Nadia Ryder / Third Year @nadiaryder1 - Tumblr Blog

Project Report

The idea for this project has been in my head for over a year now, much like my Final Major Project Idea. Because of this, I found the process of developing the idea to be a lot shorter than a lot of the other projects I have undertaken throughout the duration of the degree course. I enjoyed it because I had the opportunity to write the brief myself, and it meant that I could execute ideas that I'd had stuck in my head for quite some time. I found it difficult to manage alongside my Final Major Project. My FMP was quite a complicated production, and because of this I found myself spending a lot more time thinking about it instead of this Self Initiated project. However, this project did not require as much planning so the balance worked out well. As I've said, I found the process between planning and executing the project quite short, and this might be because I have grown as a photographer throughout the degree. I now find it a lot easier to execute projects in general, as I have gained experience through the various projects we have been set. The projects take me a lot less time in general and I feel that I used to the momentum and protocols of most of my shoots. I specified in my brief that I would use both my own camera and the Phase, while working both on location and in the studio. Although I did both, the final images I have chosen were all shot in the studio with the Phase, as I feel that the quality of images needed to be consistent. I preferred the images taken with the Phase to my own camera specifically for this project. Because I used natural light throughout, I needed the quality of image, especially when considering print options for the Degree Show and Free Range. This is why I decided to use images solely taken on the Phase and in the studio, even though both options were executed. In total, I organised five full day shoots for this project. I felt this was necessary to get a good variety of images to choose from, and it also gave me the opportunity to work with as many different people and modelling agencies as possible. It was also an opportunity to come away from Ravensbourne with a strong portfolio of work that I am proud of. I think that I organised my time well throughout this project; I booked studio time well in advance to avoid disappointment and stress near the deadline and organised my teams efficiently to meet this. However, being course representative for the Degree Show has taken up a lot more time than I thought it would. It generally left me with less time to execute this project, but I think it was a good lesson in time management and organisation. I feel that I balanced my responsibilities outside of this project well, and in a way that complemented the work I did. I collaborated with a lot of designers for this project, using people from both inside and outside Ravensbourne and other universities. I aimed to go for collections that I thought would complement the style and tone of this project, as opposed to simply using just Ravensbourne students because they are nearby, as I feel that this would have been too easy. Obviously, it wasn't easy sourcing collections from other designers outside of Ravensbourne, but I think it benefited my final series of photographs and I got the final images I wanted because of this. It was important for me to try and connect with as many independent designers as possible, as I have now built more contacts that I would like to utilise after I graduate. The same goes for make up artists, hair stylists and wardrobe stylists. I tried to branch out and use a variety of different team members to find the perfect people for each shoot. I am also very happy with the modelling agencies I have managed to test with. So far this year, I have worked with: Storm Model Management Premier Model Management Elite Model Management Profile Model Management Sapphires Model Management Oxygen Model Management Bookings Model Management Vision Model Management AMCK Model Management With each agency that I have worked with, the standard of work I produce has improved, as working with top agencies such as a few of these is a good way to make sure you are always aiming high in terms of quality. The added pressure of working with prestigious agencies made me work harder, and also helped me gain useful contacts within the industry, while getting my name out there as a photographer at the same time. My networking skills have definitely improved because of this, and I feel that this has prepared me more for the industry after graduating from Ravensbourne. The assisting program has been a great help during this project. I honestly don't know how I would have managed without my assistants. They've been great, and it has really helped to ease the work load knowing that I have reliable people who can help me. It has also been fun sharing experiences with them and watching them grow and learn as photographers too.

In terms of areas for improvement, I would say that I need to practice delegating more efficiently. I have noticed that I tend to try to do everything myself, which sometimes only works to my detriment and not to my benefit. If I feel that I have a strong, reliable team of people around me, there is no reason why I shouldn't share the responsibilities more. This way, I can focus on the task at hand and will get less stressed as a result. As I identified in my FMP project report, I also need to learn that being assertive is a lot more effective than getting stressed. The team are less likely to work well if I am stressed, as it creates a negative atmosphere and can appear unprofessional to those who don't know me very well. This can be especially detrimental to my reputation when working with prestigious modelling agencies. Another weakness I have identified is my tendency to lose focus sometimes. Most of time, I have so many ideas and concepts floating around in my head that I get them mixed up, instead of identifying one strong concept and working on that specifically. I think the quality of my work would be better if I stopped trying to do so many things and execute so many ideas at once.

