Careers

Dream job : Photography

Freelance photographer

 

Loads of you are doctors, nurses, lawyers, accountants, and teachers in training but what about everyone else?

A lot of you probably don’t know what you want to be when you finish university, or maybe you have a hobby that you’d really like to develop into a career but you don’t know how to get there.
 
The traditional professions have a structured career path to follow but for everyone else, even those who are actually studying a subject which is an interest such as fashion, you will have to make your own way into the working world.
 
The Student Guide has caught up with a few former students in various stages of their careers who are doing what they love rather than following a set path. This may provide you with some inspiration and show you that you can do it!

 
Russell Bates has made it as a freelance photographer:

Check out his work at
http://statementimages.co.uk/photographers/russellbates/

Where do you work?

Anywhere and Everywhere

What do you do?

I work as a freelance photographer undertaking press and commercial as well as photojournalist style work.

Why do you like it?

I get to choose my own hours and work for myself!

What attributes make you good at it?

One of the key attributes of this and many other freelance professions are people skills. In this line of work many jobs are found via contacts, friends and other photographers. If you’re personable and easy to get on with you won’t struggle to find work.

What advice would you give others?

It sounds like a cliché but do something you love, or at the very least a job that you don't dread having to get up for every morning. Especially when you have no-one depending on your income! Take risks and ask yourself how much money you genuinely need to survive and if you really need to make any more!

Which uni, course did you do and when did you graduate?

University of Sheffield, Human Geography 2008


 

Sign up