Professional Development in Photography

a syllabus

Spring 2021
PHOT 4700.01
© Bill Barrett 2021

"There is a crack in everything; that's how the light gets in."
Leonard Cohen (1934-2016)

 

Feedback (general opinions, problems, suggestions, etc.) on this hypersyllabus is encouraged! Bookmark this, but don't rely on printing it out. It is very likely that this page will be updated in the course of the semester.

Prerequisite: Photo Major and Senior Standing. THIS IS THE CAPSTONE COURSE FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHY MAJOR. Students prepare to launch their professional careers by continuing to develop their portfolios, joining an appropriate professional organization, and learning to work with all sectors of the industry. Business practices including model releases, billing, and accounting are covered, with guest speakers addressing particular technical concerns. Current issues in the profession, including legal and ethical concerns, are addressed.

You are about to graduate with a degree in photography from Webster. Here's what we say about that: Through the photography curriculum for the B.A. in Photography at Webster University, students learn to be technically proficient, versatile, imaginative, and capable of working in a variety of photographic fields and technical environments. Photography majors graduate with a solid grounding in the aesthetic and the communicative aspects of the medium. Students take courses in a variety of formats (small, medium and large), materials (black/white and color) and technical environments (chemical and digital). Students become familiar with a variety of approaches (journalistic, commercial/editorial, scientific), while concentrating on one.

Learning Outcomes:
Students learn to produce a professional portfolio in the area of photography they wish to pursue.
Students learn to produce a resume, business cards, and other materials related to a job search.
Students learn to network by joining a professional organization.
Students learn to produce a business plan.

Class attendance is important for this course. If you will miss a class meeting for any reason, leave a message ahead of time. If you miss more than one class, your grade will be affected. If you miss eight class sessions, you cannot pass the course. Written assignments and class presentations must be completed on schedule. Assignments must be completed on schedule!

Recommended text:
ASMP Professional Business Practices in Photography, 7th edition.

How you're graded (Assessment Criteria): (Keep in mind that you must earn a grade of B or better in this course as a graduation requirement.) Your final grade is based on your performance throughout the semester. Your attendance and active participation count for 25%; your two portfolios (first showing the range of your skill, final professional) count for 50%; business card, résumé and your brief paper about the style of photography you are most interested in count for 10%; two exams count for 15%. This is what the grades mean...

What we're doing and when:

Week 1 (1/11 & 13). Week one is online using Zoom. See the Zoom tab is WorldClassRoom for the login link.

Introductions; what you're facing out there; there's this...

and this....

How the class works; topics we will cover. Darkroom/digital printing/studio access passes. Signing up as student members in an appropriate professional organization, such as American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), Professional Photographers of America (PPA), Advertising Photographers of America (APA),North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA), Society for Photographic Education (SPE), University Photographers’ Association of America (UPAA), or something similar. (You are required to join at least one professional organization, and will be asked about it on the final exam.) Optional Certificate in Entrepreneurship in Photography, in partnership with the School of Business and Technology.

Remember to bring your first portfolio to the next class (see below for details).

Week 2 (1/20). (No class on Martin Luther King Day.) Showing your initial portfolios. Be sure to answer the questions about your initial portfolio in the first assignment in WorldClassroom.

The first portfolio you must show should demonstrate:

• Technical proficiency in both chemical and digital photographic environments.
• Technical proficiency with a variety of camera formats (small, medium and large) and materials (black/white and color).
• A solid grounding in the worldwide aesthetic and communicative aspects of the medium.
• Versatility in applying a variety of photographic approaches (journalistic, commercial/editorial and scientific).
• Expertise in their chosen field of specialization.

• Technical proficiency in the principles of photography.
• Technical proficiency with professional camera types and their applications.
• Technical proficiency with software as currently used in the profession.
• Familiarity with a variety of photographic approaches and careers.
• Expertise in the chosen field of specialization.

• Technical proficiency in the principles of photography.
Understand how light works and is measured (ISO/aperture/time)
Understand how light reacts with sensitized materials, both chemical and electronic.
• Technical proficiency with professional camera types and their applications.
Understand camera functions and control.
Understand strengths and limitations of various camera types.
• Technical proficiency with software as currently used in the profession.
• Familiarity with a variety of photographic approaches and careers (journalistic, commercial/editorial, scientific).
• Expertise in the chosen field of specialization.

By the end of this semester, you will also be evaluated on your expertise in your chosen field of specialization.

Week 3 (1/25 & 27). What does it mean to be creative? Exercise in creative seeing.

