Students! who’d hire em?
Wednesday, Mar 29th, 2006 in The IPWS Blog by Dominic Lee | 6 Comments
by Dominic Lee, AMPA. Priory Studios
I love looking at students portfolios. While I envy the standard of their work, which is often stunning and inspirational, they tend to be creatively non commercial (nice way of saying arty farty) for a job in a Portrait Studio.
Prepare more than one portfolio.
You may be a genius at photographing products or creating an artistic masterpiece from an image of a gravestone but if you are applying for a job at a Portrait Studio, it would help if your portfolio contained several examples of Portraits. Likewise, Pack shots & Advertising ideas if you are looking for a job in that area. And so on with Fashion, Architectural, Press & PR. It could be the key to get you past the interview stage!
Interview.
It is also worth considering your dress code. If going for a job interview to a studio which specialises in photographing families, it is not appropriate to wear 25 different pieces of metal embedded in your face and clothes which were designed to hunt animals on safari. It might make you feel good looking like the "Free Spirit" that you were in College but you won’t get the job if there is a risk that you will scare the bejaysus out of the babies.
CV’s
I receive an average of one CV every day; (some days 3) most are from the new EU states. So prepare yourselves well is my advice. Hire a suit if don’t own one (if you don’t like suits, ring Bill Oddie). Look at the MARKET, and keep your work options open, many great photographers are getting lost in the system. Have a look at the company’s website and prepare yourself and your portfolio for a job in that company.
By Dominic Lee, Priory Studios
6 Comments:
well done Dominic, sound advice, maybe the IPPA could get a copy out to the photographic Colleges, applying for a job should be a part of any course
Fergal
this is great advice…I think art students in particular could use a dose of realism when it comes to preparing a portfolio to obtain real work, as well as preparing for the interview process. Your portfolio should be on your mind early on as a student- it’s hard to create a workable portfolio in the spring of your final year. Get started early on – check out what photographers are doing in your area. Become a photographer outside of classroom assignments, so that you have more material to work with and to show. Let people know you are willing to take portraits, etc.
Regarding the interview process, I think it’s hard to separate your artistic ideals sometimes, especially when you are young. Just wearing a suit can be a shock when you’ve been a free spirit. I remember the first day of my internship, coming home in a suit and hating it. – it’s important to present yourself professionally if you want to become a professional.
I was at a dublin colleges graduation recently. I just happened to glance at the prospectus. Not much digital work being done. Lots of black and white developing and printing on the course. So Im sorry Dominic the students comming out of college are being prepared for the 19th century. What hope have you of getting a 21st Century CV.
Sound, practical advice! You’d think that students would be aware of the guidelines, or maybe apply some common sense to their job applications!
Hi would it be possible to get more info on any jobs or postions going. thank you very much.
Shane brady
If any student in the cork area would like to talk with with me,regarding employment,please contact me on 086 3712424.