We were given a brief for photographing in the nursery at the NCN Adams Building. We were asked to do it so the college can advertise the nursery's provision and facilities. They also asked for head and shoulder shots of the staff to replace existing out of date images.

Before the shoot was done we were told to look at, research and explain different uses for photography in this area.

I think the main business in this area are school photographs and passport photos. There is also normal portraiture shots ie family portraits and sibling portraits.
The industry which is currently making a profit and doing well for itself is the school portraits. Families have always wanted to have memories of the children growing up and the best way to achieve that is by school photos which are taken once every school year as an individual or with siblings and then a class photo which is normally taken later on in the school year to make more money from selling them separate. This is because a parent wont pay for to packages in one go a lot of the time and I can understand that myself as I am a parent. If it is slit up the company can make more money at two different times of the year.

The image below is an example of a school photograph taken in the early 1950's to show how long this field has been popular for. Obviously its more recent that is has become increasingly popular.

(Image found at http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_g_p/0_groups_and_outings_tollcross_school_early-1950s.jpg on 12.05.2016)

In this line of work the photographers tend to have a similar set up. The equipment needed is similar to a studio set up. Obviously a camera is required. I think its the photographers personal choice as to if they use a normal DSLR or if they have a full frame camera, which, if it was me, I would use a full frame for the better quality. A key light, reflector and back drop are also required. Some back drops are the traditional mottled colours but more recently it is more up to date to have a bright white background or a dark grey. I think both of these work extremely well. I can remember having most of my school photos taken at school and sometimes the photographer would hold the camera and other times they would have the camera on a tripod. I think that is down to different photographers and what hey find easier and what works well for them. Below is an image of a basic set up used in schools to achieve the best possible lighting.

(Image found at http://exposureschool-1582.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/rembrandt.png on 12.05.2016)

I think high key is more popular in this field so that you can clearly see the features of the child/young person.

Here are two photographers I have found who are successful in this area of work. One of them is the photographer who does the images of the children at my daughters school. I like their work and they have been up and running now since 1907.

The above image shows a selection of the products they provide for the schools. I think this is what has made them so successful. They offer a wide range at low cost prices. For latest class photo I have ordered from them of my daughter it has cost me £8.50 for a large 10x8 image which is framed and protected by special shatter proof glass. That is a great price that as a parent you do not mind paying. The quality of the images is great and you can see that they have taken their time to mke sure everything is perfect. Their style is simple but effective. You can see an example in the above image of their website.

This is another local photography company who specialise in school photography. It looks like they do well as they take a different approach to taking the images so using the old style of backdrop as well and the new. They also have different ways of setting the children/young people up to photograph. Instead of the traditional on chairs or standing in rows, these have them in groups without any chairs or rows. This is different and I can see how and why this works well.

This is a code of conduct I found online which is very informative as to what is acceptable and not allowed when it comes to photographing children/young people in schools. It contains vital information about the Data Protection Act which is something you have to take seriously as a photographer.

(The document below was found at http://www.devon.gov.uk/photography_and_filming_in_schools_-_code_of_practice_2010.pdf on 12.05.2016)

While photographing in schools you have to be very care where Health and Safety is concerned. There are several dangers and things to watch out for which I have researched myself for when I do shoots in different places. There is a website which I refer to before doing any shoots to do a check to make sure I have got everything covered and can make my clients aware of any obstructions or dangers, it is very useful and helpful.

"Health and Safety for Photographers

Health and Safety in Photography

For use when working on location or in the photographic studio.

Health and Safety for Photographers.

Essentially, I have taken some extracts from various HSE leaflets, to produce this article and modified them, in relation to specific applications in the area of photographic practice.

If you want specialist help with Health and Safety, I recommend that you visit the HSE website here it is the introduction page, to the guidelines for HSE is a good entry into the HSE website.

The Health and Safety Executive, has a list of booklets you can download for free, from the following web link: Health and Safety Executive guides.

“What health and safety law requires

The basis of British health and safety law is the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The Act sets out the general duties, which employers have towards employees and members of the public, and employees have to themselves and to each other.

These duties are qualified in the Act by the principle of ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’. In other words, an employer does not have to take measures to avoid or reduce the risk if they are technically impossible or if the time, trouble or cost of the measures would be grossly disproportionate to the risk.

What the law requires here is what good management and common sense would lead employers to do anyway: that is, to look at what the risks are and take sensible measures to tackle them.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (the Management Regulations) generally make more explicit what employers are required to do to manage health and safety under the Health and Safety at Work Act. Like the Act, they apply to every work activity.

The main requirement on employers is to carry out a risk assessment. Employers with five or more employees need to record the significant findings of the risk assessment.

Risk assessment should be straightforward in a simple workplace such as a typical photographic studio or location. It should only be complicated if it deals with serious hazards such as those in a darkroom using chemicals.”

The above is modified from to reflect photographic needs or requirements:Health and Safety Executive. Health and safety regulation… a short guide on the HSE website or Health and safety regulation… … a short guide

In creating an environment in the photo-studio or photographic location you will need to consider the following points in creating a health and safety framework.

