BIPP qualification for our Yearling’s graduate Imogen

BIPP QUALIFICATION FOR OUR YEARLINGS GRADUATE

We were absolutely delighted to hear about Yearling’s 21/22 graduate Imogen’s recent qualification with the British Institute of Professional Photography, we just had to shout about it from the rooftops!

She applied for a Licentiateship and the judges were so blown away by her talent they upgraded her to an Associateship!

Imogen joined us on our 1yr Group Mentorship Course from 2021-22 and in six months since completing the course she has quit her full time job, increased her shoot fee and now bagged a qualification with the BIPP!

By doing her qualification she has learnt about critical cropping, highlights, colour grading, printing and creating a panel that sits together.

We couldn’t be prouder of Imogen – she is a true testament to what can happen if you put real effort and drive into your business and photography and the amazing things that can be achieved.

Check out Imogen’s full panel below:

How To Self-Commission For Equine Photography

Have you always wanted to try equine commercial photography but not sure how to get started?

You don’t need to wait for a brand to book you for a shoot – you can start generating commercial income through self-commissioning!

So, what is self-commissioning?

A self-commissioned shoot is the same as a model call to build your portfolio; you have full creative control and set up and take the shots you want. The aim is to produce a collection of images that you can go on to sell for commercial or editorial use.

Why self-commission?

First of all, it is a great way to dip your toe into commercial photography and build your confidence because you take the pressure off to fulfil a client brief. You can start building up your commercial portfolio and work out what you like to shoot, what you are good at shooting and start creating wonderful connections. A brand could see your commercial portfolio, fall in love with your images and want to commission you to produce the same style of images but with their products/branding.

You can be truly creative and there are no limits – it doesn’t even have to include a horse, it could just be images with a country lifestyle vibe; a saddle resting on a stable door or an owner walking across their yard with their faithful dog at their heels.

The joy of selling your images commercially is you can sell the same image over and over again – now it may be for £35 but that one image sold several times can add up over time. You can have a passive income coming into your business that runs alongside your commissioned portraits.

Our top tips for nailing a self-commission:

1. Create a brief

When self-commissioning you still need to have your ducks in a row. You need to think about the outcome for the shoot. What you will need for the shoot, do you need to source models (horses or otherwise), a location, outfits, props? Do you need a make-up artist? What are your timings? Write out all of these details and more so have a clear idea of what you want to achieve on this shoot.

2. Think commercial not portrait

It is tempting to take beautiful, tight cropped portraits like you would on a commissioned portrait shoot but these types of images don’t necessarily translate to being used commercially. When shooting make sure to leave space in your images, on the left, right, bottom or top so that if a client wants to put text or logos or product images over the image they can. Edit your images clean; remove distractions and don’t go too creative with your edits – commercial clients need the images to sing but not louder than what they are trying to sell. Pick a wardrobe and props that avoid obvious branding that would mean the image would be instantly rejected for certain commercial use (e.g don’t have a NAF branded water bucket in the shot if you want to sell the image to Science Supplements).

3. Take action

You can upload all your beautiful images to an online gallery, put it on your website and just sit back and…nothing. YOU have to reach out and pick up the phone to magazines, tack shops, brands etc to create those connections and get your images selling.

Get in the habit of being creative

Get in the habit of being creative

For better or for worse, our lives are largely carved out and structured around our habits. Breakfast at a certain time, daily chores and errands, how many cups of coffee?! (Still not enough, by our reckoning!) But your habits don’t have to just be the things you do on autopilot – you can create a ritual and a routine around the stuff that really lights your fire.

Experts reckon that 21 days is the sticking point for making or breaking a habit – do, or don’t do, something for that long and you’re in plain-sailing territory. 21 days is a pretty doable amount of time, right? Three weeks zoom by in about five minutes – so let’s put them to work.

This year, we want you to think about making creativity a habit. That might sound a bit counterintuitive – how can you make a habit of something that can vary so much each day? – but in doing so, you’ll train yourself to make actionable ideas out of the barest of inspiration.

Not sure how to get started? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered…

1.The most essential factor? Carving out some you time.

Tricky? Sometimes. But setting a regular block of time for yourself every day – even if it’s just half an hour – gives you the breathing space to actually let your ideas take centre stage. Make yourself a priority in 2020 – you’ll be amazed how your business flourishes as a result.

2. Embrace others’ creativity.

But banish comparisons – you’re a different person, on a different path, with a different vision. Read biographies or features about creatives you admire, watch TED talks, and go to gallery exhibitions – they’ll all get the cogs whirring and let the muse in.

3. Get moving.

No, you don’t need to start scheduling gym sessions into your days (although if you want to, go for it!). But if you’re facing a bit of a creative brainfreeze, stepping away from your studio is the best way to overcome it. Go for a walk, muck out some stables, or carve out some time for a long hack – you’ll be amazed how many ideas you have when you let your brain wander aimlessly.

4. Boost your brainpower.

One of the things we miss about childhood is all that spare time to get lost in a good book. Reading has so many benefits: it flexes the muscles of your imagination, gives you motivation, and spawns new perspectives. If you really can’t squeeze in half an hour with a book, why not get into podcasts or audio books? Both will have the same impact: you’ll start looking at things from new angles.

5. Keep a journal of ideas and inspiration.

You can do this digitally, through sites like Pinterest, or you can fill a notebook or sketchbook with cuttings, scribblings, random ideas that pop into your head, and quotes. Either way, you’re exercising the creative part of your brain, allowing it to subconsciously cook up your next brilliant idea.

6. Collaborate.

Team up with other like-minded creatives to chat over coffee, pinball ideas, or even work together on a bigger project. You’ll not only benefit from the camaraderie and support, you’ll also find yourself seeing things from new and exciting angles.

7. Set challenges.

You don’t just need to be photographing clients and their horses all the time – in fact, any time you spend with a camera in hand and thinking playfully is enormously beneficial to you and your business. Why not embark upon a photography challenge this year, and step out of your own comfort zone?

We bet you can find half an hour a day for the next 21 days – and at the end, we’re even ore certain you’ll be hooked on that creative time, with an even deeper well of ideas that ever before to draw from. It’s time to dive right in and give them your full attention.