Life after University

As a first year degree student, trying to earn a living in my chosen field of photography seems a lifetime away. One of our current modules, Professional Development, forces you to imagine the reality of forging a career in this very competitive industry. Unlike the majority of vocational degrees, the competition seems almost endless. You wouldn't consider yourself a nurse without a nursing degree, but just about everyone considers themselves a photographer to one extent or another. People are often surprised that I am doing a degree in photography and I am constantly justifying how I will be spending the next three years "learning how to press a button"!

I am a mature student with a young family, so the sacrifices of study effects the whole family. As a result, I feel under even more pressure to make real use of my degree and make the sacrifices worthwhile. I was interested to see how a recent graduate, with similar personal circumstances, had fared.

                                            

Rachael Lowndes, left Surrey University with a First and a prestigious AOP student award, having won the Judges Choice for the above image. It is hard to imagine a better footing from which to launch your career. From our conversations, I found her advice and experience to be really insightful and her area of interest is akin to my own, documentary/editorial. Rachael tells of a "chicken and egg" situation when seeking commissions, "Editors want to see a proven track record before they trust you but without that first job you can't give them proof" Again, documentary takes time and funding to do it well, and securing funding is difficult without an established reputation. It really is a case of perseverance, keeping momentum, and building up a decent and diverse portfolio to show potential clients.

It is vital that you do not become despondent if you don't hear back after the initial contact, remain in touch and keep forwarding on new work. Hopefully your persistence will pay dividends and an editor will be prepared to take a chance on an unknown rather than the tried and tested. It is important to be self motivated and have belief in your own abilities; these pictures editors would not even be opening their doors if Rachael wasn't an interesting and accomplished photographer.

                     

Rachael feels that it is her Almshouse project that differentiates her and has opened doors. This photobook is the end result of a university project on the residents of "The Hospital of the Blessed Trinity" in Guildford. It is an almshouse which provides housing for the elderly with limited means, allowing the residents to "live independently but within a sociable and supportive communal environment". Personally, I am constantly disappointed and ashamed at how our society disregards the elderly. As a result we miss out on the wonderful contribution they still have to make, the life experiences that we know nothing about and will soon be lost forever. I find these images beautifully poetic, providing a real insight into the lives of her subjects. Rachael has captured all elements, the beautiful architecture of the Jacobean Grade 1 Listed building in which they live, compassionate portraits of the residents and still lives of the their surroundings and possessions. It is a wonderful tribute to a slower pace of life, a life winding down. Rachael uses this book as a calling card, another useful tip that I will definitely use if I manage to produce something as effectual as Almshouse.

 

I wish Rachael every success in her future career. I look forward to seeing her own photobook in the bookshops in the not too distant future!