So lots of people have been asking me lately – “How did you start your business at such a young age?”

My reply to that is simple – you just go and do it! It doesn’t matter about your age.
I started taking on clients a year before setting up my business. There was a lot of people that knew of my work on the internet in the local area and they’d commission me for a photoshoot, not all of them were models either.. some people just wanted some nice images of themselves.
I admit that I wasn’t ‘all in the know’ then. I had a Interfit tungsten light kit and thought it would work for everything. I still favor using natural light over everything – like how I used to shoot at 16 and I’m still pretty much doing everything i used to just with more knowledge of the industry.

To set up a business you need a plan, a name, an accountant (quite helpful) and confidence. You also need to know that you’re going to get work but in the beginning this isn’t a big thing. Most businesses don’t see a return for a few years. This is quite a hard thing to realise at a young age because you need money to invest in equipment.
One thing I can say is I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth, my family brought me up in a modest and caring household but it doesn’t mean to say money was handed out to me everytime I asked for it. My first camera was partly paid as a christmas present and I paid for the other half.. same with my lenses. Any work I got I invested into further equipment. It takes a while to see a return but if you stick at something and push yourself in the right direction, chances are your going to see something from it.

If you’re thinking of starting a business in photography then here’s a few links that may help you on your way..

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/startingup/

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/static/html/failover.html

LARA JADE FAQ.

Due to popular demand I am posting an FAQ to help people find out more information about me. I get quite a few emails – especially from people writing essays and as much as I’d like to, I don’t have the time to send long and detailed replies back.

What’s your full name?
Lara Jade Coton. I use the name Lara Jade for my work.

When were you born?
30/07/1989

Where are you from?
I was born in Tamworth, West Midlands. I grew up here and continued to work and live here until the age of nineteen when I moved to London.

What do you specialise in?
I specialise in fashion, beauty and portrait photography work.

Did you study photography?
Yes, I did a two year diploma course at Sutton Coldfield college until the age of eighteen. Although it was a small course I learn a lot about the history and technical side of photography. After completing the course with a double distinction and merit grade I signed on to the Visual Communication Course at Birmingham City University, only a year later to find it wasn’t suited to me and I didn’t enjoy the structure of the course. I left in October 2008 to pursue my freelance career.
Although I am taught from education, I am mainly self taught and whilst studying I always continued to do photoshoots in my own time.

At what age did you start?
My first experience with photography came at the age of fifteen. I remember being introduced to deviantART – an online art website during my school GCSE and at the moment of seeing how creative photographers could be – I immediately was drawn in and began experimenting on my dad’s camcorder taking stills.

What was your first camera?
My first ever camera was a polaroid 2 megapixel digital point & shoot. I remember the first time I used it I hadn’t a clue – it had very limited manual settings and I’d Photoshop EVERYTHING to make it look good – or what I thought looked good!
My first digital SLR was the Canon 350D which I recieved for christmas at the age of sixteen, it was at this point during my college years I actually learnt how to understand a cameras manual functions.

Where do you get your models from?
When I first started my friends were very helpful in putting up with me experiment with them. I remember smudging clown make-up on one of my best friends Prudence and then later dunking her head in a fish tank full of cold water, following onto having her lie in the snow so I could take an aerial shot of her. As you can tell I wasn’t that kind to models at the time! Friends are very helpful when you start out as a photographer because they put up with everything you do – and if they can complain, you can put them in their place!
Now I work in the fashion industry I work with top modelling agencies, it has taken years to gain their trust to show that they will benefit from the images too.. it’s not always the best option when you’re first starting out though! I also use Modelmayhem (I used it a lot a few years back), you can contact the model directly and it’s an easier process than going through model agencies.

At what age did you start your business ‘Lara Jade Photography?’
I started at the age of seventeen. My dad has run his own business for many years – and his accountant is now my accountant – she helped me set it up. It wasn’t as hard as I thought but it did help me understand the business side very quickly.

