Molly Baigent
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Setting up a Zoom meeting for a photoshoot

28/4/2021

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During the Coronavirus pandemic we have been forced into an entirely new world of video calls and social media. Zoom has become a household name and has been used for both personal and professional reasons. 

While producing my project, 'Curtains Down' I relied very heavily upon zoom as this was my line to connect with the people I was photographing. I did two test shoots with friends to really consider as to how this project would work. For the first one, I asked the model to join on their phone and I photographed my iPad. Once this shoot was complete, I quickly realised that I needed as much light as possible to produce the best images as that particular shoot was shot in the evening with minimal light inside both of our houses. Next, moving on from this, I set up my final test shoot with another friend and instead asked if we could create the work during the day and instead of using my iPad, I photographed both my computer and TV which Dramatically increased the quality. 

After consulting with many different people, I eventually felt as though I had enough people to be part of the project, in order for it to be successful. 

I liased with my models and ensured we agreed a date and time which suited them best. I then set up individual, scheduled zoom meetings for the models to join, along with asking all of the models to join on the zoom app on their phones as I found that the latest phone cameras are a much better quality than web cams, along with being easier to move around, too.

I do believe that Zoom was in fact the best option for this project as I knew it would be more reliable than other calling platforms as long as myself and the person on the other end of the call kept a stable connection to wifi. I had some hiccups with my wifi but I did expect that. 
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Test shoot 1- Megan
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Test Shoot 2- Emma
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How do you do a virtual photoshoot?

28/4/2021

 
As my main focus this year has been creating virtual photoshoots, I have come to learn ways as to how to effectively do it with minimal grain. I was fortunate in that I had access to a full frame camera and a Mac which did massively help in terms of quality. I also experimented with photographing both the screen on my Mac and also connecting my computer to the TV and Photographing said TV. 

My biggest tips for photographing a virtual photoshoot are:
  • Shoot in RAW
  • Maximise the amount of light in both your space and your model's space
  • Ask the model to join the call via their phone as I have found that this gives you a better picture than a computer camera
  • Work with your model to find the best poses and light. Light is your friend but too much of it will make your picture over exposed which is something you unfortunately cannot really rectify in post as having a bright spot on the models face is dealt with by using reflectors when you are there shooting in person
  • Use manual focus if you can and ensure your settings cater for minimising the lines which are present on the screen. Try and find that balance
  • Accept that your images will not have the most perfect focus but roll with what you have and do your best

The Role of Social Media

28/4/2021

 
Throughout my degree, I have been an active user of social media for both personal and professional use. 

As I have moved through my degree, my need and use for the photography Instagram account I set up in 2017, along with my Facebook page, and linked in has slowly increased in value to me. As time has progressed, I have utilised my instagram account much more than I ever did before my degree. I never knew what to post or how to approach it, and quite honestly did not have the confidence to sell myself and market myself and my work as a business. 

After photographing my photo book for my second year work, I have been incredibly fortunate to build a small following of people on instagram. As a result of my involvement with the those in the musical theatre industry, I have photographed certain people in a show and have then been able to ask whether they would model as part of my final year work. Thus keeping the networks I initiate. My approach with contacting people is sometimes email but often lies with instagram messages. This is incredibly useful to me and I believe will continue to be useful for many years as my instagram grows due to it's sheer ease of use. 

Instagram Itself is something I have found to be my main social platform which I use over Facebook and other platforms because of the ability to share my pictures easily and on an account which is much more simplistic to access. I also hugely enjoy using techniques such as using polls and me actually going on the account and talking to the camera on the stories to relate to my audience. It may not have a huge affect now but It always helps with the idea of running yourself as a business and growth within this, which I believes needs to contain your approach to providing something which the viewer is interested in tuning in to. 
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16th October 2016
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28th April 2021

Solo Interim Exhibition

28/4/2021

 
Due to our inability as a year group to meet in person as a result of the ongoing pandemic, we had to produce our interim exhibitions through digital means this year. We opted to use a website called 'art steps' which has different scenarios and pre made exhibition spaces online for you to utilise and add your work to the walls. 

