Lecture at Coleg Gwent Ebbw Vale

I was invited back by the course leader Stacey Knight to deliver a session that I originally gave to last year's students. The talk was called 'My Life as a Photographer, or What I Wish I'd Learned at University' and was written as a talk to my younger self.

Before the session Stacey showed me a collection of student portfolios featuring work done by last year's students following my talk. It was lovely (and a bit weird) to see my work researched and featured in this way!

My aim with the talk is to transfer some of my passion for photography to the students, coupled with as many practical tips as I could think of to help them with their own photographic work. Some of the topics include:

• Get to Know Your Camera
• Shoot, shoot and shoot again
• Social skills for portraiture - its a collaboration between sitter and photographer
• Get out of your comfort zone
• Know the law, but don't be a dick about it
• Set your own briefs
• Collaborate with friends, share kit and ideas
• Keep safe

The session went really well and the students were super attentive. One of them even asked for my autograph (that's a first) and had a list of 10 questions already prepared after researching my work. I'm looking forward to seeing this year's students portfolio work, and answering the questions that are on their way (we ran short on time!). It's great to be able to enthuse the new generation, and try to help them on their way by learning some of the lessons I've learnt along the way.

I look forward to delivering the session next year, and to seeing this year's students end of year show.