Assignment 3: Self Reflection

This assignment was not really an onerous one for me as I used to do this kind of research before I retired. Sourcing names, addresses and contact details is something I do well and quickly.

• If I can give any advice to students tackling this or a similar assignment is to start this process very early on. Do it concurrently with other assignments. While you might be organized, you need to leave room (and read that as time too) for folks responding to you. Plan on sending the emails out individually to avoid spam filters.
• I found that wording the initial email to the book publishers was crucial. Stressing that it was an academic exercise was very fruitful. Many book publishers were/are academics themselves so understand the pressures of the student. Responses acknowledged this.
• Gained valuable insight into book sequencing from one particular publisher as well as methodology and printing processes.
• Made good legacy contacts with those who responded.

Reflection on Tutor Feedback: Assignment 3

Very diligent and comprehensive primary research.

Tutor Feedback (with my comments in italics)

• Need to bring down word count. Some suggestions via annotations made on Word document.
• Inclusion of the log with the data is excellent. Suggest this goes onto the padlet. Done.
• Looking at A3 after A4 is a reflection of what happens in the real world. Waiting for responses from book publishers, while actual practice work continues. Sending out emails requesting participation in the survey was time-consuming as I sent them out individually in order to avoid spam filters. Once I received confirmation of participation, a Google Chat interview date was arranged or digital questionnaire was sent out. Some publishers took their time returning the questionnaires. Whole process took a couple of months to complete.
• Use bullet points which may help reduce word count. Done.
• Good to have a large sample. 10 is much more than most students get. Responses were varied and many nuggets of useful information was gained through this process.
• Interviews and findings well presented. Just work on bullet pointing to get word count down. Done.
• Might want to just summarize your findings in each section (see your annotations) – you can signpost in the padlet as a grand summary – in bullet points. Have created the grand summary on the padlet.
• Put revised version at the top of the padlet to show reverse engineering. Done. Final version is in PDF format to preserve the page formatting.

LO3 operate in complex commercial contexts requiring the application of specific interpersonal, professional and business skills within an ethical framework

Assignment 3: Analytical Essay (Option 2)

I chose to do Option 2 for this assignment “write a 2,000 word analytical text that discusses a particular role, either one of those discussed in Part Three or another role related to the photographic industry. This task should be informed by primary research (i.e. direct contact with practitioners) as well as other resources”.

(Boothroyd and Alexander, 2020:60)

I chose to interview book publishers.

The essay was submitted to my tutor in June. I am not publishing the essay here on the blog as some information is confidential but it is accessible for assessment via my CRS padlet and G-drive.

Brief summary of process

• Researched and gathered contact details of 114 book publishers globally.
• Crafted introductory email stating purpose of interview, requesting participation in survey, offering choice of paper questionnaire or GoogleMeet interview. Individual emails sent to avoid spam filters.
• Once buy-in obtained emailed questionnaire or arranged suitable meeting time.
• Questionnaire consisted of 18 questions divided into three sections: company background, on the process, creative aspects of the photobook (subjective questions re concept etc).
• 22 respondents indicated willingness to participate. Only 10 actually did, which provided more than enough good information for the essay.
• Thank-you emails sent to all who responded and gave interviews.
• Responses collated into document arranged by questions to make it easier to consolidate common responses and arrange thoughts for essay.
• Publishers specialised in different photographic genres, e.g. nature and humanity, LBGTQ, Texas, documentary, architecture, etc.
• Good legacy network contacts developed through this process, resulting in following on social media.

LO1 demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the professional context(s) relevant to your practice and have an understanding of the professional dimensions that underpin a successful photographic practice

LO3 operate in complex commercial contexts requiring the application of specific interpersonal, professional and business skills within an ethical framework

Assignment 3: Interview Questions

I have drafted the following questions in preparation for interviews with book publishers. I am awaiting feedback from my tutor prior to sending them out to the publishers. I will offer the publishers a choice of either completing a questionnaire, or having a Google Meet chat.

Company Background and General Information

1. Could you give me a little background on your company? I will first break the ice with a statement of what I know of the publisher’s background. This question is mainly here to serve as my prompt.
2. Could you tell me a bit about the different roles within your company and what they entail: e.g. publisher, acquisition editor, content editor, designer etc. And give some insight into the whole process of when a submission arrives on your desk.
3. How many books does your company produce in a season or publishing cycle?
4. How has the demise of the independent book seller influenced the photography publishing industry?
5. Does your company specialise in producing photobooks in certain genres only? If so, which genres and why?
6. What is the minimum print run your company will do? Do you use offset or digital printing?

Beginning the process

1. What is one of the first things a photographer should consider if they are planning on producing a photobook?
2. How do photographers determine the type of audience they intend to reach through publishing? And how do they test the market to see if their book will be viable?
3. What kind of criteria do you use to evaluate the potential of a photobook and how to proceed to publishing?
4. What is a crucial mistake people make when sending you a book project submission?
5. How do you decide how many copies to produce?
6. Which production costs are usually for the photographer’s own expense?
7. A couple of confusing legal terms occur when a contract is drawn up. Can you explain what the granting of rights and the calculation of royalties entail?

On the Photobook

1. What comes to your mind when you think of a photobook?
2. Can you describe the process of developing a concept for a photobook?
3. What advice do you have when it comes to the conceptualisation process in creating a book, i.e. how to determine the experience we want the viewer to have?
4. I’ve heard it said that the same book printed with different materials can have different meanings or generate different experiences. Can you elaborate on that please?
5. What is the collaborative process like when you are working with photographers on a book? Should the photographer have a finalised edited sequence ready for production, or is this something that is worked on jointly?
6. How important is it to create a physical maquette of the photobook?
7. How should a photographer analyse the relationship between image and text to better understand its expressive possibilities?
8. Do you have any some advice to photographers who are just starting out, who are planning to make work with the hopes of publishing a photobook?
9. Can you recommend any resources that photographers can use in order to learn more about the book making side?

LO1 demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the professional context(s) relevant to your practice and have an understanding of the professional dimensions that underpin a successful photographic practice

LO3 operate in complex commercial contexts requiring the application of specific interpersonal, professional and business skills within an ethical framework