Do you use Adobe Photoshop? How did you learn?
I am proud to say I use Photoshop to enhance my work, it’s very important in my work. I hate it when people deny using it and I hate those that say using Photoshop doesn’t class you as a photographer. The digital age has brought some very exciting processes into the world and one being digitalised photos, most of what I do you could do in the dark room, it’s very rare that I go into over processing an image nowadays. However, I would never use it to make a bad photograph look ‘good’.

You used to do a lot of self-portraiture – how important was this in the beginning?
Self portraits enabled me to take photos and practice at the same time without having the worry of using models straight away. Shooting myself taught me how to use natural light, and to this day I favour natural light over everything. I still do self portraits, sometimes to capture a certain emotion or feeling.

You seem to prefer shooting on location to studio – why is this?
Location was always my first choice because I find location far more exciting, you can explore more of an area. You can make a photograph look a million times more interesting adding a model to a picturesque background.

What websites do you use to showcase your work?
A photographer’s most important online portfolio should be their personal website. My website (www.larajade.co.uk) is very important to show to clients and agencies.
I also use DeviantART, Flickr, Modelmayhem, Facebook & Twitter.

Are you represented? How important is that?
Yes, I am represented by Italian Agency Sudest57 (www.sudest57.com). Being represented is very helpful – because it opens up another way of showcasing your work and it’s a gateway to new clients. Agents have a huge amount of contacts in every area of the industry.

Have you ever assisted a photographer?
I can honestly say I have never assisted another photographer. I was represented quite early on and my business was started at a young age.
Don’t get me wrong I think assisting is a very important journey for any photographer and gives you an insight into the industry you couldn’t get into doing it alone. I feel like I have missed out on a few things by not assisting, but in a positive aspect I’ve had to be quick on my feet, learn quickly and I have a unique way of working. Being self-taught in everything means my work is my unique style.

Do you use natural light or artifical lighting?
I favour natural lighting, you can capture a moment unspoilt. Natural light is the most beautiful, it’s soft and magical.
Studio lighting is used when I work indoors or if the job requires it – I love creative lighting or trying to recreate natural indoors.

Have you got any favourite photographers or influences?
I have many favourite photographers, all for different reasons.
Tim Walker – for his natural way of beinding the impossible dream in a frame, Sølve Sundsbø and Miles Aldridge for their magical fashion shots. Annie Liebovitz’ fearless approach to her subjects and Eugenio Recuenco – who needs no words at all.
I am also inspired by other media – including illustrations and paintings. There’s no end to influence in an artist’s world.

What equipment do you use at the moment?
I have always used Canon digital SLR’s & Canon lenses. I currently use a Canon 5D with prime lenses. I am lucky to be sponsored by Bowens lighting so I use their studio lighting on location or in studio.

What are you inspired by?
I am inspired by lots of things. During my career so far I have been inspired by dreams, nightmares, childhood memories, fashion, raw emotion, ever changing styles, music, films & personal emotion.

What clients have you worked for?
Over the past year or so I have worked with some very important clients, stemming from recommendations or my representation in Milan. A few of my clients include Lavazza, Sony Music, Leo Burnett Advertising Agency, Millers, Headline Publishing, Simon & Schuster/Touchstone, Random House Publishing etc..

How important is personal work in a photographer’s career?
A photographer should always test. I am constantly improving and learning new things by doing test work, you’re always gaining contacts and you don’t know where that will lead. The beauty of doing test shoots is that it can lead to strong contacts in the industry and potential paid work. Surely that’s a benefit when it’s a job you enjoy!

Have you had any exhibitions?
This year I have had quite a few exhibitions. One of the biggest was at The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle, one of the biggest and known exhibition spaces in the North. Other exhibitions include various Midlands based universities and at nightclubs in London.

Have you won any awards?
I won the Public Choice Award at the AOP Open Awards this year (2009).

