Evaluation

Customer Feedback- Tamar Valley Westerners
I had some amazing feedback from the group, they were pleased and interested to see what I knew about photography. They were also very cooperative with having there images taken and were very supportive to get the images I was after. I was asked to come back with images after they had gone through the editing process and had been printed. I had to have finals printed for my Final Major Project so I used them and took them to the leader of the Westerners. It was very hard to read his reaction at first because there wasn't one, he just looked intently at the images asked a few questions on how they were edited which apart from the basic slightly brighter or darker, there wasn't any. He then asked how much they were printed which I told him, he then asked how much I would sell them individually. I had never been asked this before, I wasn't prepared which made me instantly panic and worry. I needed to make a good return from printing the images so I said £10 a print. He then said right from each person that's in the images I will get them to pay £10 for a print maybe two just as long as I can use these images for a poster and if people wonder where they got the images from I will fully credit you. I instantly agreed as I have never never sold that many prints before and would be good experience on what people would be willing to pay for future sales. As soon as they saw the prints they thought they were superb and instantly wanted to buy them. I made orders for a further 8 prints. To make sure the images got to them safely I put them into clear sleeves so they looked more professional then just handing over a rolled up print. They were very pleased to have had there own copy of the images from that night and thought the £10 a print was very reasonable. This has been the greatest experience so far as I have had further orders for more prints and even starting to charge different prices for different sizes. The most popular has been A3 for £10 as they like the images taken, printed and presented professional so it's something special that they want to put in a frame and have in their home. To have the feedback that they want to put it in their homes in frames gave me the confidence boost I needed to see if I could do this as a career in freelance photography. This is still on going because I've been asked if I'm coming back setting up a mini studio as some want even more prints. I will be doing it again but at a later date when I'm not so busy with college work.

The overall experience from work based learning project has really helped me to define what a freelance photographer does and what is involved. It has made me see the equipment that I am going to need if I am to be a freelance photographer and give me confidence in talking to people. Getting to know the students on the BA year has given me a real insight into what is needed for the next year (even though I'm now terrified but excited!) just wish I could have gained more from experience from the exhibition. I was wondering whether this course of work would actually be useful for my future, but it turns out it was one of the most valuable for my learning. From it I have a greater understanding of business, work ethic and talking confidence to people.

Childrens Shoot

If I am to be a freelance photographer I need to be able to photograph a wide range of images including child portraiture. I used my niece as a model to practice but need to consider better lighting on the face to really brighten it up so you can see more detail around the eyes. Softer lighting needs to be used to soften the child's face and need to be careful on where I focus. I was quite fortunate to photograph her as she is very photogenic and loves to pose in front of the camera. I have taught her to not be afraid in front of cameras, to stay very still and to pose how she feels comfortable. It's like having my own personal model that knows exactly what I want and knows how to act like a model in front of the camera. At the moment im teaching her to refine her hands, so bringing her fingers together so there not spaced out, how to hold her hair and whether to have eye contact with the camera or not. She does find it a bit confusing when I tell her not to look at the camera because she thinks she needs to look at it all the time for the image. She is still a child though and won't stay still in the same pose for long which really helps to manage my time with her to get what I want quickly, in a limited time.

Carnglaze Caverns Assisted Shoot

I had the opportunity to assist Eileen Long, a photographer studying towards her BA (Hons), with a shoot that raises awareness in breast cancer. It was too be shot at Carnglaze Caverns a place where slates used to be mined. When we got there the lighting was already set up at the locations where she needed to photograph the women. Our job was too make sure the women got up and down the stairs ok, that they weren't cold and to hold any jackets or hats between shoots. Even though I was only holding and showing people it was still an amazing experience. The scale of such a shoot was amazing to see and even better to be apart of. The various use of equipment to make sure everything was well lit inside was incredible but because it had to be photographed in section then edited together it had to be well organised so the timing, positioning and camera had to be perfect. Nothing was allowed to be out of place so there was a lot of responsibility and pressure. Would not have liked to have felt the pressure of what the photographer was feeling because she couldn't go back and do it again.

It was good to get to know the other students that I haven't yet talked to on the BA year but it was the women that I enjoyed talking to. They each had there own story to tell of what happened most finding that telling their family to be the most devastating. It was a shock at first when I saw the amount of women coming into the room of all age and size. To think that they had each been through something so horrific and yet you wouldn't they had if you had just passed them in the street. It was amazing to talk to different people and the experience of seeing such a large scale shoot was incredible. I was really pleased to be part of such a good team no matter how small the job was.

Confederate Shoot

As with the United States Shoot I did the same with the Confederate side. The flags really make the image as it represents what side they are on and brings out the colour on the uniform. The Red, White and Blue are very patriotic colours making it stronger.

United States Shoot

I decided to use the flags and place them behind the subjects. This created a much stronger image which creates a patriotic feel to it. It also makes the background more interesting without distracting the attention away from the soldiers. 

Trilogy

This is the Tamar Valley Westerners Trilogy which honours the fallen soldiers and re-enacts the Confederates Surrender to the United States. There is only a limited time to take photographs because its not a long ceremony but it was great to capture and brilliant experience to make imagery to look interesting while not getting in the peoples way. 

FMP- Shoot one

Here is a collection from the first shoot I did with the Tamar Valley Westerners. I set up my own portable studio for the first time and thought it was an invaluable experience. I am now more prepared for set up with the timing involved and how much space they can take up. I would also set up the studio differently as I would not peg the backdrop to the side of the poles, I would have another pole across the top and have it draped down to avoid creases. I also had a few of the models suggest positions relating to the war and telling me their characters and shows. This helped them to relax so they weren't so stiff in the images.