Creative Futures - Day 4

Life in the after world as a freelance artist (photography)

Alison McLean graduated from Glyndwr in 2010 she then set up the Photofoundry business www.thephotofoundry.com.

 

Her background was working in financial services for 15 years and she was also a Tai Kwan Doe instructor during that time. She said that coming to Glyndwr was her 'birth'.

   

By the end of her 3rd year as a CLM student she realised that there was loads of stuff she hadn't done. She recommended that students do their dissertation in the summer break of 2nd year.

  

Alison felt she needed a break after leaving Uni and didn’t pick up a camera for several months, However she did want to go back into business using her new skills but recommends that you supplement this with a part-time job to keep the money coming in.

Alison stressed how important a website is and she gave us some great tips about having an online presence as a photographer:

   

• Firstly get a website! (Keep the name simple, see what else is out there .coms)
• Use an online service to help with a Domain name e.g. Namesco (will let you know when domain is available)
• Use Free websites e.g. carbon made, cargo collective (use to build your site). Carbon made only allows 35 images but no videos. Recommend you have different websites for different work (e.g. weddings, fine art etc.)
• Work with a graphic designer to optimize your website
• Always check spelling and grammar. Use ghotit.com (attention to detail is important)
• Get someone to go on to your site (watch what they do, see if they can work the site)
• Improve traffic with video, blog, keywords (5 times more likely to appear high in SEO if a video is on the site, link and share everything).
• Use keywords that will get you noticed. 
• Interaction e.g. Freebies and competitions work well (not just coming to see your work)
• Keep it up to date

Business cards are also important and Alison provided some tips for these:

• Get the branding right
• Always use good quality cards
• They should be uncluttered, with clear type
• Postcards with snapshots of work are good
• Moocards (smaller business cards can work well)
• Futureproof  - don't display a date on them or offer ends etc)
• Research the internet for good examples and make it stand out!

Spreading the word

  

Word of mouth is important remember:

• Use family for stock photgraphy (kids blowing out candles as a lot easier)
• Friends can help 
• Colleagues 
• Students (Keep in touch, Facebook)
• Referrals (Word of mouth, go to events, don’t be lazy)
• Professionalism is key 
• Under promise, over deliver (e.g. 3 day job will take 1 week then deliver early)                                       
• Take camera with you to any events so you don’t miss any photo opportunities.

Social media is also important and is a free and easy way of getting your work noticed for example: 

• Twitter (share things and be more general)
• Facebook
• Linked-in (professional)
• Google Plus (good for print sales)
• Blog e.g. Wordpress, Blogger
• Flickr (upload & share images)
• Pinterest (be careful as due to potential legal issues)
• Social media management eg Tweetdeck, Hootsuite (can be used to share one post between all social media sites)

Some tips for using social media:

• Social media blocking sites e.g. anti-social, freedom (helps so you aren’t distracted)
• Engagement 
• Write in the third person (Don’t use I, you) 
• Copyright issues (use meta data in Adobe Bridge, low res images 400x600 72dpi)

Networking

Good places to network are: 

• Exhibitions 
• Graduate networking events (e.g Zone, The Foundry in Wrexham)
• Fusion
• Events
• Chamber of Commerce
• Linked-in business groups
• The pub
• Redeye, the photographer’s network

Groups 

Alison's top groups are:

• Redeye
• Welshot (welshotimaging.co.uk) run workshops around £20, helpful not pompus
• Camera Clubs (good way of getting work critiqued, and knowledgeable)
• Photernative (Fine artists) Photographers interested in alternative processes pinhole, wet transfers etc
• Inside out art group
• Open eye gallery (Liverpool)
• Blank media collective (Manchester) Exhibitions, feedback, tips
• Ffresh

Keeping inspired

Sources of inspiration are:    

• Twitter 
• Redeye/Welshot 
• Collaborations 
• Art House co-op (free or minimal cost projects) 
• Eager (Red line project – self-portrait with red line through it) 
• Projects (Get involved whenever possible)
• Keep a file (of ideas)

CPD (Continuing Professional Development)

This is vital and Alison recommended that you do the following:

• Network through Redeye/Welshot/Camera Clubs 
• Keep up to date with current Trends 
• Always look to improve your Photography skills 
• Enter competitions (Photocompete.com) 
• Read online magazines eg fotoblur which is a magazine, fantastic photos

  

BBB (going into business)

Alison already had experience of starting up a business so she didn't find it too difficult setting up Photofoundry.  Tax, overheads, insurance, HMRC, and PAYE can be a daunting prospect though. However, there's lots of help available, for example through the Citizens Advice Bureau. There are also some other sources:

• Tax and business courses are available
• British Journal of Photography
• Money saving expert 
• The Zone 
• Artists newsletter (offers free insurance)
• Freelance UK

You can also claim working tax credits if you work over 16 hours a week!

There was some useful information from Alison. I've already used one of her recommendations and have created my own website.

Show passion in your next step (Photography and Video)

Our final talk of the week was by a group of ex Glyndwr Students that graduated in 2011. Since graduating they had set up their own business called 'Minimal Media'. They each gave a brief overview of their backgrounds:

 
Graham Cooper
He developed his skills at Yale College in Wrexham. Had previously set up a business which didn’t work out so he decided to study a Creative Lens Media (CLM) course with Glyndwr.

 
Hollie Harmsworth
She began studying a Fine Art degree at Chester Uni but dropped out halfway through as it wasn;t what she wanted to do. She therefore took a year out before beginning a CLM course at Glyndwr.

 
Alan Whitfield
Worked in a factory for ten years before taking GCSE's, A Level's, a HND and finally a CLM degree also at Glyndwr.

 
Nomads of student life

They didn’t know what to do when they were in their final year. Alan recommends that you should try not to pigeonhole yourself.

 
Never say no
One of the company’s first jobs was to film a farm show. Filming people on tractors and horses wasn’t ideal but they did get work off the back of it. They feel it’s more important to get experience than the best grades. A brilliant portfolio and show reel are key.

Professional Development

Alan recommends taking anything that comes. The Glynspired event is great for obtaining work experience. E.g ‘Guides’ for events. Working with general public, getting permission good experience. 

They ended the session by showing the company's show reel. They've worked on some interesting projects such as 3G projection mapping on Conwy Castle and an advert for a new website called 'Publicate'. It was nice to hear from a group of students that have only recently graduated. I admire the fact that they decided to go into business during these difficult economic times and I look forward to seeing more of their work. I wish them well for the future.

That was it for Creative Futures this year! I found it extremely informative, there appeared to be many more talks that were relevant for CLM students which was great. It was particulary nice to hear from ex students and see how successful they've been since graduating.