking
about your personal aims not the “Quantity” of material on your blog.

A photographer when he starts to work with a client, has to be prepared 360 degrees: the job itself, a brief history of the client and he should do a deep research of similar works done by other photographers.
Example, If I have to work at a wedding, I will first of all show interest in my client life, understand his passions so I can do a job as personal as possible, so it can be unique and the client will be satisfied. I will have to research and take inspirations from other professionals who do wedding photography and I will have to be prepared with the right equipment for that situation.

If I am working for a company, I would first of all study the history, the purpose and everything I need to know about it, so I can show knowledge not just about my job but also my ability to create something specific and unique, just for them.

I would also be ready to show a digital and printed portfolio, to make my client understand my personal style and how I work.

I think that when a photographer goes professional, one skill that is highly required is the charm and the communications, so it will be easier to get the client what he wants and “sell himself” as the best product. And also another thing that is important is the ability of the photographer to make the client feel confortable and make himself trustable.

For example, if the work is with young children, you have to be prepared to make it feel like a game so the kids will not just listen to you but also enjoy them.

I also believe that it is better to be prepared while talking about prices, preparing a list of the costs of different photo-shoots and services so the client can choose and get organised and have a brief idea of what he will spend.

The costs will not just be the photo-shoots and post productions, but also the costs of travelling, extra equipment, depending also the environment chosen.

Something you should be ready for with working with kids, is that you will probably have to shoot twice the pictures you would normally shoot with adults. That is because it is harder for a kid to pose or stay still or maintain the focus of the situation.

So I think that you should come up with a game, or something to entertain the kid and make the experience enjoyable.

Talking about the equipment, you will need many lenses, one for portraits and one for long distance as it will be possible the kid will be moving or running around the set. Maybe a 16-35 zoom, a 50mm, 85mm and/or 100mm or 70-200mm. One of those lenses should be fast as well, with a 2.8 aperture at least.. For this reason, you will need different kid of lighting to capture, some brollies and diffusers and flash gun as well.

And of course, many spare batteries.

One of the kids photographers I like the most is Elena Shumilova. She likes to take pictures of her kids playing with her pets in different locations. In the pictures the kids look always busy doing something, petting the dogs, or playing so they do not look like they are on a set but they look very spontaneous and that is what I really like. Sometimes I feel like it does not look good when the kid looks forced to be on the set and is posing or when he is told to smile but he is not really aware of what is happening around him. In this case, pictures look natural, even with the amazing post production editing, and the kids look happy to be featuring in her work. I really also like the composition and the daily life theme around them.

The issues ­with taking pictures of kids is mainly the law itself. The most important thing in our society is to keep the kids safe from any kind of abuse.

So there will be a few requirements when you will want to work with kids:

The collection and passing on of images will be controlled, the identity of the children will be hidden so it cannot be recognisable, and the consent of parents.

The consent is essential. The photographer will have to discuss and ask permission to both of the parents/carers and possibly get a written consent.

The photographer should only be authorised by a person who has a suitable reason to shoot the pictures.

The children should be never captured in what are commonly understood as non-public activities such as toileting, changing clothes etc.

Any photographer should not allow an unauthorised person to identify the kid and his whereabouts.

Another authorisation from the parents/carer is needed in case you want to use the photographs for, for example, publishing them on magazines etc.

All of this rules are not just a law, that it has to be followed, but also are rules of common sense and the professionalism of the photographer.