Writing a 'Bio' or 'About me' page.
Now I am well on my way with creating my website, and Ive chosen the images I want to present and the way I would like to present them. I have come to a very important page on my site, that is, my Biography page. Here will be the only piece of writing on my entire weibste. This page is there to give a brief description of myself and give any viewers abit more of an insight into my personality. Before creating my own Biography, I have chosen to look at some other photographers Bio's on their websites, to gain some inspiration in terms of what they include about themselves, how long their Bio's tend to be and how exactly they are written. When looking at other photographers websites I have noticed almost all websites have either a 'Bio' or 'About' page.
What I've come to gather from looking at examples of other photographers Bio's is that a bio is quite a personal piece of writing. Some photographers appear to have written their own bios while many photographers have their Bio's written for them.
for Example..
http://www.markpower.co.uk/Biography
When researching online, I found many articles with useful tips of 'Do's' and 'Dont's' what to include and what not to include.
"1. What / Who is this?
2. Why should I care?
3. What should I do next?"
http://www.outboxonline.com/your-website-bio-what-to-include/
With some very useful tips from a piece written on Friday January 6th, 2012
by Maria Luci, it is explained that an artists Bio shouldn't be too serious or boring. I can completely agree with this as the fact it will be the only writing on my website, I understand this will be my only chance to really give a deeper insight into me as a person. With there being so many brilliant and successful photographers around in todays industry I understand that looking professional and catching peoples eyes is important. Using my bio to bring through my personality and give an interesting and more in-depth explanation into who I am as a person may just help that bit more if my images alone are not enough to really sell me to others in the industry.
"Don’t take yourself too seriously
Don’t get too lengthy
Don’t be illiterate"
- EXPERT ADVICE: WRITING A PHOTOGRAPHER BIO
Friday January 6th, 2012. by Maria Luci
Before doing any more research into what to write in a bio, I really wanted to just give it a go myself and see how easily or how much I may struggle to write one. I understand several drafts or tweaks will have to be made before I reach my final copy of my Bio, which will be suitable to use on my website.
First attempt at a Bio
"My names Elle Cain and I'm a student photographer. I'm currently studying the final year of my degree at Cleveland College of Art and design, in Hartlepool, North East England. Photography is something which has been a life long interest for myself, and I like to explore many different genres of the subject.
The majority of my work I have recently produced tends to follow a more social / documentary style of photography. Mainly consisting of documenatation of urban landscapes and the day to day life of people in and around where I live.
I have recently set myself the task to document various events here in the north east, such as Durham Miners Gala, and Sedgefield's Shrove Tuesday Ball game, which is a yearly event I have documented several times. Selected images from these on-going projects can be found here on my sight."
Now looking back on my first attempt of my bio, I feel I go too much into my personal work which I'm currently working on. After reading the bios of other photographers I do want to give a personal insight into myself, but i feel lin my next draft I should focus more so on some personal facts about me, as appose to detail information about my actual current work.
As I've used the former student Richy Leeson in other posts, again I have chosen to look at his website to see that his Bio page looks like. I like to use this photographer as an example as he is fairly new to graduating, as appose to me looking at large successful photographers like martin parr, as photographers such as these have many years of experience to write about in their bios. I was surprised to see that Richy's Bio page was more so set out like a CV, where he had listed his achievements, awards and experience as appose to writing anything personal about himself. This works well however as unlike myself he has more experience for working for top brands and has achieved several awards. For myself I feel writing bait about me is going to be more beneficial and suitable at this stage as I don't yet have any great stand out achievements.
Following this, as examples for for bios, I am choosing to look at some new or more so up and coming photographers who may be less experienced or at a similar stage to myself, in order to see how they've written their Bio's or what they have included in them.
The photographer Nil Ericson has a very short but sweet bio on his website:
http://nilsericson.com/contributors/
"Nils's photographs are based on his perceptions of athleticism and physicality, the end result tending towards nature and the beast. These images range from portraiture to still life and emphasize the spirit of sport, and the importance of that which he holds to be true - family, dogs, the landscape and love. Nils received his B.A. from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire and earned his M.F.A. from the Rhode Island School of Design. Nils lives in Red Hook, Brooklyn, with his Pitbull mix Pearl."
An observation I've made is that many photographers seem to have Bios written for them by someone else. I can completely understand why this would be done as I have certainly found it hard to write about myself. This is something I may keep in mind for my own page however it would be a case of finding a suitable person who knows me and my work well enough to write a good description.
Another up and coming photographer I chose to look at, again, had a short and brief piece about themselves on their website then went on to list achievements bait like a CV.
"I was born (1984) in a small town along the eucalyptus-scented northwestern coast of Spain, but I was raised in Madrid, where I graduated in International Economics and Development. I also studied in The Netherlands and Cuba. After a transformation within myself, and encouraged by my deep fascination with the conflicted existence of the human being, I started pursuing photography and visual storytelling."
What I really liked at the end of this particular photographers page was the line
"I am available for assignments worldwide. Send me a note, I am always up for any collaboration. If I am not responding to emails I am probably climbing a mountain or surfing a wave somewhere. I will get back to you soon."
I like the casual and relaxed approach the photographer gives to his readers or viewers on his site. From my personal point of view, I feel he comes across as friendly and approachable.
Another Past student from my Universtiy is Jason Hynes, a documentary photographer. Much like many of the photographers I have looked at, He simply has one line written about him before then listing his exhibitions and any achievements.
"Jason is a photographer and artist from the U.K."
Second attempt at Bio
Following the inspiration of these other photographers post and advice from articles I want to now edit the first draft I created. I feel I want to give more insight into me as a person and my background.
"I was born and raised in the North East of England in County Durham and still live here to this day. I'm currently studying for the final year of my degree at an Art and design college in Hartlepool, also in the North East of England. Photography or anything artistic for that matter are something which have been a life long interest of mine. Photography is something which has always been one of my hobbies from a young age.
Despite the fact I take a great interest in all genres of photography, the majority of the work I have recently produced tends to follow a more social / documentary style of photography, Mainly consisting of the documenatation of urban landscapes and the day to day life of people in and around where I live.
My most recent work which can be found on my site is the documentation of various events here in the County Durham, such as Durham Miners Gala, and Sedgefield's Shrove Tuesday Ball game. I'm very proud of the area I come from and I find great interest in documenting what happens here and the people who populate it. "
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