Sarah Harley
SKILLS AUDIT

What are your passions?
Photography.Travel. Fitness. Escaping to anywhere. Animals. Nature. The coast. Skiing. Music. Architecture. Interiors. Design.
What do you enjoy doing the most?
In photography, it’s taking photos of everything and anything, candid photography of people and photoshoots where you can make the everyday look beautiful.
Outside of photography, it’s spending time with the people I love, plus our new puppy. Road trips. Being by the sea. Exercising.
The skills I need to achieve my goal of becoming a successful professional photographer are:
Increase my technical skills regarding studio work, lighting – both in the studio and outside with portable lighting/flash.
Improve my editing skills to increase speed, efficiency and quality of finished product – build more knowledge of using the relevant software.
More skills in portraiture work.
The soft skills I already have are:
Communication skills – written & verbal
Professional experience
Client experience
Visually orientated
Creative
Life experience
Good knowledge of Microsoft Office packages
Good knowledge of Adobe In-Design & Illustrator
Business experience
PR & marketing experience
The technical skills/abilities I already have are:
Good knowledge of DSLR Canon cameras.
Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom & Bridge
Knowledge of how to set up studio lighting, backdrops etc
Styling for photoshoots
The soft skills I need to develop are:
Confidence
Improve my accounting & finance skills
Become better at networking
Improved self-promotion
The technical skills/abilities I need to develop are:
Better studio & lighting knowledge
Increase my knowledge of Photoshop & Lightroom
Continue to improve my camera knowledge & use – aperture, ISO, shutter speed
Learning how to use a flash/speedlight
Portraiture skills
Editorial & commercial photography skills
How will you develop skills you need/don’t yet have?
Complete my Foundation Degree and do a top-up year to obtain my BA (Hons)
Photograph as much and as often as possible
Whilst it will be important to concentrate on the genres of photography where I want to work, also remember to photograph just because I see something I want to take a picture of. Allowing creativity to flow is essential to producing good imagery.
Study tutorials outside of college in order to gain additional technical knowledge of camera, lighting and Adobe packages
Ask for work experience with photographers working in the same genre – may be considered less of a threat whilst still a student
Research trends and stay on top of developments and new kit, tools and techniques within the industry