Lecture Content Responses 3

Agents
Whilst in class I was looking up some Agencies as part of a task, and was looking at Peter Bailey's Agency.  It looked fantastic and there was actually a lot of photographers that I had known and researched about that were on Peter Bailey's agency.  Here are some other great one's that I have looked at after class. Lisa Pritchard, Wyatt Clarke Jones, Horton-Stephens, Peter Bailey, Trayler and Trayler, Vue-Us. I love to look on agencies like these ones, as i just get lost staring into amazing photography by so many photographers an hope that one day I could be in an Agency like these.
Here below are my notes from agencies.

Applying for Funding
This is something that I would most definitely do when I finish University for my own brand.  I would write out a funding application summarising my project and pitching my idea in a short minute. I would also write up a structured, simple plan of action with a time line.  Planning a Budget is important too.  Sponsorship and Time management are two thing to have before sending a funding application.
I can apply for grants through many different sites, but for this, the application is assessed to see if they think it is worth getting a grant for.  It has to engage with the public and fit in with my current work and future developments. I would also have to explain exactly how I would make it happen in stages of my activity. Finance and an Evaluation is to finish the application for funding.  This is only something I will do when ready to and when I feel like I could do with one.

Lecture Content Responses 2 - Portfolio's

Marketing the Practitioner

My Portfolio Box

Portfolios to Paperwork

I have just finished Compiling, editing and presenting my Portfolio for this particular module.  There are a lot of benefits to having a printed portfolio and I personally love having one. Printed Portfolios are always good to have and will probably never disappear no matter how good technology gets. As long as there are face to face meetings, and as long as there are printed end applications like magazines, brochures and posters etc, the portfolio will still have a place. 

Most advertising and design agencies and most magazines and newspapers still ask to see a portfolio in hand, even if it is private clients like weddings, families and portraits, it is just nicer to present them as a folio rather than on a laptop.  Clients tend to look at websites and then still ask for the request of a portfolio, which ever industry I go to, I need to make sure my portfolio is at a high standard because is says a lot about a photographer, keeping work, clean and up to date is the right way. 

• The best Portfolio box or case that I can afford will be the nicest to use, especially for 3rd year and leaving out into the real world.  That's why I have a Silver print A4 box. 
• I need to consider a case for my business cards to make sure they do not get crumpled, and the Portfolio Box is the colour Black, It is standard and most professional. 
• The prints will be of a good quality and on a decent paper type. 
• I have worked with paper types before and know the differences between a good paper and a bad paper.  I would like my prints to suit the paper I choose, so I may have to look back at all my different paper types to decide what looks best. . 
• I will not have any sleeves in my portfolio as they are reflective and make it harder to see the images.  The size for my Portfolio box and prints is A4, I only choose this size as it is my first professional Portfolio Box that I will be getting, when I produce another Portfolio later down the line with much more base to my work I will get an A3 box so I can show the images off. 
• I will include additional materials as well as all my necessary contact details at the beginning of my portfolio.  This will include my name, address, my website, phone number and e-mail.  This is important If I am unable to find some business cards cases. Cover letter and Contact Details.
• It is known better to keep all Portfolio prints either all landscape or portrait, according to what best suits my work, but also says not to mix them up at all.  I have quite a few of each so will have to sort this out a bit later. 
• The standard photo number for a Portfolio is 25-50 images.  Some pages could have multiple images on the same page, this can be appealing to design agencies and magazines who are used to looking at images as stories rather than singular images. 
• I will make sure all images within my Portfolio are kept to a similar theme and are right for the viewer or client I can potentially show to, and will only show my best work.  
• Making sure the Images flow well is important too, should have a beginning, a middle and end.  Its sometimes good to include strong work at the end as well as the beginning. 
• My Portfolio should be updated regularly as I want to give the impression I am constantly working on new projects and new imagery to keep it looking fresh.  

Lecture Content Responses

Lecture Content - My Critical Responses

I wanted to include the Lecture context so that I could give my own views and critical responses to each of the individually. Through out my lectures I have been shown information about The Professional Practitioner and The Law, The Business of photography and Marketing the Practitioner, which have included topics such as Copyrights, Moral Rights, Contract Law, Going Freelance, Company Set-up Considerations, Portfolios to Paperwork, Agents and Associations.  I have also been shown how to Apply for Funding.  All of these things are extremely important to me as a Photographer, so I will need to take all into consideration when continuing my Career after university.

Copy Rights & Moral Rights

This lecture held some very important information that is something that every photographer needs to understand.  I know that it is quite heavy stuff when it comes down to copyrights and rights, and if I learn all of it by heart then I should be able to make sure nothing bad happens to any of my images in the future.  Moral Rights are an integral part of copyright law. Moral rights emphasis is to maintain the integrity and honesty of a piece of work, rather than protecting its economic value.  Moral rights are personal to the photographer and cannot be transferred to someone else, unlike copyright which can be assigned.  I learnt that moral rights and copyrights last for the whole of the photographers life plus 70 years after death.  Copyright comes down to the rights in which the photographer must know in able to deal with them. Ideas are not protected by copyright as they are only 'products of the mind'. I will not assign copyright to anyone at all for any of my images, if I do so i will loose all Control of what happens to the images.  I am careful and take all this into consideration at any job. 

Going Freelance & Self Employment

I know already roughly how to store everything if Self employed. I know from people I know with their own business's.  But learning about each step is very helpful, registering for self assessment, record keeping of business records, such as cashbooks, invoices, bank statements, receipts of purchases etc. People like my mum who is an accountant has told me how everything is kept for a minimum of 7 years so it is something I will always do. 

Company Set-ups & Starting a Business

I have already started to set up a business and created all medias necessary, I have reached out as a brand and have got quite a number of customers willing to be clients,  but there is much more to do to really get the business up and running.  I need to research my market even more and identify potential customers.  Finding partners in business I have already partly done with my sister who is a Graphic Designer and Photo Editor, she designed my logo for my brand. Funding is also something I could consider.  Understanding my markets competition and picking the target has done but I would prefer to aim to a young adult audience. My marketing message includes what my brand is like, along with the behaviour, personality and values I care about. 

I have quite a few different Marketing Media's but I would like to extend and create more within the near future. I have medias such as a website, business cards, word and mouth, leaflets, networking, and e-mail, but hopefully once I finish university I can branch out even more and produce advertorials, posters, brochures, enter more competitions, newsletters and articles.  And door to door leaflet drop is something I should do as well as window displays.  All medias to get my photography brand out there, i just need to be a little more prepared first. 

Business Planning involves things such as Profit, Cash-Flow, Pricing, and the Pricing Policy.  If I choose to develop of my Business as part of this project then I will Include all of these things within the live brief.