I am particularly proud of myself at this point, as this is the last project I am ever handing in for my degree. Looking at the work I am producing now compared to when I started is a great confidence boost, and I feel more prepared than ever to go out into the industry and have a really good go at it. I have identified my strengths and weaknesses throughout, and will take all the lessons I have learned on board for the future.

#self initiated

Behind the scenes shots of the final shoot.

#self initiated

Studio Set-Up.

#self initiated

Call Sheet June 2013 using collection by UCA fashion graduate Charlotte Lloyd.

#self initiated

Selections. I styled this shoot myself. I like the use of pastel colours as it adds a softness to the images. I think this really suits the style and tone of the 'sleeping' theme I have been working on. These shots were taken in the studio with the Phase One Medium Format camera. Although I have worked both on location, using my own camera, and in the studio using the Phase for this project, I found it easier to organise a team when we were shooting at Ravensbourne. The location is more central to the majority of the team and is an easier place to get everyone to. I also have easier access to better equipment.

#self initiated

Selections. I used a stylist for this shoot, and I really like the results. It enabled me to focus solely on the photography, without diluting my efforts. However, I do enjoy styling, and I particularly enjoy sourcing pieces from independent designers, so even though I am happy with the results, I would like to continue styling and working with designers also. I am also really happy with the tone and style of these images and I think they work well within my 'sleeping' theme.

#self initiated

UCA graduate fashion collection and moodboard for 'sleeping fashion' shoot.

#self initiated

OWN CAMERA - Using Ravensbourne Fashion Graduate Collections. I shot these images on LOCATION and used my OWN CAMERA. I used an agency model from Sapphires Model Management. However, I don't feel that these images work as well as the others I have taken in the studio with the Phase One medium format. I just don't think the quality is the same, so I will not be using these images within my final layout for Self Initiated.

#self initiated

Layout Tests.

#self initiated

Layout & Print Tests.

#self initiated

Layout Inspiration & Research - iD & Dazed and Confused Magazine 2013

#self initiated

Final Major Project Report

I found my final major project to be the most challenging project I have encountered to date, but at the same time, it has been the most rewarding. I aimed to set myself a project that would force me to step outside of my comfort zone in digital photography, and I think I achieved that.

Challenges

The Team

The main challenges I faced arose from the organization process. The teams weren’t any larger than I was used to working with, but because I arranged four separate shoots on four separate days, with each day having its own separate model and make up artist, this carried with it an obvious amount of risk. It was difficult to find one model and one make up artist that were free on all four of the scheduled shoot days, which is why I had to use different team members for each shoot. Because of this, I had to choose extremely reliable team members to reduce risk of someone cancelling on me at short notice, and compromising the shoot, but even then, there is still the chance that someone will cancel. This caused me a lot of anxiety, but I arranged back up make up artists for precisely this possibility, so there was a Plan B if Plan A failed. This reduced my anxiety around the shoots significantly.

Most of the challenges I have faced in the past have been organizing agency signed models for shoots, as modeling agencies are notoriously flippant, fickle and uncommunicative. I have experienced situations before during tests, where the agency booker hadn’t confirmed the model until the night before a shoot. I wanted to avoid this as much as possible during my final major project, as it was added pressure to an already highly pressurized situation. To combat this, I decided to pay for my models in order to secure them and gain better communication with the agencies. All the agencies I approached seemed to respond almost instantly when I mentioned money. Because of this, I obviously had to budget very sensibly and keep a watchful eye on my money. It also meant that I could book a much higher standard of model, and approach prestigious agencies that may not have been happy to test with me for free in the past. I viewed the money I paid the agencies to be somewhat of an investment, as it gets me in the metaphorical ‘front door’ with the more prestigious agencies, in hope that they may want to do free tests with me in the future. It also gives me some brilliant agencies to work with that I can put on my website, increasing my exposure, especially if the agency decide to use my work on their own websites. In the end, I decided to work with Profile, Premier and Storm Model Management, two of which are in the Top 5 in the official UK model agency ranking.