How do you price your services?
You have to weight up firstly how much it is costing you, then your time involved. It takes me two-three days from shoot to end of retouching to complete a photoshoot. So I always consider that cost has to be calculated for 2-3 days work. Obviously commerical rates differ from smaller jobs. Editorial isn’t very well paid but you have to consider you get exposure and work from that.
When first starting off it’s important to keep your prices lower to gain interest, then when you are more comfortable put them up and research competitors. There’s no easy way of pricing your work though – just remember you are as worth as much as you put a price tag on. A designer bag has more desire for a shopper to buy and it’s classed as being ‘more important’ because of the price.. however, you could get a similar bag without the name for a tenth of the price but it won’t be as cherished as it’s competitor. Do you do quality over quantity? Only you can decide it.

Is it important to have a style?
As well as important contacts, another important factor in being a successful photographer is style. There’s so much competition in the fashion photography industry that you need to be original to stand out. You will only achieve a unique style by constantly pushing yourself.

What equipment would you recommend for a starting photographer?
Depending on what style of work you are going into. Please read my article on choosing a camera here – http://news.deviantart.com/article/40046/

How do I get exposure?
A number of ways – through showcasing your work in person and online. It takes time but online is a great and free way of getting your work to thousands without moving out of your chair! In a few hours you can get say 10-20 people looking at your work. Question yourself – how long would that take in person?
Entering competitions is also a good way, look at the recent competihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
insert bold tagstions and see who is accepting submissions.

Can you give me advice on getting a porfolio together?
Of course. A portfolio is an important tool for a photographer.
Remember to limit a portfolio to 20-30 of your best images, try to include a range of images but don’t bee too varied because this can put a client off. A standard porfolio size is A3.. because my work is so detailed it looks better larger so I always opt for a larger book.
Leather bound books are more professional, invest in a good portfolio and you’ve got a great start already.

Do you have any tips for an aspiring fashion photographer?
Testing is the most important thing a photographer can do, especially with fashion. You’re book needs to be improved constantly, keeping with the new trends. Get yourself a good team (stylists, MUAs, hair stylists etc). Contacts are VERY important and play the vital role in getting work and getting yourself known. You can be the best photographer but if you don’t have contacts you won’t get the work!
Remember that nothing ever happens overnight. You need to keep consistant and fresh – always update your work on online profiles and keep your personal website updated.

As always, if you have any questions please e-mail larajadephotography@gmail.com

To say thank you to my followers for supporting me the past few years. I will be posting helpful guidelines over the next few months to give you an insight into the industry I have experienced and guide you on your journey you will experience.
The first post is for photographers who are looking for help on choosing models and where to find them.. I hope you find this helpful. Please give feedback if you can.

So you’re looking for a model for a photoshoot and you don’t know where to start?
Whether you’re a photographer just starting out, an amateur or professional photographer looking for further advice then this is the guide for you.

Firstly – ask yourself what sort of model you’re looking for -
*Is the model important in the shoot?
*What sort of look do you need?
*Special requirements (for example if you’re doing a fashion shoot you need to consider height

SO where do I look?
Models are quite easy to access as long as you know where to look and you know what you’re looking for.
Top agencies (Storm, Elite etc) are going to want a lot of experience before they feel confident with you using their models. So if you’re starting out an easy way is to look at a website called Modelmayhem (www.modelmayhem.com). It’s a worldwide known website and you can browse people by city/country etc – perfect if you need to organise someone and you can contact the model directly. There’s a mixture of experience on the website and you’ll find some of the beginner models will begin to grow with you. Remember that building relationships are vital at the start of any photographers career and it will define how successful you are later on.

Remember a model can make or break a shoot, so have an idea of what sort of look you want your model to have before contacting agencies or contacting the model directly.

How do I approach them?
First and foremost – be confident. You don’t need to sell yourself for a test shoot if someone is at the same level as you. You just need to be confident about the shoot you have in mind.
Planning is vital. Always have an idea in mind first then book your model accordingly – a model will feel more confident if you already have an idea set up, so they know they can turn up on the day and everything is set up. Remember they will be in front of the camera nearly all day! So making them confident on first approach is a very good tactic into getting them to work with you.

