SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES USEFUL TO POST
- Time management – I have been involved in several exhibitions – both group and solo - and have found that being organised is key! to arrive at a deadline on time – setting achievable targets on a daily, weekly and monthly basis written up on the wall and in a diary so that I minimize the chances of forgetting to complete something or running out of time to do so.
- People skills – being able to talk to anyone regardless of age or gender and finding a way to work with those people, whether I like them or not – I have carried out a number of projects which have involved shooting with models – some more difficult than others - so have had to work with all kinds of people but have always found a way to arrive at a compromise on ideas which allows everyone to remain content
WHY WANT TO WORK FOR ORGANISATION?
- I have lived in Scotland for the past 11 years and love the country especially the Highland Landscape and I think I encompass that atmosphere within the images I make. I have a unique approach to image making and having worked in both landscape photography, portraiture, and studio-based work, I would love to enhance my skills by working for a prestigious organisation such as yourselves.
SOMETHING READ RECENTLY ABOUT ORGANISATION
- I read the monthly blog posts on your website and was particularly interested in last December’s post which was about Tweed: what it is and how to wear it – I love textiles and especially tweed and have a love for the Outer Hebrides so am fascinated in the history behind it all – so that’s what drew me to the article. – but I was disappointed with the images used within it – they felt very staged and over edited and it was then that I had an urge to want to join the team and be able to make a visible difference in the organisation
PROVIDER DIDN’T TURN UP FOR WORKSHOP
- I would run the event anyway just without the provider – there would be a much greater loss in cancelling the event all together so I would just rearrange timings and the website or posters to let people know that that workshop wouldn’t be happening but that there are still a number of other ones they can join in with.
WHAT TO DO FOR SHORT WORKSHOP
- Depending on the type of event I would tailor my workshop to fit that – but I think it would be something technical and hands-on so give a short talk and show some examples of good studio portraiture and then have a number of cameras and get the participants to take some studio style portraits of each other and then we can get them up on a big screen and have a mini crit at the end
TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE TO SOLVE PROBLEM
- Adobe CC – Studio lighting – Microsoft – canon – Nikon
ENSURE NOTHING GOES WRONG
- Always take a spare camera, sd cards, batteries when out on location shoots – work off an equipment tick list – test all equipment before the model shows up so that you don’t waste time when they arrive – plan each shoot really well in advance of the actual shooting day
PART OF A SUCCESSFUL TEAM – ROLE – ACHIEVEMENT
- I’m currently working with a group of 20 students towards a degree show – as part of the leadership team I’ve been involved in a lot of the time management and organisation of the show to date – ive been taking the minutes for all the meetings and then been feeding these back to lecturers and other students. I’ve also been working as part of the design team for the show and have been greatly involved with designing a logo and group aesthetic and am currently working on an exhibition booklet.
BUILD ENTHUSIASM IN OTHERS
- I make every effort to always walk into any situation with a smile on my face and with a positive attitude and this tends to rub off on others too – being a student ambassador has really helped me to grow the skills to be able to exude enthusiasm – I have been there with people when they are visiting campus for the first time and waiting for an interview and have been able to speak to them positively about my experiences at uni to help reassure them and calm them down
DIFFICULT SITUATION
- I have just recently moved house – it was a cross country move during my final semester of uni and during covid - so it was a rather stressful time but I remained positive, and I love the great outdoors so I tend to take a long walk when things get tough
COMPLEX PROJECT
- In my first semester of second year at uni I had three complex projects on the go at the same time – to begin with I thought I had bitten off more than I could chew but I organised my time and divided up the weeks I had before the deadline so that I gave each project equal attention – I keep a diary and set daily, weekly and monthly targets that are achievable so that I can mentally tick them off so that I feel like I’m getting somewhere. – the result was three projects handed in before the deadline and I received 85% for them so it paid off.
ANALYSE COMPLEX INFORMATION
- I chose to focus my dissertation on the role photography plays in helping to redefine the concept of wilderness as a sublime ideal for contemporary society – so I was dealing with a number of theoretic studies and pieces of academic writing in order to produce my own take on the subject matter – I read a number of sources and books and made notes in the process and then set aside the time to collate those notes and took some long walks to think through my own understandings before writing the final piece.
GOOD WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS
- I have been taking the minutes for all the degree show meetings from January to present – so they need to be easily readable but still convey all the points discussed within the meetings - I then relay these back to those who couldn’t attend and to the lecturers also.
AWARENESS OF EVENS AFFECTING COMPANY
- Covid must have had a huge effect on the organisation – in the lack of visitors to the Perthshire site but perhaps a rise in online sales.
MORE THAN DUTY – PROVIDE A GOOD SERVICE
- As part of a small team I have been running a Student Christian Union for the past two years and during covid I have continued that on Zoom with a weekly meet up and there have been a number of new faces and first years who have really benefitted from the sense of community and been able to make friends in such a strange time for everyone.
CONTRIBUTED TO A SERVICE OR BUSINESS
- I was the official post-race photographer for the charity Shelter at the 2017 GNR and the following year I did the same thing for the charity MHA – it was great to be using and building my skills to benefit such worthwhile charities
Q 1 – You’re situated on an 11-acre site in Perthshire, what’s the scope for location shoots? – Do you mainly shoot in Perthshire or do you tend to send your team further afield as well?
Q 2 – You’re a family-owned business – as an active member of your photography team would I feel like part of a close community/family?