In the end, I was generally very happy with the teams I collaborated with. All three make up artists were wonderful to work with and brought different but positive energies to the shoots. It was a great experience to work with models from more prestigious agencies. Although I felt a lot of pressure to perform well for the agencies because of their reputations and standards, this was a good challenge for me, as it allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and produce work that is of a higher standard in general. I also felt oddly comfortable working with more professional models. I thought I was going to be nervous because of the pressure, but I feel that thrived under it, and I now feel much more confident when approaching higher ranking agencies. I also have work with Storm, Profile and Premier Model Managements in my portfolio now, which sets me in better stead when showing my portfolio to a more prestigious clientele. I feel that this in general has prepared me a little more for the big bad industry, as it is closer to the standard I will have to be working towards. I felt that it was more than a university project, but a chance to prove myself to an industry that is awfully competitive and ruthless.

Overall, the models were great to work with. However, the last model I used had quite a severe attitude problem, was very uncooperative, and generally looked like she just didn’t want to be there. This was of course disheartening for me, as I have invested a lot of emotional energy planning and executing the shoots, and she looked like she couldn’t care less. However, I didn’t let it distract me from getting the shots I wanted. Because she was difficult to work with made it hard to get the shots I wanted, but it just meant I had to put in more effort than usual to get the desired results. Her images are by far the weakest of the whole project, but they are still usable, and I have built a positive relationship with the agency since, so it was a positive experience over all.

I chose my assistants for the shoots carefully, as I wanted the general atmosphere to be an energetic and fun. I always find that the better I get along with my team, the more productive everyone involved becomes, because we are all comfortable. I understand that I’m not always going to be able to have fun while shooting, but while this is within my control, I will always aim to have as much fun as possible. As after all, the reason I chose photography as a degree is because I enjoy it and I am passionate about it. In the end, I chose to use a mixture of first and second years as my assistants for the experience of the second years, but the enthusiasm of the first years. I think this worked very well and I hope my assistants had as good a time as I did throughout the process.

Location

Finding a location was one of the most difficult tasks of the entire project. There was many things I had to factor in to my search, including price, location, whether it was indoor or outdoor, heated or not heated, etc. I found that before I’d organized the location, it was extremely difficult to try and organize anything else, such as models, assistants etc, as without a location you don’t have a shoot date. It was also difficult to find a location with my budget, because all of the best locations were in central London, but they were obviously considerably more expensive. I also learned that modeling agencies charge more if the model has to travel outside of London. In the end, after explaining my situation to the agency bookers (that I am a student working on my final major project), I managed to haggle the prices down by at least £50 each, even though the shoots ended up taking place outside of London.

I used a variety of avenues when I was looking for a swimming pool to use as a location. I utilized my available contacts such as friends and family, and also contacted local business such as leisure centers, both commercial and private. I discovered private pools were easier to communicate with, as the commercial pools were often government funded and weren’t as interested in taking my money as the private companies were.

I found the process of finding a location difficult due to the health and safety procedures involved. This was also an issue when it came to the modeling agencies, as they weren’t happy to let a stranger put their models underwater without grilling me about my plans first. However, these were necessary precautions because if the shoots were executed without taking notice of the risks, we all could have been working in a very dangerous environment.

In the end, I ended up finding a location through my assistant Amber Eggleden, whose close friend is a life guard that works at a private swimming pool. This news was music to my ears and seemed like a miracle at the time. Additionally, the time slots we were given to use the pool were much longer than what I had been given at the other pools I had been researching. This meant much less rushing around, which in turn meant much less stress and a more positive environment to work in as a result. The pool was also aesthetically the nicest I had seen out of all of my location scouting visits, with much more natural light available and cleaner water in general.

