JRCS, DAGENHAM
AWARD WINNING SCHOOL WEBSITE PHOTOGRAPHY – JO RICHARDSON COMMUNITY SCHOOL
In 2016, my award winning school website photography helped seal an IMA (International Media Awards) award. Together with Creative Schools, we won ‘best in category’ from 42 finalists. Opened in 2002, The Jo Richardson Community School is a large secondary in Dagenham. In addition, JRCS has a rich, varied curriculum and excellent facilities.
I have an excellent relationship with the executive headteacher, Ges Smith and his staff. Moreover, it’s one of many schools I’ve been asked back to based on my previous work.
THE BRIEF
- Create great images for a completely new website design.
- Cover all year groups, subjects and learning styles.
- Photograph internal and external architecture.
- Work with Creative Schools web design on site specific image scale and format.
- Work with senior school staff to create a comprehensive, realistic and flexible full-day schedule.
PLANNING
Firstly, we agreed all the lessons, activities and locations to be documented. Secondly, with a date set, I worked with Deputy Head Vincent McInerney to schedule 40 ‘scenes’ in the most efficient order.
JRCS is a large site with 1700 pupils so we planned short and swift routes between locations.
In addition, Vincent agreed to show me round the school and ensure the next location was ready.
THE PROCESS
I had no more than ten minutes for each ‘scene’. Importantly, I am patient to get the right shots and I know when I have them. On this shoot, I used my full range of lenses to cover everything from sports to architecture.
The best images are natural and to create them I ensure pupils and staff are at ease. My calm approach is vital together with accute observation and fulfilling my brief.
AWARD WINNING SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHY – ADDING VALUE
My brief was to cover a wide range of learning, activities and areas of the school. In addition, I created a series of homepage images. For instance, the school logo is the seagull in the picture at the top of this page. The photo really appealed to me. Firstly, I’m very keen on accurate symmetry when it feels appropriate. Secondly, I composed it so precisely that the seagull logo became part of the website homepage design. The logo on the windows morphs into a digital logo on the other slider images. This element wasn’t in the brief. However, my attention to detail, in collaboration with creative web design from Creative Schools, made it possible.
To find out more about my award winning school photography and for some tips on planning a shoot, click through to my school photography page.