I chose the use of one picture per person I had photographed, creating consistency and some sense of direction, too. Alongside the pictures on my exhibition walls, I had also written a brief artist statement about the work which I included straight in front of you on the back wall as you viewed the space. The 'untitled' title was a space holder as at that point, I hadn't decided on a name for the project. In addition, only 7 of the 8 women I photographed were part of the exhibition as I still had the 8th person to photograph.

Of course the use of virtual exhibitions is useful for the time being, especially for practice with sequencing. However, I fear that this technique of working doesn't give us the true insight into producing a real exhibition in person. We have some disconnect, I feel. On the flipside of this, for the purpose of using the exhibition for educational purposes, we work together in a much more collaborative sense as a group when viewing and feeding back on each other's work. Artsteps did, however, give us as photographers the chance to be more creative with our set ups.


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My Final Major Project- 'Curtains Down'

27/4/2021

 
Curtains Down is a project I have been developing and producing throughout my final year at university. 'Curtains Down' is a term used in the theatre industry to signify that a show is over  since when the curtness are down and closed, a show is not currently occurring or the show has finished. This Project shows female performers in their own home environment, all dressed up to the nines but essentially no place to go.

I gained a keen interest into photographing musical theatre shows and performers in the second year of my degree when creating my photo book for a project. I photographed all of the work for this photobook, a few weeks before the world completely shut down due to the Coronavirus pandemic. In addition to businesses completely halting at the beginning of the pandemic, theatres are something which have had a huge hit both financially and emotionally for the performers and businesses within. Many of those featured in my project have had very very little work this past year and could only dream of being back on a stage again. Everything is still incredibly uncertain. 

Unfortunately, a year on, we are still battling said pandemic but when it came to the production of my final major project, this didn't stop my creativity levels and ideas from running high. I still wanted to work with musical theatre performers and opted to use a video calling platform called 'Zoom' which has been popular this last year to photograph the performers through my computer screen with a camera, while they posed at the other end. I organised and sourced the performers myself.

It has been an incredibly enlightening and refreshing experience to test a new technique and essentially move with the times to try some new things. The experience has been truly invaluable to me and my craft. It is something which I hope to keep with me as a possible new technique even when things do go back to normal. 

Please see the 'Curtains Down' tab within the 'gallery' to see the work produced for this project. 

Nicole Jopek Question and Answer

27/4/2021

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During Nicole's lecture, we had the opportunity to ask her various different questions about her work and the industry. The following are some of the questions we asked, along with some tips she gave, too.

  • Make sure you can see the garment in a way that the customer can see what they are buying (in relation to fashion photography, while photographing products in a studio environment)
  • Use a macro lens where possible for beauty photography (helps pick up on details)
  • Be as open to different work as possible- "always accept the job and figure it out later"
  • Shoot as much as possible
  • It is all about communication
  • Use frequency separation and dodge and burn for retouching
  • Shoot at highest resolution, just in case work ends up being used for print
  • Ask what the deadlines are
  • Deliver Early
  • Under promise over deliver on odd occasion
  • Experiment and jeep trying- It isn't an easy industry

How to charge and develop rates
  • Different rate based on frequency and location
  • Can charge more for London
  • Set day rate, make client pay for hotel
  • Based on client for client
  • Day rate and retouching are different rates

Do you use a particular set of lenses?
  • Canon 5D MK4
  • Canon macro 100mm
  • Canon 70-200mm- anything else/ close up 
  • Canon 24-70mm for group shots & fashion
  • Invest in kit
  • Rental is a cheap way of testing lens'
  • Has a back up camera, too

How do you build a genuine following with comments?
  • 90% of work comes through instagram
  • Keep updating- 1x a day or 3x a week (on social media- Instagram)
  • Show work on website
  • Preview for instagram arrangement
  • Make socials look nice
  • Go outside of the box once in a while
  • Become friends with people in the industry
  • Support your friends in the industry and they will reciprocate and support you
  • Keep in touch

What do you tether to?
  • Capture one

What do you use for retouching?
  • Photoshop
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Nicole Jopek Lecture Review

27/4/2021

 
Nicole is a fashion and beauty photographer along with being a retoucher, too. She has produced work for the likes of the women's luxury formal wear and dress company, Nadine Merabi and is currently based in Huddersfield since graduating from Huddersfield University on the photography course a number of years ago. 

