We thought we’d do something different this week and give you an insight into the world of the Fresh Academy Studios. For those of you who have passed through our doors you will have met various members of our fabulous team, including our Studio Manager Leanne Pearson.
Leanne makes it all happen! She co-ordinates all of our fantastic photo-shoots and keeps you comfortable and happy making sure your Fresh experience is 100% brilliant! Leanne has bags of experience and knows exactly what works for our customers. How does she know what works? How does Leanne co-ordinate all these shoots? How did she manage to get such a great role at the Fresh Academy
- Who’s the most famous person to pass through the studio’s doors?
Probably Danny Jones from McFly. We also had a few of the Britain's Next Top Model girls in for portfolio updates.
- What’s the worst thing that has ever happened to your team at the Fresh Studio?
That would be when a girl who came in for a portfolio shoot left her bag of clothes and shoes on the train. Luckily we have a cabinet of accessories here that she could borrow, and a few nice members of staff willing to give up some items of their clothing!
- What’s your favourite set?
Our sets are always changing in the studio to make sure everyone gets something different from their shoots, but if I had to choose a favourite I'd say our blue/grey door as it is the perfect most flattering beauty shot lighting.
- What’s your favourite “look” to shoot?
- What’s the most amount of people you’ve had for a photo-shoot in a day?
The most amount of people through the door in one day has been 18. It was a long day for all, but everyone still managed to love their photographs!
- What’s the strangest request you’ve ever had?
That would have to be a lady that wanted to BE a cat- she wanted to look as feline as possible in her pictures and even brought in whiskers to apply to her face and a tail as well!
- What’s the most popular request?
The most popular request is an obvious one- to look as beautiful as possible, and to be directed through the shoot by our team!
- What would you like to see as a set at
I would still love to have a bath tub put into the studio- filled with beads or jelly beans!!
- How did you become a Studio Manager?
I became Studio Manager after a few years of working as an assistant then as a photographer at Fresh. My hard work and organisation skills were recognised by the Directors and it just shows that dedication to the company pays off!
- How did you get your job at Fresh?
I got my job at Fresh whilst i was studying photography; it was a weekend assistant job. I heard about Fresh through my hubby who is a hairdresser and has styled hair for shoots for his salon at Fresh.
- What are your qualifications?
My qualification is a National Diploma level 2 in photography. However this is an industry where you learn just as much “on the job” as you do in college or at university. It is all about creativity.
- What advice do you have for anyone who wants to be a Studio Manager?
My main piece advice would be to keep organised! There are always a million and one things to do, all of equal importance. I need to remember to check my staff diary to see which photographers are booked in for which days, and how many make up artists are needed on each shooting day. To be a studio manager you have be dedicated to the company and have faith in your team.
- What’s your favourite photograph ever?
I don't have one singular favourite photograph from Fresh, but I love the set of pictures taken for the Boudoir by Fresh launch. The lighting was beautiful, the models were fabulous and the mood of the pictures was perfect for the whole Boudoir scene.
- What suggestions do you have for any wannabe models?
Any wannabe models need a nice strong set of images to email through to model agencies. The pictures should show a variety of expressions and a variety of crops to show full length, half length and close up. Also for aspiring models patience is a virtue. It is highly unlikely that the very first ever agency you approach will take you on immediately. Don't give up- keep trying, and keep updating your portfolio...
- What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever had?
Trust in your instincts- they are almost always right!
- What’s the best thing about being a Studio Manager?
1) Your days are never monotonous as a studio manager. No two days are ever the same.
2) You build relationships with all members of staff in the whole company
3) You're the only person who sees a customers whole entire journey with Fresh through from beginning to end. From their booking, to their consultation, their hair and make up choices, their shoot, their viewing, the retouching of their images, the printing and then finally overseeing the finished product.
2) You build relationships with all members of staff in the whole company
3) You're the only person who sees a customers whole entire journey with Fresh through from beginning to end. From their booking, to their consultation, their hair and make up choices, their shoot, their viewing, the retouching of their images, the printing and then finally overseeing the finished product.
- Who is your fashion icon?
Without question Nicola Roberts. Her style is quirky yet sophisticated, and her hair and make up is always perfect for her complexion- she makes us pale people feel proud!!!!
- Describe a typical day!
A typical day in the studio begins with the staff member's viewing the job sheets (diary) for the day so everyone knows who is coming in for a shoot, when, and why. Then the make up artists are briefed on times their customers will be sent up to them. We set up the studio- turning on all the lights, getting the camera set up. Then customers begin to flow in! Each customer has a consultation to discuss why they are here, what they are looking to achieve from the session and what end product they are aiming for. They are then sent to either hair or make-up if applicable, or straight into the studio for their shoot. After their fun filled photo-shoot we take them for an instant viewing on our cinema screen in the viewing room and show them through all the images that have just been taken. They then select the ones they would like to order usually with our professional opinion thrown in for good measure! Then this is all repeated for every customer who comes through the door. A typical day at Fresh is fast paced and busy, but we make sure every customer is looked after throughout their whole Fresh experience.
- Tell us a little about the team at Fresh…
The team at Fresh are all young and enthusiastic, have an extreme passion for their art, and enjoy making people look and feel fantastic!
- Finally, what’s the best thing about working at Fresh?
It’s making people look and feel fantastic!!! Creating amazing images that people can keep and treasure and show off forever! Above all, on a personal note, it’s great to turn a hobby into a career.
Thanks to Leanne Pearson for her words of wisdom – I’m thinking of making a career change now!
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