ARD604- Creative Futures 3 (Desires and Inspirations)

As a final year university student studying Photography and Film Production, I learned a lot about myself and my path in the world of photography. For example, I not only discovered through my time studying that the areas I excel in are fashion based portraiture and conceptual portraiture photography, but I learned how to apply new photographic techniques to my everyday practice and how to improve the skills I already had. Over the past few years, I also had the pleasure to experience dabbling in multiple previously unexplored areas such as experimental films and street photography, which I also really enjoyed. I'd say that previously I didn't particularly have any experience in film production, and whilst it was very interesting to learn about, taking this course definitely helped me to understand that photography was where my interests lay. However, some video based projects were very enjoyable to create, and helped me to develop a new hobby.

Within 1 year, I would like to be doing paid portraiture frequently, with a possible internship or apprenticeship which I have been working on setting up for myself after I graduate from university. My goals for a year from now I'd describe as being pretty realistic. I hope to earn my degree and take my time figuring out my way around the industry so that I can choose my next step with a little more sense of direction.

Within 5 years, business wise I would ideally be working as a digital marketer/social media manager for well known companies and taking photographs to promote fashion brands. On the side, I would also like to see myself with a thriving photography business taking on about 5 clients a month. I would really like to be specifically focused on fashion based portraiture as I already know this is what my true love is. I plan to always focus on growing creatively and technically and if I had to pick one big goal it would be having my time management and life balance a little more figured out by then. Ideally, I'd love to be keeping as busy as possible with the work I love doing. I would love to be as successful as I can manage but I'm sure that's what everyone hopes for. Only the future will tell.

3 Photographers I would say inspired me who are at the top of their game in my opinion are Rankin

Fabrizio Cestari

and Nadav Kander

who are all fashion and portraiture photographers. Looking at the websites of the following photographers, their sites are generally neat, highlighting a few main images on the homepage with their contact info easily accessible by a button and all of the information being easy to find. They market themselves with a simple biography, photographs from commissions and by using folders from each area they are working in. Their social medias mostly consist of photographs from their work, promotion of interviews that they have been in and likes and retweets from shoots they have participated in.

3 contemporary photographers I have been inspired by would include King StudioPhotoshop,

Ian Lim

and Joe Morgan.

These photographers have their sites consisting of some of their photography separated into folders, a small biography, a few features and contact info clearly highlighted.