Justina Burnett
PhotographerWhich course did you study and when did you graduate?
Postgraduate Certificate in Photography, Central Saint Martins. 2006
What have you been up to since leaving the University?
I was a practising employment lawyer for 5 years before doing the course. After graduating in 2006, I continued with law on a part-time basis until August 2007. I then gave up law completely and became a freelance photographer. I used the year as a way of preparing for self-employment. I had 2 days a week in which to devote myself to photography whilst I still earnt money as a lawyer. I attended workshops on starting up a business, tax, networking and marketing run by ECCA and Business Link. I also attended workshops and seminars on technical and creative aspects of photography. I set up my website and assisted a landscape/garden photographer, and started to put together a database of contacts. I sold some prints straight after my graduation show and I made sure that I continued to take part in group exhibitions which raised my profile and led to further print sales to private collectors.
A few months before giving up I registered with the Inland Revenue as self-employed and elected to be voluntarily registered for VAT. I approached Andrew Watson, the Course Director of the Postgradate Certificate course in Photography, with an idea for a workshop. He agreed and I presented a workshop on the Digital Photographers Workflow to the next year’s intake of students.
I am currently putting together a photo library of plant images and looking for editorial work with garden and lifestyle magazines. So far I have only done some work for BBC Books. Coming second in the Garden View Category of the RHS Photography Competition will certainly help when I approach magazine editors. My fine art work is important to me and I intend to designate time to this on a weekly basis.
I wanted to be represented by a gallery early on in my career and I decided to start on a small scale by approaching a local gallery. I was successful and they are now selling some of my images.
I have started teaching digital photography privately which is not something I had envisaged. It happened by accident and then spread by word of mouth. It pays well and takes up very little of my time so it suits me perfectly.
What has the transition from your studies into your current life been like? What expectations, if any, did you have?
So far the transition has been a reasonably smooth one. I might feel very differently in one year’s time though. I do think that having a year to prepare for self-employment helped. I also think my legal background and experience of working in the city has been beneficial. I understand how large corporations function. I know how to approach people with a proposal and to make the most of my networks.
I had no great expectations for the first few months. I knew it would take time to find my feet and adjust to working alone. So far I am happy with my progress but there is always an underlying feeling that I should be achieving more. I have a couple of personal projects lined up for early next year and I have set myself several targets of things I need to achieve by March. I think this is important as it keeps me focused.
Did you feel prepared when you graduated? If not, was there anything else you wish you’d done, any opportunities you wish you’d seized?
No, I was not prepared. I needed that further year of earning money in a part-time job whilst I figured out what sort of photography market I wanted to target and how I was going to go about it. The course I did was only one year and for me the course was more about honing my technical skills, exploring different photographic processes and mediums rather than developing a professional practice. The support and assistance provided by ECCA and the Careers Service was invaluable in terms of guidance and help. I guess with hindsight I would have liked to have secured an assisting job whilst studying because nothing beats first hand experience. However, the most important thing is making the most of the course facilities and tutors’ expertise whilst you are a student.
If there’s one thing you would tell a current student to do right now that would help them when they leave the University, what would it be?
Focus on what is important to you during the course. If this happens to be concentrating on your creative vision rather than thinking about professional practice then so be it. However, as soon as your final term draws to a close then make the most of the workshops and seminars run by ECCA and the Careers Service. Start talking to people in your industry, networking and looking for assisting jobs. Seek advice from other photographers. Remember that if you are going to freelance you are 50% photographer and 50% businessman/salesman.
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