Evaluation

Project Evaluation

Introduction

The last few months completing my Final Major Project have been challenging.  I created a wedding trend forecasting website called The WeddingForecaster.  I have learnt many things about myself during this project, both positive and negative, including the need to improve my time management and project planning so that I remain within a time frame and also my interpersonal skills so that I can effectively collaborate with other photographers and make-up artists.

I am glad I chose to design a website rather than a book mainly because the wedding trends will change every six months, thus ensuring that my website is future proofed assuming that I regularly update it.  Working on a website also allowed me to work right up until out hand in date, rather than having a book ready for the prints a few weeks before. In making this decision I acknowledged my planning skills and also took into account my health.  I have been diagnosed with severe IBS while on the course and this can have a very debilitating effect, and leave me at risk of missing deadlines when I do not feel well enough to work.

Positive Reflection

I am very happy with some new skills I learnt whilst working on this project.  I built The WeddingForecaster on Adobe Muse, a programme which I had never heard of before let alone used.  I attended five IT sessions to learn how to use the programme as I was determined to build my own website.  I found it very easy to use and began building the website.  I feel very proud of myself for building on my own with very little guidance as I now have this skill for life.  In my graduate job I am constantly working on a computer from the company’s website so I may be able to apply my skills that I have learnt to improve my performance.

I am also pleased with how well all of my photoshoots went.  I have reflected this using Gibbs’ theory.

Description – All photoshoots went well.

Feelings – I was very nervous as I used myself as the model and was unsure how the make-up would look.  I had also never photographed still life before so I was worried in case I could not get the lighting right or the camera settings for that type of studio.

Evaluation – I worked from face charts to ensure I used the correct products I had planned to use and to check where I was applying certain products.  I also attended some photography lessons that were specifically on still life.  I proactively sought guidance on how to use the studio and the correct setting for my camera.  This reduced my anxiety and helped me focus on the shoot.

Analysis – I planned the timeline for my photoshoots having built in some time to rectify images or even undertake some re-shoots if there were any problems with my images.

Conclusion – To avoid feeling nervous when using a model for the first time, I could have organised some more test shoots.  However, there is always a finite amount of time available and I decided to ensure that I had enough time at the end of the shoot in order to maximise the quality of my final images.

Action plan – If I were to re-do all of the photoshoots again, I would perhaps consider using a more reliable model so that I could really focus on the hair and make-up.  As mentioned above, I could also try and plan some more test shoots.

Overall, I am pleased with how I managed my time.  As I usually struggle completing more than one project at one time and putting my all into every single one I managed to write an action plan with how I would spread my time equally.  Reflecting on this, I did manage to keep within the time frame until I became ill which meant I lost a week of working on my project.  As this was out of my control I knew I had to work extra hard in the last few weeks.  Whilst I was ill, I rearranged my shoots for the week after which meant I had three shoots in one week.  I like to give myself time to edit in between so this was a considerable struggle.  However, I worked hard and completed all of the photoshoots to the best of my ability.

Negative Reflection

During the last three weeks of the project I encountered two major problems that threatened to disrupt my planning.  I had a photographer cancel the day before my photoshoot and some products I ordered for a still life shoot were not delivered on time.

I have used Gibbs’ reflecting cycle again for both of these problems as it helps to action on the problem to make sure it does not happen again.

Photographer cancelled

Description – Photographer cancelled the day before my photoshoot.

Feelings – I was upset and started to panic as I knew a lot of people were focusing on their own projects, as we were so close to our submission deadline.  This again was out of my control but I needed to proactively resolve the problem.

Evaluation – I remembered I had modelled for a photographer who offered me her services in return for mine.  I explained the situation and the predicament I was in, then asked her straight away if she could assist me.  I also scaled down the photoshoot so she was not needed for a long time, enabling her to have time for her own project too.

Analysis – If I had planned my photoshoots for earlier in the project, I would have had some more choice in photographers if my second photographer could not help me.

Conclusion – Make sure I plan photoshoots in advance and collaborate better in the future to build up new contacts, giving me more options in case of cancellations.

Action plan – If this problem was to occur again, I would have hopefully collaborated more with some new photographers who may be available to step in last minute.

Products did not arrive

Description – Products did not arrive.

Feelings – I was very concerned, as my products still had not arrived the day before my photoshoot.  It was also Bank Holiday Monday so not a lot of shops were open late.

Evaluation – Luckily I was in London the day before my photoshoot and came across the shop ‘Tiger’.  I got there an hour before closing time thankfully and managed to pick up some of the same products.  I had to choose slightly different colours but luckily they were still within my pantone palette.

Analysis – I had not planned to have a photoshoot in the last week before submission but I had organised one extra shoot on the advice of my tutor.  With hindsight, I probably should not have ordered online just before a Bank Holiday weekend.

Conclusion – Order products well in advance of photoshoots.  This would also help me plan some shoots too as I would have the items already, rather than thinking of an idea and having to plan it a week in advance to make sure the products arrived on time.

Action plan – If I were to order products again from Etsy, I would consider emailing the owner of the shop first and explaining what I need the products for.  I would check their availability and delivery schedule, particularly if this was over a weekend or Bank Holiday.  I would also consider having a detailed back-up plan ready just in case the products didn’t arrive or were unsuitable. I could also ask the proprietor whether I would be eligible for a discount if I advertised his products with fellow students.

Conclusion

Reflecting on the whole project I am really proud of myself in designing, building and completing an entire website. I also directed and photographed all of my own images apart from two photoshoots which I used a photographer for, this was because I was my own model too.  I prefer to do everything myself as I have been let down in the past and do not want to rely on anyone.  I also knew how I wanted The WeddingForecaster designed so I took it upon myself to build the website.

I put all my skills that I have learnt over the past three years at university into practise from my hair and make-up to my photography talents.  I applied them well and the images are a key part of my project.

Two areas where I have developed, but still have room for improvement are time management and resilience.  With hindsight, I think any future project timeline needs to contain a buffer to allow for unexpected issues such as illness.  Should this time not be required I can use it to improve the final product or even consider delivering the product ahead of schedule.

Before completing this unit I would have struggled over unexpected problems like a photographer cancelling or products not arriving.  Now I react calmly.  I focus on a solution rather than the cause of the problem and this enables me to make further progress. I consider this a valuable life skill that I will take into employment or business.  I recognise that even with the most detailed planning, things can go wrong and while an ‘after action review’ can help to identify the cause of problems and avoid repetition, the initial key priority is for the piece of work to remain on schedule for completion and with no drop in standard.