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.
















