Baby's 'Career Advice' For Photographer Mum Helen
3 June 2010
University of Derby final year Commercial Photography student Helen Rose and her son Eli Rose
An example of Helen Rose's Degree Show work - picture of her niece Isabelle Johnson, aged 7.
Little Eli Rose's birth halfway through mum Helen's photography course has made a big difference to her final year project and future career plans.
Helen, 27, was midway through her two-year Foundation degree in Commercial Photography at the University of Derby when she discovered she was pregnant. Eli even turned up three weeks early, just as his mum was trying to get her Christmas 2008 assignments out of the way.
Undaunted, Helen was back on her course within six weeks - sometimes with Eli accompanying her to classes - and, once she'd completed her Foundation degree, she opted for a further 'top up' year to do a full BA (Hons) Commercial Photography degree.
Motherhood has influenced the work she's done in her final year, with her degree show including children's fashion shots. Helen wants to specialise in this area when she completes her course.
Helen, originally from Wakefield, West Yorkshire but now living in Derby, said: "I remember when Eli was born, three weeks early, being very concerned about getting my assignments in but the tutors were great about everything. I wouldn't have got through the course without them being so flexible, even letting me take Eli into class sometimes.
"I hadn't really thought of children's fashions as a subject area for my photography before Eli came along but in taking pictures of him, and friends' children, I found it suited me. Part of my final year project is a brochure of such photos, done in the form of a fashion catalogue, and I'd like to concentrate in this area in future as a freelance."
Mark Hall, Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Commercial Photography at the University, said: "Helen's work ethic and dedication to photography has ensured she hasn't missed a deadline. She has produced some outstanding work throughout her course and has a very bright future."
Helen's work and that of her fellow photographers is on public display at the University of Derby's Markeaton Street site, in Derby, from June 2 to 13.
Other subject areas students will be exhibiting in - as part of the University's annual Degree Shows period - include fashion, fine art, computer games, film and video, crafts, music technology, product design, textiles, art therapy, architectural design; and sound, light and event technology.
For more information about the University of Derby's annual Degree Shows see website www.derby.ac.uk/degreeshow.
For further media information please contact Press and PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk.