“The HSW Act and supporting regulations require employers (photographers) to ensure the safety, health and welfare at work of their employees so far as is reasonably practicable. It also places a general duty on employers (photographers) to conduct their business in such a way as to ensure that others (ie non-employees and members of the public) are not exposed to risks to their health or safety.  Employees (assistants) are required to co-operate with their employers (photographers) in complying with health and safety law. They are required to take reasonable care to ensure they do not endanger themselves or anyone else using the premises, which could include assistants, models, make-up artists, hairdressers, stylists, models (etc), and visitors. They should:

Follow the instructions and training given by their employer (the photographer) in the safe use of particular items of equipment such as photographic equipment, studio lights, darkroom and computer equipment as appropriate.
Inform their employer (the photographer) of any work situation which is a serious and immediate danger to health and safety, for example broken equipment.
Inform their employer (the photographer) of any shortcomings in the arrangements for ensuring the health and safety of employees.  Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, as amended (the Management Regulations), employers need to assess the risks to the health and safety of employees and others who may be affected by their activities. This may require employers their employer (the photographer) taking advice from other professionals on specific risks.

Who is responsible for the assessment?

It is the employers’ (photographers) responsibility to ensure risk assessments are carried out. In practice, competent employees who have the relevant training, knowledge and understanding of the issues may undertake them. It is also important to involve key decision makers in the process (as appropriate) especially where there are significant resource implications. To be fully effective, they need to consider how other issues, such as environmental conditions, restricted workspace, and the risk of violence.”

The above content has been modified from: Health and Safety Executive. Health and safety matters for special educational needs: Legal issues including risk assessment. Which is no longer available on the HSE website.

Risk Assessments

We all know that we need to do some form of risk assessment but what is involved in doing this. Why if we are freelance photographers should we consider doing one. For a start, if you have public liability insurance you can claim to being aware of any issues before they arise and you have some paper work that shows you where aware of any issues if something should happen. Apart from this it is good practice to do a risk assessment as it shows you clients, subjects and co-workers that you do care about providing a positive and safe working environment for everyone. The Health and Safety Executive has the following guide you should download and consider using: “Five steps to risk assessment “ on the HSE website or Five steps to risk assessment.

You can download the form only from here Photographers Risk Assessment

You need to follow these five steps, to not only be aware of risks but, also to do something about them.

Identify hazards.
Decide who might be harmed and how.
Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.
Record your findings and implement them.
Review your assessment and update if necessary.

Working on Location. The Health and Safety Executive has a useful guide in Buildings used for locations or temporary studios in film and television. That covers things like working in buildings, control measures, fire, responsibilities, hazards, Utilites, Vermin, hazardous materials, rubbish and debris to name a few of the details it goes into.

In the guide it refers to ‘must’ as being a legal obligation and words like ‘do’ should’ as advice on good practice. I would recommend that you download this guide from the link below as it is an in-depth look at things you should consider when working on location.

See link below for a form, that will help in checking the location for any health and safety issues that you may encounter. (which is also in the guide from the listed here). Health and Safety Executive, Buildings used for locations or temporary studios in film and television on the HSE website or Buildings used for locations or temporary studios in film and television or download the modified one that I have created based on the one for television. Here: Location photography Health and Safety

One area that photographers need to consider is the possibility of people tripping or slipping over.

“Slip and Trip Hazards Control measures

In order to effectively control slip and trip risks, employers should:

Identify the hazards – look for slip and trip hazards around the location or photo studio.
Decide who might be harmed and how – look at who comes onto the location or photo studio, and whether they are at risk.
Consider the risks and decide if precautions already being taken are enough, or if more needs to be done.
Record the findings.
Review the assessment regularly and revise it if necessary.

Location or photo studio premises are varied and often complex sites. The measures to control the risks will vary according to the different areas of the location or photo studio and the different activities being undertaken. Each will need to be assessed separately and a range of practical measures adopted to control the risk depending on the assessment. The risk factors to consider include:

Environmental (floor, steps, slopes etc).
Contamination (water, food, litter etc).
Organisational (task, safety culture etc).
Footwear (for example, footwear worn for photographic sessions may not always be in line with sensible shoes for work).
Individual factors (eg information and training,  supervision, pedestrian behaviour etc).”

The points above have been modified for the photographic studio and come from: Health and Safety Executive. Preventing slip and trip incidents in the education sector on the HSE website or Preventing slip and trip incidents in the education sector.

If you are asked to write a health and safety policy for your business then the Health and Safety Executive has a template that you can download from their website (www.hse.gov.uk) or by following the link year to: risk-assessment-and-policy-template (this link will download the attached file to your computer).

Bibliography.

Health and Safety Executive. 2012 Buildings used for locations or temporary studios in film and televison (online) Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/etis18.pdf (Accessed 9^th February 2013).

Health and Safety Executive. 2012 Five steps to risk assessment (online) Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg163.pdf (Accessed 9^th February 2013).

Health and Safety Executive. Health and safety matters for special educational needs: Legal issues including risk assessment. (online) Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/edis3.pdf (Accessed 9^th February 2013). This guide seems to be currently no longer available.

Health and Safety Executive. 2003 Health and safety regulation..… a short guide. (online) Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hsc13.pdf (Accessed 9^th February 2013).

Health and Safety Executive. Preventing slip and trip incidents in the education sector. (online) Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/edis2.pdf (Accessed 9^th February 2013).

Health and Safety Executive. Publication links (online) Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/regindex.htm (Accessed 9^th February 2013)."

(Information found at http://www.michaelwayneplant.com/health-safety-photographers/ on 12.05.2016)

Nursery Images

These are the images I took whilst on the nursery shoot. I have edited them lightly and made two images, one in black and white and one in colour. This is to give the nursery the option of having them either way. Sometimes places like to use all colour and others like to add the odd B&W ones.