Guest Lecture: Tom Jackson

Tom Jackson is an editorial portrait photographer. After studying Editorial Photography in Brighton, Jackson moved to London and assisted photographers such as Rankin, David Sims and Jane Hilton. During his time assisting, he realised that what he was interested in photographing were people’s faces and characterful people.

His first solo commission was the WWF wrestlers for Times Magazine. This led to him being a regular photographer for the magazine. He says that the supplements are a great way to get into the industry. You get your work published, gain access to high-profile people and it gives you links to advertising agencies.

Jackson does a lot of personal projects that are then used in newspapers and magazines and leads to further work. Jackson says that agencies love to see personal work. They want to see your published work but what they will book you on is usually based on your personal work.

Key pieces of advice:

• Assist -> supplements -> more published work
• You don't need a studio
• Published work leads to more work
• They like to see your PERSONAL work
• two studio lights, the background can be a reflector!
• Plan ahead- do reccy's
• Join a photography agency!

Guest Lecture: Carol Sachs

Carol Sachs is a Brazilian photographer best known for her editorial photography.

Whilst studying Graphic Design in Brazil she started photographing, mainly documentary. One of her first major series’ was on the Circus. She found these images reflected her emotional state at that point in time.

Sachs left education wanting to pursue a career in documentary photography. She moved to London and it was here that she read the book The Photograph as Contemporary Art by Charlotte Cotton, which opened her mind to the different styles of photography.

During this time she photographed portraits of her friends, which she continued when she moved to New York for six months. It was here that she started shooting in colour and didn’t look back.

She did an internship at a photographer’s agency.

• Emotional State reflects the work you produce
• "Dont think about 'career-ism' for a while"
• Develop your own style first then sell it
• "If something is really 'in' and you follow it, then you're easily 'out'"
• It take time- dont copy others- be unique
• DON'T compare yourself to others
• Lived as an immigrant; lots of hello's & goodbye's
• She pinpoints what is that works in her images; the SILENCE.
• The image and the concept need to work together
• Try to show something more than just the person
• You have to ALWAYS be doing personal work
• Bring the 'experience' to travel magazines
• She uses Canon 5D mark III and a 1.8 70mm-205mm lens
• No flashguns
• She doesn't keep in mind room for text

On Visual portfolios she had some great advice;

• Simple, clean website is essential
• All images to be the same size
• Don't show everything
• First page has to be a clear definition of what you do
• Only include stuff you're really proud of