Do you have a requirement for commissioning professional photography for your education or teaching establishment? Here are some hot tips for commissioning photography for your school, college, university or learning centre, both in the public or private sectors. Simon Vine, the Leeds member of the Commercial Photographers Network, with many years professional photography experience, provides an insight to what is required:
Firstly, find a photographer that has the experience producing work in the educational sector; someone with the ability to put the students at ease, whether they are starting school or a mature student in adult education. This will help produce the natural images you require for your website, prospectus, e-learning tools, public relations or educational publications.
Classroom Lecture Teaching Photography
As an approved University of Leeds photographer, Simon has been producing regular photography of a wide range of subjects for the University, from student profile images and thematic photographs for the website, through to the pigs on the University farm. Simon and other members the Commercial Photographers Network have been producing work for a leading exam board, photographing students, teachers and staff members for their website and publications. There will be more about this school learning project in a future blog.
College Further Education Prospectus Photography
GDPR is something we should all be familiar with as the legislation has put the emphasis on ‘informed consent’. With regard to any pupil or student photography, many schools and education organisations previously had ‘blanket’ consent. However, with the tightening of the rules, explicit signed consent in the form of a ‘photography release form’ should be obtained from parents or guardians, or if 18 years or older, from the student themselves. It should state how long you will retain or use the images, how those images will be used and ensure they are stored in accordance with your organisations GDPR policy.
Remember, individuals have the ‘right to be forgotten’ and this might be a request that is more regularly received from former pupils, particularly once they reach 18. Please consult with your organisations Data Controller for specific advice on your GDPR policy.
Adult Education Learning Photography
Health & Safety should be taken seriously. From experience, trip hazards from photographic lighting equipment or tripods could present potential hazards. These risks should be assessed, and measures put in place to mitigate them. Also, please don’t ask the photographer to take a group shot from the classroom roof, unless it is really safe to do so!
Higher Education University Student Graduate Profile Photography
From experience, the majority of photography sessions are carried out with teaching staff supervision. However, it is prudent that all photographers working in the education sector have had a Criminal Record Check carried out within the last three years. The checks vary around the UK; DBS for England & Wales, the Scottish Disclosure Certificate in Scotland and in Northern Ireland, the Access NI check.
Schools, Education & Teaching Public Relations Photography
Here at the Commercial Photographers Network we have a team of experienced professional photographers, covering the whole of the UK and Northern Ireland. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your educational photography requirements for your school, further or higher education establishment’s requirements.
University Student Research Project Photography
If you’d like some more information about our unique UK-wide Commercial Photographers Network then contact us. Wherever you are, we have a photographer near you!
