As a parent I know that
people want to see that the school or college is a safe, supportive learning
environment and somewhere that children and young adults can flourish
academically and develop their confidence. And what better way to do that than
to use images to show, rather than tell them? A website or printed
prospectus is often their first impression, so the images used in printed
marketing materials or online have to make the place stand out from its
competitors and encourage parents and potential students to visit.
I don’t get my camera out
until everyone is relaxed. I try to
make every subject feel important and to treat everyone sensitively whether
they are small children or teenagers, while also dealing with the different
challenges every environment presents.
My style is to keep the
pictures real and vibrant, and a world away from fluffy, American-style campus
or crazy leaping around shots. The lighting, the lens you use, the angle you
shoot at – it all makes a big difference to the finished result and I find that
a little bit of staging mixed with some natural reportage pictures always deliver
the best results.
Clever design needs good
images, so I’m always thinking about how I can vary the shots to give designers
a good range to choose from when they are creating the layout. This means
including a mix of portrait and landscape orientation, varying the colours and
even adding some shots with pale backgrounds so text can be laid over them.
All the pictures are high
resolution so they can be used in print material such as prospectus and
newsletters, as well as online or in large format, for instance on open day
posters and display boards. While I have a portable
studio that I sometimes take along, I usually keep my kit simple and find that two
camera bodies, a remote flash trigger and a couple of lenses is all I need to
produce great photos.
The many images in this blog
are taken from just a few of the schools I’ve worked with, including Pallister
Park Primary School in Middlesbrough, Parkside School in Durham, Thornaby Community School, Stockton on Tees and Errington Primary School on Marske.
Earlier this year I blogged about London publisher St James’s House, which asked me to take a series of photographs
for the learning and education section of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Souvenir
Album 2012. This was a big job and
saw me working at some innovative sites such as the Excelsior Academy in Denton
to the West of Newcastle, Durham Trinity School and Sports College, and Elmore
School near Pittington, County Durham.
The result was a set of colourful,
lively lifestyle photographs showing north east pupils studying and taking part in activities such
as dance, drama, music and sport, all of which gave a flavour of school life in
and out of the classrooms.
As well as taking prospectus
photographs I’m often asked in to cover news stories such as donations, new
buildings, sports days, pupil achievements, royal visits and awards ceremonies.
All of them benefit from a good photo to help sell the story to newspapers and
magazines. My picture of Dragons’
Den Duncan Bannatyne from Darlington receiving his honorary degree at the University of
Teesside was used by several national publications.
I’m genuinely enjoy my work in
the education sector, and I’m pleased to be using my professional skills and
experience in support of our North East schools and the learning and
development of all our young people.
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