4.3 Awareness, Attitude and Personality and Domain Expertise
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Awareness
Individuals across the Photo Imaging sector, but especially those who are self-employed, need to have an all-round awareness of the industry as a whole, including their own place within it, the roles and expectations of others within the supply chain, the markets it serves and is driven by, and the business issues it faces.
An awareness of the image production process and the overall workflow from capture to distribution is also important, especially as each stage is heavily dependent on the skills of those carrying out the adjacent stages. This is particularly significant in digital workflows where variations in colour calibration between computer screens and other equipment can result in the same image appearing differently across the workflow - not everyone necessarily sees the same thing.
Further, awareness that change is on-going - especially with respect to digital technology and its impacts on the industry - is important. Individuals and companies will need to continually manage this change in order to take advantage of it and remain competitive. They must be proactive in embracing change and seeing opportunities rather than threats and barriers.
Attitude and Personality
In an industry where low wages, long hours and hard work are often the norm, career success typically requires a strong passion for the subject, a love of images, and a high level of entrepreneurial ability. For freelancers in particular, an absolute drive to succeed is essential.
Practitioners across the industry generally need to be well motivated and self-sufficient, committed and enthusiastic. Creative flair, ideas, and an ability to think on one's feet are also desirable traits.
Successful practitioners also tend to be good communicators, able to build empathy and rapport with their subject matter, colleagues or clients, convey enthusiasm, and translate ideas and vision into finished images.
Domain Expertise
Many practitioners also have specialist domain expertise in addition to their Photo Imaging skills. Examples are:
Medical, scientific and forensic photography requires a particular level of rigour and an understanding of the related processes, in order to ensure photographs accurately and reliably capture the required information and are suitable to withstand academic or legal scrutiny.
Market or regional experience is particularly relevant for Picture Libraries and Agencies. Picture Researchers are increasingly sourcing images globally, and although the Internet facilitates this, it is often still essential to have in-country representatives with knowledge of the local market conditions, culture and expectations. Researchers also need knowledge of the evolution and development of the major Picture Libraries.
Legal awareness is especially relevant in certain contexts. For example, taking photographs of children requires parental permission; model or property releases may be required in other circumstances. As it becomes more important to clarify the issues surrounding legal awareness, photographers (and others) need to know where to get appropriate information and answers.
Awareness
Individuals across the Photo Imaging sector, but especially those who are self-employed, need to have an all-round awareness of the industry as a whole, including their own place within it, the roles and expectations of others within the supply chain, the markets it serves and is driven by, and the business issues it faces.
An awareness of the image production process and the overall workflow from capture to distribution is also important, especially as each stage is heavily dependent on the skills of those carrying out the adjacent stages. This is particularly significant in digital workflows where variations in colour calibration between computer screens and other equipment can result in the same image appearing differently across the workflow - not everyone necessarily sees the same thing.
Further, awareness that change is on-going - especially with respect to digital technology and its impacts on the industry - is important. Individuals and companies will need to continually manage this change in order to take advantage of it and remain competitive. They must be proactive in embracing change and seeing opportunities rather than threats and barriers.
Attitude and Personality
In an industry where low wages, long hours and hard work are often the norm, career success typically requires a strong passion for the subject, a love of images, and a high level of entrepreneurial ability. For freelancers in particular, an absolute drive to succeed is essential.
Practitioners across the industry generally need to be well motivated and self-sufficient, committed and enthusiastic. Creative flair, ideas, and an ability to think on one's feet are also desirable traits.
Successful practitioners also tend to be good communicators, able to build empathy and rapport with their subject matter, colleagues or clients, convey enthusiasm, and translate ideas and vision into finished images.
Domain Expertise
Many practitioners also have specialist domain expertise in addition to their Photo Imaging skills. Examples are:
- Operating environment skills
- Medical or scientific knowledge
- Knowledge of forensic procedures
- Experience of specific regions
- Legal awareness - both national and international
Medical, scientific and forensic photography requires a particular level of rigour and an understanding of the related processes, in order to ensure photographs accurately and reliably capture the required information and are suitable to withstand academic or legal scrutiny.
Market or regional experience is particularly relevant for Picture Libraries and Agencies. Picture Researchers are increasingly sourcing images globally, and although the Internet facilitates this, it is often still essential to have in-country representatives with knowledge of the local market conditions, culture and expectations. Researchers also need knowledge of the evolution and development of the major Picture Libraries.
Legal awareness is especially relevant in certain contexts. For example, taking photographs of children requires parental permission; model or property releases may be required in other circumstances. As it becomes more important to clarify the issues surrounding legal awareness, photographers (and others) need to know where to get appropriate information and answers.
