From Precious
July, 2008
Sofia Khan
Photographer | Media / Arts
Precious: Tell us about your route to the job.
I went to college to study A' level photography then did a City and Guilds Professional Photography course. I then got a job as a photographic assistant with an inspiring commercial photographer in Birmingham. After this I started work as a mobile children's photographer, then went to a large company that specialised in children and family portraits whilst balancing this with band photography. I decided to go to London and a friend of mine started encouraging me. So after a few months of deliberation and getting advice from people, (I must point out that most careers advisors know nothing about this field except that it's too ambitious, which is not true, but I admit there didn't seem to be a hard and fast rule on what to do if you want to be a photographer.) I was advised to go to university, but I stubbornly refused and moved to London...
I soon discovered that the jobcentres weren't lined with jobs for photographers and people weren't so willing to help me at all. I got a job in a photographic retail shop and nearly died from despair. I handed in my notice after 3 months, inspired by a feeling of make or break and stumbled across a job at the job centre- press photographer- training provided! It's not what I imagined, but this is probably what got the ball rolling. After that, I learned where all the photographic agencies were and which one's were going to rip you off from other photographer's experiences.
Precious: Describe a typical working day.
My working days are never typical! As my day work might start from 6am and end at 12noon or 10pm til 2am etc, it's important to think ahead so I pack my equipment and any other materials needed the night before the job. I generally aim to be at location 1 hour before start, so I can look around for suitable backdrops , or liase with clients, or set up backgrounds, props etc depending on type of job. Photographing the subject could be bride and groom, celebrities at a party, celebrity posing, experienced/ inexperienced models; so, I have different things to work around on each occasion. After I have finished I try and get the pictures processed, at my favourite lab, straight away, or, if it is too late I go straight to bed and do it in the morning.
Precious: What are your ambitions?
To find a good agent and to have my own studio.
Precious: What do you do to relax?
Besides taking my pictures for myself, I play games on my new playstation ( sad for a 31 yr old!), watch films, read , go out and play/ philosophise with my friends/ boyfriend.
Precious: Any advice to those who wish to follow in your footsteps?
Don't think you can't do it! Decide what you want to specialise in e.g. food, fashion, showbiz, news, medical, the list is endless, decide whether you can afford to do it, don't worry that you'll get stuck in a rut too much, cos once you've mastered one field, you can branch out. Practice practice practice...which costs money money money...lots of it. Find a good professional processing lab. You probably won't be able to process yourself, as most places want the pictures yesterday. Be prepared to not make any profit at all, whilst building up your portfolio and equipment. It is hard to keep the work streaming in, and you end up feeling pretty bogged down with paperwork and negotiations, unless you find a good agent. Sounds bad eh? Otherwise you can make it a part-time hobby whilst working elsewhere in a more stable career. Subscribe to Bureau of Freelance Photographer for: a manual which lists all the markets; a monthly news letter, and legal advice: or buy freelance photographers' market handbook. Do your research and try and find a photographer based near you that youcan go and talk to.