The approach Nicole has is to work with digital photography means and creates a large amount of commercial and promotional work for well known makeup brands such as HD brows who often don't actually want retouching done on their images, which is a huge advancement as far as the industry is concerned as retouching and changing peoples bodies through photoshop has always been a prevalent element to the photography and beauty industry.

Along with working with brands, Nicole also produces work alongside boss models, a modelling agency, too. 

The work Nicole produces truly inspires me in my craft and journey as her work, in my opinion is impeccably well shot and edited. It naturally encourages me to think as to what she has done to produce this level of work and drives me to learn as to how I could create my own work to this level, too.
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Jopek, N Editorial work for Nadine Merabi
www.nicolejopek.com/nadine-merabi

Silvana Trevale Question and Answer

26/4/2021

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During a lecture by Silvana, we had the opportunity to ask her questions both related to her craft and her life as a photographer. She begun the lecture with tips for us which included the following.
  • Make the most of opportunities
    • Trips
    • Courses
  • Follow your intuition
  • Take your camera wherever you go, when you can
  • Consistency is key
  • Use your unique skills
  • Partake in competitions and proposals
  • Find creatives/clients who share your vision

Did you struggle to articulate your practice (blog posts)?
  • Still struggles abit but th edgy is to find something you like to write about and write things down
  • The more you talk about your work, the more you understand it

How to approach models/hair and makeup artists for tests?
  • Work with people who are starting up
  • Instagram is the best
  • Jadore model agency in Manchester, boss model management
    • Create a mood board to send to the agent 
  • Approach through instagram message

Is there anything I can be doing to make myself look more established in product and commercial work?
  • Put personal work on own
  • Don't post constantly - very two weeks and only post best work

Tips for working with musicians
  • Music industry likes moving image
  • be humble

How to prepare for portfolio reviews
  • Don't use plastic sheets
  • Matte/semi gloss
  • Edit and organise work in proper order
  • Online portfolio website

Tips for getting your foot in the door when graduating
  • Get website and instagram ready
  • Portfolio reviews
  • Test a lot of fashion
  • Tell model agencies you want to work with models 
  • Mood board
  • Vogue Italia do free portfolio reviews
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Silvana Trevale

26/4/2021

 
Silvana originates from Venezuela, but moved to the UK to study at Huddersfield University and is now an alumni of the photography course. She does some commercial work and personal projects, both while using film as the primary way of shooting. Since graduating from the course, Silvana has been incredibly successful and boasts experience photographing a range of celebrities. The piece of work she produced which particularly drew me into her work were her images she took of the singer Anne-Marie as this kind of live performance and portraiture photography is what I would really like to delve into. 
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Trevale, S via Instagram

Sian Bonnell Lecture Review

26/4/2021

 
Sian is an experimental photographer using creative and surrealist approaches to her work while photographing not only people but inanimate objects. Her lecture was full of advice which I found to be very useful. Some of these included what is mentioned below.

  • 'Hiccups and problems are your friends'
  • If you aren't loving/enjoying what you're doing, stop and do something you enjoy
  • Your camera becomes your partner in crime
  • Tungsten + daylight = deep blue colour
  • Don't worry if you fall off or have a dip where you feel uninspired and don't produce work
  • No matter how daft your ideas, just give them a go
  • Enter competitions and portfolio reviews

Overall, Sian's work did stick with me as being hugely experimental, but she also encouraged a very forgiving, understanding, and practical approach to us when giving advice. I really enjoyed her positive mindset, too.
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Bonnell, S
www.sianbonnell.com
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