Once I had discussed the available shooting days and times with the pool, it was a great deal easier to organize the rest of the shoots as I finally had a date, and after that everything seemed like it fell into place.

Equipment Hire

I required an underwater camera bag for the shoots. This took an extremely large amount of research to make sure I was getting the correct model and using the most reliable company. I had to be sure the bag was reliable, and I also had to make sure my insurance covered my camera for water damage incase it failed. This was very difficult thing for me to do as a photographer, as you can imagine. I genuinely don’t know what I’d do if something happened to my camera, so I had to really trust in my idea to go ahead with this with such commitment. I was adamant that I wanted underwater photographs for this project, so that’s what I had to do. Underwater camera bag rental worked out as the best option, and also meant I was able to fit the bag nicely within my budget as it wasn’t a brand new model.

Unfortunately, something always goes wrong when you need it to the least, and I was called by the company who were hiring the bag out to me the night before my first shoot for the project, who told me that they had accidentally double booked the camera bag and it wasn’t available for me to use for any of the dates I needed it for. I was distraught, but to make it worse, while they were telling me this, I was already on another shoot for my Self Initiated Project where the model hadn’t turned up. After getting angry, I decided to do what I could to fix the problem. I talked it over with the staff, and managed to persuade them to send me a brand new bag from the manufacturer and have it couriered to my house on the day of the shoot completely free of charge for the trouble they caused me. Needless to say, my negotiating worked, and I also received a 50% off voucher for my next order. This taught me that you get further with people when you are assertive instead of aggressive. If you talk to someone rationally and calmly, even in such a stressful situation, they are more inclined to help you with your problem instead of leaving you to suffer with it alone.

The delayed delivery did cause problems, as I wanted to be able to test it at least a day before the shoot in case there were any faults with the equipment. However, because a brand new bag was sent from the manufacturer, this wasn’t an issue, although I still tested it anyway.

Styling

I chose to style my final major project myself. I approached a long list of independent designers and explained what I wanted to do, but the water proved to be a big issue when it came to clothing. Obviously, the designers and stylists do not want the clothes getting wet, which made it almost impossible to find pieces/people willing to lend pieces to me. I considered using swimwear, as water obviously wouldn’t be a problem for this type of clothing, but I didn’t want to use swimwear, as it didn’t fit in with the ethereal theme I was going for. I’m happy with the styling within my final images, as I think I achieved the style and tone I was hoping to. I also managed to find an independent designer that was happy to lend me some hand-made silver jewellery for the shoots. This was a first for me, as a designer has never lent me any pieces before, so naturally I was quite excited. Lending as apposed to buying pieces also, quite obviously, is much easier on my budget.

Time Management

Generally, I would say that I organized my time efficiently. I organized three separate shoots over a bank holiday, to maximize the likelihood that team members wouldn’t be working and the models wouldn’t be at school. I feel that I started my research for my final major project quite early, which enabled me to plan a shoot that wasn’t too close the deadline. I organized the shoots on the days that I did so that if something went wrong, I had time to reschedule. I also organized three shoots instead of one to minimize the risk of unexpected problems arising on the shoot days and being left with little or nothing in terms of usable images. I also left enough of a gap between the shoots and the deadline to allow for post-production while at the same time managing the Self Initiated Project comfortably.

Overview

As I have said, I found this to be my most challenging project yet, but the most rewarding at the same time, but then that is the point of the Final Major Project. I feel like I have overcome large obstacles and have worked through situations that would have dented my confidence previously. If anything, I have gained confidence in my skills as a photographer over the course of this project, and feel a little more prepared for taking my first steps within the industry when I leave university. I am also proud of my final images, as this idea has been in my head for at least two years. Being able to finally execute this idea was a wonderful feeling and it has really shown me how much I have learned and grown in the last three years, as a photographer and as a person.

#FMP #fmp

Final Layout Test using issuu.com - magazine simulator

#fmp #FMP #issuu #magazine simulator