I grew up in France
I've always enjoyed photography. I grew up loving cameras, having fun in my own time taking photos of friends and people. I started a different undergraduate course back home, but didn’t enjoy the course nor the university as there wasn’t much of a university life and campus experience. So I looked into the photography course here at Oxford Brookes. I compared it to other unis, but I really liked the look of this course and I talked to some prospective students as well. It was really interesting and it really helped. I would say the photography course here is quite different in a good way, because of its size and its real world applications.
It seems quite daunting
Because you can't hide from the lecturers and you can't really hide behind anyone else in a big lecture theatre. But in a sense this really helped because we have really good access to 1 to 1 personal feedback sessions with lecturers and peers on the course. And that's what really drew me in was particularly the size of the course and the fact that it's really career orientated. In the first year we had to take photos of 15 strangers, which is pretty scary when you first arrive and have to approach 15 people to take their portraits. I took five portraits of each person and some people said no, which is fine, because that’s the worst thing that can happen really. That really pushed us, because as photographers, we're always going to have to work with people no matter what we end up doing in Photography.
It's not the same relationship with lecturers like it is in school with teachers Lecturers don't really consider themselves teachers because they're very much within the industry still. They are still photographers or art directors, but it's really nice to be able to have that personal relationship with them. Sometimes I just go to the office and ask questions and feedback on my work. So I really enjoy that 1 to 1 aspect, that is quite different to school, having the access, but also having the availability as well.
In the final year we have a module called an independent practice
Which is to prepare us for work after university. The goal is for us to be employable when we leave university. Within the module, we build up our linkedin profiles, websites, social media, etc. We have to write cv’s, cover letters and, most importantly, create a portfolio of work. This portfolio will be reviewed and our lecturer brings in professionals that we've never met before. It's a really good exercise to do before leaving university as it can be stressful and a bit daunting to have someone look over your work. I believe doing this whilst still on the course is a valuable experience as it shows us what a portfolio review and interview is like in the real world. I am nervous about this, but mostly excited to see my work and portfolio created over these past three years come together and have it reviewed by professionals. I don't regret my decision to come to this course at Oxford Brookes.