Picture Research

Picture researchers’ jobs come in two different types: first, as employed staff, where you work for one company in their offices on a variety of projects. Second, as freelancers who move from assignment to assignment. They often work from home, so it is a profession that attracts people who like the advantages of teleworking.

Beginners

Picture research is interesting, stimulating and fulfilling. No two projects are the same. It demands a wide range of skills: initiative, visual flair, knowledge of sources, organisation, negotiation, lateral thinking and common sense. Good communication skills are also vital as the picture researcher will need to interact and negotiate with a variety of personalities to find their elusive picture or pictures, and they must work closely with whoever is responsible for the creative supervision of the project.

Picture Researchers who have not had structured training

Even after a couple of years’ experience, particularly with the rapid evolution of technology, there are likely to be gaps in your knowledge. This course will fill them.

Course materials:

There are seven modules, containing a total of 36 units, with 20 self-check exercises, plus five marked assignments. The assignments are especially designed to mimic real-life situations as closely as possible, ensuring that you will be fully prepared for freelance or in-house work.

Certificate:

On successful completion of the course, you will receive a certificate, showing the level of pass you have achieved (pass, merit or distinction). You will be eligible to enter your details on the Publishing Training Centre's Freelance Finder.

Your own tutor:

Julian Jackson, the author of this course, will be your tutor.

Course fees:

Picture Research by Distance Learning costs £395. If you are based outside the UK, you will be charged an additional £35 for postage. This price covers all course materials, marking of all assignments and professional tutor support. It does not cover your postage costs or the cost of telephone calls to your tutor.

Payments can be made in instalments. This option is only available on credit card purchases and the instalments are: £185 (or £200 if you are based outside the UK) immediately, followed by one instalment of £105 between the tenth and fifteenth of the next month and another instalment of £105 between the tenth and fifteenth of the following month.

How to enrol:

To enrol, you need to click on the Add to Cart button on this page. You will be asked to register (if you have not already done so). You will at that point be able to pay immediately by credit card, request a pro-forma invoice or download and print a PDF enrolment form for payments by cheque or instalments. This form can be faxed to us at 020 8870 8985 or sent to the Publishing Training Centre, 45 East Hill, Wandsworth, London SW18 2QZ.

Money back guarantee:

If, within 30 days of receiving your course materials (and before any assignments have been marked), you decide that the course is not for you, simply return the materials to us, in perfect condition, to receive a full refund.

Important note:

You must complete the course within 12 months of enrolment or, if you wish to continue the course, you can study for a further 12 months following payment of a re-registration fee. After this time it is possible that changes and updates will have been made to the course and that your copy is out of date. If this is the case you may have to re-enrol at this point.

Julian Jackson is a writer, photographer, and expert picture researcher. During his career of more than three decades in the media, he has followed the transition from analogue to digital imaging, from videotape to hard drives, and motorbike courier delivery to email.

After being a picture researcher in almost every area of the media, and working for the BBC, Financial Times, Channel 4, part-work companies, numerous small publishers, Reader's Digest, NBC and Der Spiegel, he discovered that his services were in demand for consulting about digital imaging and subsequently writing about it, so he gradually moved over to full-time writing and leading seminars and workshops. Currently he is pioneering a series of webinars which will enable Picture Researchers, art buyers and directors and editors to bring higher levels of skill to their analysis of the technical qualities of images. Visit Julian's website for more information.

Julian is the course author and tutor on Picture Research by Distance Learning. He says, "I am very proud of this course. It encapsulates all I have learnt over the past 30 years in the industry and also has had top quality input from other experts in various fields of picture research. The five assignments are based on real-life projects and so are as near as possible actual assignments for the students to learn from."

The course is frequently revised to ensure that it is not outdated by changes in the fast-moving industry.

Besides writing about picture research, photography, film and technology, Julian also covers the environment, and as the founder member of a group concerned with creating urban gardens he tries to have a low-carbon footprint. Given his penchant for travelling, this can be a difficult compromise sometimes.

Visit Julian's Website