How to (not) write your bio for a web site.

Building a curriculum vitae and distilling a résumé. Writing an effective résumé . Establishing your presence and "brand." Thinking about your business card.

Using the Internet for photographic research. Tineye.com and why I care; FilmReadyServices; photo.net (What are the pages you find most useful?) Participating in a professionally oriented conversation specific to your career interests: look at all these lists! New to on-line discussion groups? Read the "rules of the road." Joining the Photo-Jobs list.

Due next week in WorldClassroom: First drafts of your curriculum vitae and résumé, and first look at design for your business card

Week 4 (2/1 & 3). Start thinking about this spring's senior show:
Seven Emerging Photographers
16 April - July 2021
VIRTUAL Reception for the Photographers Friday, 16 April, 5-7 pm

Looking at how you will establish your brand. Your business card, CV and résumé.

Putting together your professional commercial portfolio; what it includes (and excludes), how to construct it. Book? Web site? What?

Some resources for portfolios and framing, as you start thinking about the final presentation of your physical portfolio:

NB: Petitions to Graduate are due in February (details coming).

Due next week:

Wednesday: Time for you to work on your senior show exhibition.

Week 5 (2/8 & 10). Due Monday: Essay on your own photographic style, and slide show of work that inspires you in your chosen field.

What inspires you? Where will you be in a year or in five?

Reading assignment for next class: ASMP Copyright Guide, and this new tutorial that covers recent changes.

Week 6 (2/15 & 17). Monday: Copyright law and issues, and the real-life applications and concerns. Art Rogers vs. Jeff Koons. Delkin Archival Gold DVDs with Scratch Armor are the best electronic media for copyright deposits of photos. Consider A.D. Coleman's experience getting copyrighted work stolen. And here's an update on the monkey business.

Wednesday: Guest speaker on copyright, Prof. Yvette Liebesman.

Week 7 (2/22 & 25). Portfolio check-in. What is your professional portfolio going to include? Let's think about both books and web sites.
Wednesday: Disney event

Kayla shared this with us: https://www.whiteboxstl.com

Week 8 (3/1 & 3), We were not able to meet. See following weeks for schedule adjustments.

Spring Break

Week 9 (3/15 & 17). Monday: Portfolio check-in continued. What is your professional portfolio going to include? Let's think about both books and web sites

Wednesday: Getting familiar with Form 1040, Schedule C (and instructions for Schedule C). The Sole Proprietor’s Guide To Tax Savings (Schedule C from A to Z). The Retirement Goal Evaluator can help you determine how much of your current salary you can replace in retirement, based on your present situation. With a few basic pieces of information, you'll see what it takes and be on your way to planning for the future.

Week 10 (3/22 & 24). Taxes, continued.

Week 11 (3/29 & 31). Building your mailing list.

Meet in computer lab SV 204. Intro to web portfolios (bring digital work).

Week 12 (4/5 & 7). Time to work on your portfolios.

Week 13 (4/12 & 14). Invoicing (suggestion: "Timeless Design" template in Word).

The importance of a Business Plan. Some useful links for further information or help:

Reviewing your portfolio edits. Bring the photos you plan to put into your book for feedback. You should have done the basic editing ahead of time. (Only bring the work you believe fits the book.)

Week 14 (4/18 & 21). Due: final version of your business card. Presentations of what you think us your final portfolio edit-- what is going to be there? (Electronic OK, don't yet need prints Showing your web sites so far: what you aim for, how you will get there. Considering your web presence and strategy. Whois (registry to see if a domain name is available), and FTP clients. Networking and becoming part of the industry. Estimating a job: some things to think about. The Photographers' Registry. You might want to think about how much you need to save for retirement and the effects of inflation on that number.

Last group planning for (un)masked.

Week 15 (4/26 & 28). Course evaluations are now online. Time will be set aside at the beginning of class on Monday to complete them. (You should have already received information about this.) The confidential site to access the online course evaluations is Webster’s MyCoursEval website . Students will use their Connections user name and password to access the course evaluation form. Please bring an appropriate electronic device with you to class (e.g. laptop, tablet or smartphone). Evaluations will not be available online until this week.

Final portfolio presentations, in their actual form. You are expected to show your web site and have your book. (We'll start with web sites on Monday, and if we get through everything, look at books, then finish on Wednesday.) Also due this week: finished résumé (including reference to the professional organization you joined) and 2 copies of your business card.

Some useful links for further information or help:

Week 16. Final Exam Monday 5/3 & 5, 3:20-5:20 pm (To be confirmed)