Photography related Job situation in UK

Berri

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I'm considering the idea of moving from this stagnating italian land to a much more fast paced and growing reality: Britain.
I would like to know from you british guys and girls which areas would be better for finding a job in the photographic industry. I'd be happy to do anything related to photography; from working in a darkroom (perhaps you still have some in schools) to a high street print lab. I have good skills in both black and white and colour darkroom, as well as good knowledge of photography (portrait, still life...)
Do you think I could try?

(P.S. I come in peace, I'm not trying to steal all your jobs! -just one - )
 
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Berri

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I would be happy to consider setting up a professional darkroom too, if some of you is interested!
 

Ian Grant

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It's very difficult to find openings here in the UK, there's a lot more competitive for work, and then there's a lot of students coming out of the photography degree courses every Summer.

Darkrooms are closing down so setting up new in a shrinking market is difficult, you'd need to do a lot of research. A friend of mine worked in London for a while then moved to Amsterdam where he found much more work. Remember photographers from all around the world flock to try and make it in London Few succed.

Another friend has just taken redundancy, he worked for Getty Images shooting celebrities in London, essentially though a paparazzi photographer, he was glad to give it up. Don't assume it's better here than Italy, last time I was in Greece I visited a thriving family run studio and yet Greece is supposed to be in crisis.

Ian
 

RalphLambrecht

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You may be better off in New York; heard from a friend that Richard Avedon is looking for a new competent B&W printer. if 40 years younger, I'd apply.
 

Peter Schrager

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Don't listen to anyone else
Follow your heart and go to London or New York or anywhere and do what you love
 

benjiboy

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You need to have a work permit as in any country to work here and our government is committed to reducing annual immigration by hundreds of thousands and reducing immigration from the E.U. since we are leaving it soon and this is one of the reasons our electorate have voted to leave and we don't even know if the E.U. citizens who are already here legally will be allowed to stay after we leave, there are also tens of thousand of potential illegal immigrants in France trying to get over the channel and willing to risk their lives to do so on a daily basis. I suggest you forget the whole idea
 
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Peter Schrager

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And they are all looking for photo jobs..NOT!
 

mgb74

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RalphLambrecht said:
You may be better off in New York; heard from a friend that Richard Avedon is looking for a new competent B&W printer. if 40 years younger, I'd apply.
Click to expand...

But you'd have 40 years less knowledge and experience.
 
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Berri

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Thank you, I know that.
Don't worry, I'm not planing to get into UK borders as an illegal immigrant; either UK accept me or I stay where I'm now or move to any other more tollerant european country. I'm confident EU won't send back to britain all the UK citizens living and working in our countries (including my partner), likewise will do UK.
I'm really sorry to disappoint you, but I won't forget the whole idea. I knew britain to be an amazing multicultural country, of which I love almost anythnig, from the landscape to the food, the culture, humor, music and all the different people that made Great Britain really great. I'm not so sure where it's heading these days. by the way, I hope J.Corbyn wins tomorrow.
 
  • Berri
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  • Reason: Personal attack and response.

FerruB

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Hi Berri,

I moved to Manchester from Switzerland one year ago because I received a good job offer (unfortunately not a photo related job). Here I regularly rent a darkroom because I don't have space at home. The darkroom (B&W and color) is owned by a girl and opened last year in a art center, is a very nice and cool place and she is very knowledgeable. In Manchester university there is a photo course, she is teaching there as well.

This just to say that something is moving and everything is possible. Maybe not in the crazy expensive London...I will look more in cities like Edinburgh or Manchester. Edinburgh as well there is a nice darkroom for rent.

And you can move to Manchester even tomorrow. No need for a work permit. I crossed the UK border with my car full of stuff and they ask me where I was going and why. I simply said that I was moving to Manchester for work and here I am

Cheers,
Ferru
 
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Berri

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Very good! I've never been to Manchester, next time I go to uk I want to see more of the north. I wouldn't go to London because as you said it is too expansive. My partner she's an english teacher and she could find a job too. My partner and I need to discuss this idea...
 

Agulliver

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I don't know of any photo jobs, but would generally agree that London is too expensive unless you land a really good job. For the time being we are still part of the EU and you have a right to come here on an Italian passport and look for work. The smart money is on people who are in gainful employment being able to stay, even if they haven't been here long.

Several larger universities still offer film photography courses, I think Manchester is certainly one and possibly the University of Luton/Bedfordshire. I believe they do photography courses and have fully equipped darkrooms but I do not know if they are hiring. Luton would be much cheaper than London but only 35 minutes by train from a mainline London station (St Pancras International). Also look at Birmingham, see if anything is going there. Good luck!
 

AgX

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Berri may be an Italian citizen. In that case he has to be handled like a Brit. As long as the UK is still in the EU...
 
  • benjiboy
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Berri

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AgX said:
Berri may be an Italian citizen. In that case he has to be handled like a Brit. As long as the UK is still in the EU...
Click to expand...
yes I'm an Italian citizen. I am concerned about this whole brexit thing mostly because my partner is english and lives and works here in Italy. We have been together for quite a long time now, we might as well get married and f..k that brexit crap!
 

Skiver101

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Hi Berri
I'm apolitical, and I try to avoid politics at all costs. However...
That ''Brexit crap'', as you put it, is held dear by more than half of the British electorate.
Why burn half of your potential bridges to opportunity before you even get here ?
I'd defer from naiive and uninformed political pronoucements if I were you...at least until you have settled a while.

Are you familiar with the term ''when in Rome...'' ?

JP
 

Peter Schrager

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Berri said:
yes I'm an Italian citizen. I am concerned about this whole brexit thing mostly because my partner is english and lives and works here in Italy. We have been together for quite a long time now, we might as well get married and f..k that brexit crap!
Click to expand...
come to los angeles!!art center of the world!! at least in my eyes!!
 

Peter Schrager

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Berri said:
yes I'm an Italian citizen. I am concerned about this whole brexit thing mostly because my partner is english and lives and works here in Italy. We have been together for quite a long time now, we might as well get married and f..k that brexit crap!
Click to expand...
come to los angeles!!art center of the world!! at least in my eyes!!
 

cliveh

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UKIP May probably wont let you in.
 
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Berri

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Because, differently from you, I'm not apolitical. Also, who says I'm uninformed or naïve? Perhaps I'll work for the other half.
I would name "uninformed" half the Brits who voted leave.
 
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