Work Experience

http://www.ianlewisphotography.co.uk

1. 2004 - 2007 - Schools and family portraits business - Franchise business
2. 2006 - Present - Studio business, commercial photography, weddings, portraits, portfolios


I have assisted my Father in his business since 2004 when he was involved with a schools photography franchise. I initially helped with setting up mobile studios and checking lighting and exposure levels. I also tethered the cameras to laptops and did test images for him.

He also operated Family Portrait Days in schools at the weekend so I was involved with showing families their images and helping them select, order and pay for prints, frames and canvas portraits.

In December 2005 my Father opened a studio business of his own and in March 2007 he left the franchise to concentrate on developing his own brand and the studio business. I have been able to gain experience with working for him whenever possible and especially in his busy periods.

I also get to use the studio if I need it to set up my own work. I have used the studio on several occasions this year whilst in my first year at Leeds College of Art & Design. This has been a great help in expanding my studio experience and am not time limited if I am able to give him notice of when I need to use it. For example, for my last studio module shoot I booked it out for a whole day and was not limited to time constraints allowing me to experiment with my lighting more than I perhaps could have if using the college studio because of time pressures and other people booking it out.

I have been able to assist him on various shoots both in the studio and out on location. As he also does commercial photography work I have been able to assist on product shots, industrial work and working with models.

My interest in photographing people really started with this early experience with my Dad's business and I have developed an interest in fashion and beauty photography this year through researching major photographers in this sector of photography. This has been both a learning experience and one of finding a area of photography that I want to develop and explore further.

This has led me to seek further work experience within this area and my desire to gain the internship at Rankin (see my post on this specifically) to help me in making considered decisions about the route I would like to pursue with my career.