Visiting Lecturer: Stephen McCoy and Stephanie Wynne

McCoy and Wynne are Merseyside based photographers working nationally and internationally. Their lecture focused on taking on jobs as opportunities to develop new skills and new job offers. Also, keeping contacts with other designers and clients. 

McCoy and Wynne talked about how they started seeking work and connections; by printing their portfolio into a brochure and cold calling businesses to offer their services and become known about. One of the hardest tasks, they recall, when speaking to businesses was finding the right person to speak to, especially when it was a big organisation. 

The photographers stress the importance of having an online presence, in the form of a website or an Instagram account to showcase our design work. Using this to make yourself noticed by businesses and potential clients. 

(Floral arrangements were created by a local florist in collaboration)

Showing photographs and speaking about their career, their main points were about their experiences with connections and how working for one client has led them onto more work, for new businesses and clients, all through keeping contacts and networking. To give an example of this, they talked about a building they photographed during construction, which they were then contacted when construction was complete, this led to them photographing the interior of the building and later photographing door handles for a door handle company. 

Their approach to photographing buildings is very inspiring as they focus on their composition, not just to take a good photo at a good angle, but also to show where the building is within the city rather than just the building. 

(Photograph of completed construction of building, Liverpool)

Another point they make on composition is when they specifically create work in a long narrow format, such as a website banner. This creates a diverse portfolio of work and shows the photographers’ ability to create photographs to fit the clients exact needs.

Reflecting on the lecture, an important part of any design job is composition, and the ability to create work to any format because you never know what work a client will require. Additionally, a point made briefly in the lecture which stuck in my mind was to include work done personally in spare time in our professional portfolio. I think this is a great piece of advice that a professional in the industry could give someone going into the creative industry.   

(Images sourced from the Guest Lecturers' Presentation)