TIME FOR PRINT / TIME FOR CD (TFP / TFCD).
When contacting a model for a personal shoot or a ‘test’ you need to tell them it’s TFP or TFCD (meaning their time for prints or pictures from you) – so no one is paying out and everyone is equal.

TIP – A confident and experienced model will show on your pictures. It may be worth investing in a shoot if you’re just starting out and perhaps paying a model a little bit for her time. Unless you have an amazing porfolio already, the more experienced models will continue working with the experienced photographers. Please keep this in mind when looking for them.

How do I know what to look for?
You need inspiration – what sort of shoot do you want to do? Me and my boyfriend who are both photographers always collect fashion magazines and we have a collection of hundreds, it’s always helpful to look through and find inspiration and also they are timeless – trends and themes are always circling and you’ll find they are also helpful showing to a model on the day – to help with poses.

What websites are helpful?
*Modelmayhem – www.modelmayhem.com
*OneModelPlace – www.onemodelplace.com
*Net-Model – www.net-model.com
*List of Model Agencies – http://www.wolfkettler.co.uk/models/modelsguide/sellyourbody/modelagencies.html

I hope this is helpful to all you photographers out there. If you have any questions please note or email me at larajadephotography@gmail.com

Hello everyone!
I apologise for such a late post here, I have had so much on and to be totally honest the days I’ve had free I haven’t even felt like working or being on the internet. Instead of jumping straight into work I’ve been discovering more about my health, which was quite poor last year and has left me feeling very exhausted and not being able to handle stress very well.

2009 has been a good start for me, it’s very refreshing to start a new year with a positive. I went straight into it with a project called ‘Lax Project’ which is a combined photography project with my boyfriend Luc Coiffait (you can see his work at www.flickr.com/lcoiffait). The theme is basically ‘fashion in abandoned places’ and we travelled around the UK (Wales, Scotland, Newcastle & Birmingham) to get to some of the most interesting abandoned locations.
I have a backlog of a few thousand photos to go through and the beginning of the project can be seen on our flickr page – www.flickr.com/photos/laxproject. I have been quite busy with everything so therefore haven’t been editing the work. On the other hand Mr Luc has been busy editing and his can be seen so far on the flickr page above.

I have just returned from a week trip to London where I stayed with my friend Anna (you may know her as a model from some of my work). Her and her husband Nat were kind enough to let me stay with them.
We did two shoots for Lifescape Magazine (fantastic eco-friendly health magazine) where I shot two editorials and two covers for the upcoming months.
The first shoot was in Hartwell House just outside of London, the location is a stunning mansion that has also been transformed partly into a spa. Anna was the cover girl and model for this shoot, Sandra Bermingham was the fantastic MUA and we borrowed clothes from a beautiful vintage boutique.
We got to stay in the luxury ‘Lee’ suite whilst we were preparing for the shoot and we had room service for our breakfast! The staff all made us feel very welcome and all of us involved can say it was one of the best shoots we’ve been on.

The second shoot was in Radlett, London. We had Vershana modelling, Sandra doing make-up and we had a designer ‘Baruch’ (upcoming designer that has some fantastic clothes). We shot around the train station and surrounding areas, playing with the natural light that was pouring through the tress. It was a perfect set up for a summer editorial!

London was a good experience for me, I managed to meet a few good contacts on the way too. We went to dinner with Roberto Aguilar (www.photoaguilar.com) at Eight Over Eight, a beautiful Asian restuarant in Chelsea. (highly recommended by the way!)
Lifescape magazine brought a few good contacts my way – watch this space!!

I am testing for Lavazza coffee over the next few weeks so I’ll be very busy but please keep an eye on my blog and my flickr for new updates very soon!

Lara.