This session was really great and very interactive as James had set up a padlet where we would each have a few tasks to complete.
We started by looking at what a SWOT analysis was and how to complete one with our peers. We then started completing the first task -
STEP ONE
In order to illustrate YOUR career plans and it's context please create a post under your name and add 3 links to websites of:
1. A professional you consider to be competition/peer at the top of this industry:
2. A professional you consider to be competition/peer in 5 years time
3. A Photo/Advertising/Branding agency you could work for. Or a company/institution/group.
MY ANSWERS
1. https://nathanmiles.co.uk/Work
2. https://dominicdavies.com/#2
3. Anything to do with photo therapy, possibly working with a mental health charity such as Mind https://www.mind.org.uk/ But also a magazine such as https://www.1854.photography/
STEP TWO
Please upload a link to your portfolio on a post.
MY ANSWER
My portfolio is currently my website which is charleyskinner.com,
I have been very behind in terms of photography..
STEP THREE
Please spend some time thinking about your future plans and write a short statement alluding to your hopes dreams and fears (100-300 words) and submit these on to a post.
MY ANSWER
My aim in life has always been to help people, so I was considering creating some photo therapy courses for people who may not be be able to express themselves verbally, which I would still love to do, however only recently I have realized that my photographic work and style is edging towards commercial, which I am really enjoying. So I am now rethinking my whole career plan to become a potential commercial photographer alongside documentary, so I believe that I would really love to work with a magazine at some point. I would love to be involved in both of these areas, even if they are at different points of my life.
STEP FOUR
SURPRISE TASK.
For this task we were each given a topic as a group to work on, and they were very fun topics.
We were given the topic ‘Care-bears’, we had 10-15 minutes to create a presentation based on the care-bears. This was a really great idea to build team working skills. We managed to create a very interested presentation which included a lot of important life quotes.
STEP FIVE
Move into your breakout rooms in your groups. Nominate a chair to oversee the exercise.
This maybe tricky to get your heads around but this is an exercise in being honest.
For each individual the group will conduct a SWOT analysis. Please as a group work through everyone’s portfolio and statement. The chair is to record on a post the identified. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and threats on everyone’s stream.
PLEASE BE HONEST. THIS EXERCISE WILL ONLY BE BENEFICIAL IF YOU SEE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT OTHERS SEE.
MY ANSWER
Strengths
-Lots of work
-Organised home page
-Easy to navigate
Weaknesses
-Stay consistent
-Show work that represents me
- Show more up to date work
Opportunities
-Charities
-Art Clubs
-Do a psychology degree
Threats
- Finding ways into the industries
- Competition
- Income
- Time
Overall, this was a great lecture and it was extremely useful, I have now managed to get some amazing, critical advice on my portfolio and how I can improve it! It was also really great to speak to people that I wouldn’t normally speak with and to see their work, especially as due to the pandemic I have felt very isolated from the people on my course, so this little exercise really helped with that.