Year Two - Professional and Contextual Studies 2
A Portfolio (professional file) weighted at 45%, a Journal weighted at 10%, A Dev Plan weighted at 45%
In response to the visit to the photography studio I did ask year two Foundation Degree students to write a 'Portfolio' based on all the information gleaned and images that you may of taken whilst there along with images of their work copied from their website..I want anyone who hasn't written a professional portfolio to do so.(as covered in a previous blog entry). Look at how the course marking is 'weighted' in accordance with the different learning outcomes.
In the context of this I also want you to put together a 'Business Plan' (or if you like a portfolio about you and how you see yourself operating as a photographer, what clients are you aiming to work with,what services you would like to offer, and for how much.
Location is key to providing any service and this also needs to be considered, where and how you could operate a business from a certain location maybe opposed to another, pros and cons, etc.. I will expect you for formulate a concise business plan with extended information regarding brand and identity and your potential 'position' within the current industry
Remember Assessment One is a Portfolio of evidence of participation in professional activities relating to leadership and management, with associated commentary (45%Learning Outcome 1).
Within this you should consider the following;
Exploring professional responsibilities and the qualities required for leadership and management.This supports personal development in specialist pathway, offering the opportunity to investigate processes and skills associated with positions of responsibility in the workplace and associated legal, ethical and practical constraints.
Students should experience professional situations such as interviews, bidding for funding, responding to government strategies, action planning, liaising with clients, responding to complaints, financial planning including taxation and risk assessments.
Please compare and contrast both your plans and the 'portfolio' of Adrian's photography studio because the same will apply to you, as to him, but on a different scale and to varying degrees. In this way you can meet all the outcome requirements for this course.
It would also be important for you to consider potential turnover per month and year based upon some sensible projects from the services that you will provide. For example are you going to be doing;
Weddings, Portraits, Advertising, Editorial, PR, Commercial, Architectural, Fashion, etc..etc.. For each area I would expect to see data concerning all potential overheads, Taxation, VAT, Rent, Rates, Utilities bills, Staff, Kit and Equipment, Studio overheads, along with projected Salary and the potential diversification into different areas of photography.
These are all part of the requirement of writing a thorough and professional portfolio of information in the context of how you yourself can operate viably as a photographer within this competitive industry.
You should all be working on projects that involve clients of some description in respect to the 'Client Response' brief that you all should be continuing with. Finding and working with clients, negotiating with them and generating successful images should be happening. If this isn't the case and you are struggling to find clients in an area of photography, then you must reflect upon how much effort have you put into finding them.
Photography is a tough industry as I am sure you are all aware, but you must generate that momentum now in a very clear and concise manner because I know in a year or two all of you will be looking to work independently or within a small team or company.
Finding clients and working with them will be down to you on your own very soon so this practice is vital in order to get that vital experience now.
The images that you are taking should be practice shoots that will build your portfolio in an area of your specialism, ie if you want to be a fashion photographer you should be shooting test images all the time in order to be ready when that 'phone call' comes. Never stand still and wait for work to come and drop in your lap as it wont.
Assessment Two: A substantial written response in an appropriate format associated with a planning need, eg funding bid, strategic planning, training programme, etc..(45%) Learning Outcome 2.
This is being covered by the exhibition being held later in the year alongside the first years.
