And so the end is near and we face the final curtain…..
Well not quite, but the end of my FDA is just 7 months away and the time has come for me to ask and answer the question… What next? Where do I take me photography?
As much as this has been a quick decision that yes I want to continue with my education and complete the BA Hons Creative Industries at Newcastle College, I have found myself looking more in-depth at what i want to get out of that and what is my 1year, 3 year and 5 year goals for Michelle Mercer Photography. Sad to say i don't have time on my side, as during the next 13 months i will celebrate my 40th birthday (ahhh, i said it out loud and put it in writing). I have been working at a photographer focusing on family portraiture and specialising in children, but is that really what i want to do long term.
So over the last week i have been looking at the avenues that are open to me:
1. Stay in Education
2. Self-employed Photographer
3. Photographer and Assistant to another studio or photographer
My long term aim is to become a Full time professional photographer for Michelle Mercer Photography and have a studio called "StudioM"
As much as this has been a quick decision that yes I want to continue with my education and complete the BA Hons Creative Industries at Newcastle College, I have found myself looking more in-depth at what i want to get out of that and what is my 1year, 3 year and 5 year goals for Michelle Mercer Photography. Sad to say i don't have time on my side, as during the next 13 months i will celebrate my 40th birthday (ahhh, i said it out loud and put it in writing). I have been working at a photographer focusing on family portraiture and specialising in children, but is that really what i want to do long term.
So over the last week i have been looking at the avenues that are open to me:
1. Stay in Education
2. Self-employed Photographer
3. Photographer and Assistant to another studio or photographer
My long term aim is to become a Full time professional photographer for Michelle Mercer Photography and have a studio called "StudioM"
STAYING IN EDUCATION
To study or not to study? This is an increasingly difficult question, and particularly pertinent for professional photographers. With the increase of university fees in recent years, many have been put off by the idea of studying altogether.
Options that are available are:
1. University
The BA(Hons) Creative Enterprise – Digital Media (Top up) is delivered in partnership with Teesside University.
Duration: one year full time, two years part time
cost : £5800
This one year full time or two year part time top up programme will provide you with a BA (Hons) qualification in Digital Media (encompassing Animation, Illustration, Web Design, Graphic Design, Advertising, and Photography).
The focus of the degree is to prepare you for employment within your chosen industry and to open up opportunities for employment in the creative industries, arts and education sectors more generally.
You will be asked to propose, plan, develop and realise a portfolio of work that has the potential to carry you forward into sustainable employment after completing the course.
This puts you very much in the driving seat. You will graduate with a toolkit of skills – personal, professional, technical and academic – that will help you to generate and respond to degree related employment opportunities.
A key feature of the degree is the chance to collaborate with students from other creative disciplines so that you can innovate, network and develop entrepreneurial skills.
Overall we encourage you to think of the BA (Hons) as your first year in industry which is why the course is also suitable for practitioners seeking accreditation of prior learning.
An example of a course that really excited me:
LONDON COLLEGE OF FASHION - (BA HONS) Fashion Photograhy
duration: Three years full-time
cost: £9000 per year
The prospectus says: Thinking outside the box this course is ideal for those who not only hunger for the glamour of catwalk couture images. Studying advertising campaigns and creative designer look-books. Students have the opportunity to take part in industry collaborations, with recent projects seeing students work with River Island, Elizabeth Arden, English National Ballet and the Richard Young Gallery.
My Thoughts: What a great course should i want to pursue a fashion photographer career, however with a young family all based in the North East of England I am unable to return to London
2. Workshops on Online Pathways
Runs everything from evening seminars to full time professional photography courses.
3. The Accreditation Trail
British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP)
The Master Photography Association (MPA)
The Royal Photographic Society (RPS)
Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP)
There are a number of reason why to join one of the associations, but primarily it is to say to the world " I am a qualified professional photographer" You can create a website overnight and fill it with images that you have taken with friends and family but I want a sense of distinction from the part-time market as i move forward in my career as a Pro photographer full time, that is why i am a registered member of the
Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP) and The Guild of Photographers. Regularly entering competitions and winning awards.
Options that are available are:
1. University
The BA(Hons) Creative Enterprise – Digital Media (Top up) is delivered in partnership with Teesside University.
Duration: one year full time, two years part time
cost : £5800
This one year full time or two year part time top up programme will provide you with a BA (Hons) qualification in Digital Media (encompassing Animation, Illustration, Web Design, Graphic Design, Advertising, and Photography).
The focus of the degree is to prepare you for employment within your chosen industry and to open up opportunities for employment in the creative industries, arts and education sectors more generally.
You will be asked to propose, plan, develop and realise a portfolio of work that has the potential to carry you forward into sustainable employment after completing the course.
This puts you very much in the driving seat. You will graduate with a toolkit of skills – personal, professional, technical and academic – that will help you to generate and respond to degree related employment opportunities.
A key feature of the degree is the chance to collaborate with students from other creative disciplines so that you can innovate, network and develop entrepreneurial skills.
Overall we encourage you to think of the BA (Hons) as your first year in industry which is why the course is also suitable for practitioners seeking accreditation of prior learning.
An example of a course that really excited me:
LONDON COLLEGE OF FASHION - (BA HONS) Fashion Photograhy
duration: Three years full-time
cost: £9000 per year
The prospectus says: Thinking outside the box this course is ideal for those who not only hunger for the glamour of catwalk couture images. Studying advertising campaigns and creative designer look-books. Students have the opportunity to take part in industry collaborations, with recent projects seeing students work with River Island, Elizabeth Arden, English National Ballet and the Richard Young Gallery.
My Thoughts: What a great course should i want to pursue a fashion photographer career, however with a young family all based in the North East of England I am unable to return to London
2. Workshops on Online Pathways
- The London School of Photography (LPS)
Runs everything from evening seminars to full time professional photography courses.
- Aspire
3. The Accreditation Trail
British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP)
The Master Photography Association (MPA)
The Royal Photographic Society (RPS)
Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP)
There are a number of reason why to join one of the associations, but primarily it is to say to the world " I am a qualified professional photographer" You can create a website overnight and fill it with images that you have taken with friends and family but I want a sense of distinction from the part-time market as i move forward in my career as a Pro photographer full time, that is why i am a registered member of the
Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP) and The Guild of Photographers. Regularly entering competitions and winning awards.