On Wednesday I visited one of the schools local to where I live, Altrincham Grammar School for Girls to talk to one of the sixth formers. Jayne is the first pupil from the school to be offered a place on a photography degree course at Stafford College.
As a local resident I try to support my local community where I can, and I'd offered my photographic services to the school in the past. I received a phone call a couple of months ago asking if I'd be interested in talking to sixth formers about possible careers in the photographic industry, and so on Wednesday arrived at lunchtime to answer any questions Jayne might have.
There are many people out there who pursue photography as a hobby, and would love nothing better than to make a living from it. Unfortunately, there is a big difference between doing something for yourself, for pleasure, and doing it as a means of paying the bills. I don't know a single professional photographer who doesn't absolutely love their job, but we all agree that it is seriously hard work!
I spent an hour chatting with Jayne about the business of photography, showed here the wide range of projects and commissions I'd worked on over the past year and asked her about her own photographic interests. Thankfully, I don't seem to have put her off, as this email landed in my inbox yesterday from the head of sixth form Gillian Winter:
"I met Jayne yesterday afternoon as I walked over from Main School and she stopped me to say how really useful meeting you was and how you have given her an insight into what she can do and how to run a photography business. She was so enthusiastic that I wanted to share that with you."
Glad to have helped, Mrs Winter!
If you'd be interested in talking about the business of photography, I'd be happy to talk. I can be contacted at my studio or via my website.
