Alumni Visit - Cameron Hendry

Our A Level Photography students recently had a visit from former student and professional photographer, Cameron Hendry.

Cameron attended Sheldon from 2011-2018, taking Photography, Drama and Politics for his A Levels. Since leaving Sheldon, Cameron has built a strong photography career with an impressive portfolio of portrait, commercial and festival photography. He as been shortlisted twice for the Portrait of Britain Awards and is a frequent collaborator with musicians in the UK rap scene including Stormzy, Skepta and Fred Again. He will also be working at this month’s London Fashion Week

Cameron said that studying art in Sheldon Sixth Form led him to an interest in photography. By following something he enjoyed doing, Cameron fell into a career he never expected. “Don’t chase the money,” he warned. “It will come eventually if you build a foundation of your own personal style and build relationships along the way.”

After his photograph Stormzy’s Renaissance Painting was featured in the 2023 Portrait of Britain Awards, Cameron’s career really began to take off. He explained to students that he had been working as a photographer for several years, but it was only after taking that ‘perfect shot’ and through years of developing a portfolio and industry connections that he was able to feel successful.

Cameron shared his experience and advice with students on developing and managing a career in photography and the arts. He reiterated the importance of finding your voice, something that Year 13 have been discussing in their lessons. He explained that if they want to make photography their career, they need to be focused now, experimenting with different cameras and techniques. “Give yourself time to mess around and follow your interests,” he said. “You should be out with your camera every weekend if you want to build an established career by the time you are in your late 20s.”

It is important to find mentors in the industry, as well as provide guidance for younger people once you have established yourself. Creative professionals continuously learn from each other, he explained. Building relationships with fellow photographers, PR agencies, stylists, musicians and other industry professionals is essential to establishing a successful freelance career.

Cameron brought in a his own personal collection of cameras for the students to see and explained their different functions and how he decides which equipment to use on set. He showed examples of his work, outlining when he uses a fixed lens or a different camera format. He encouraged students to experiment with film photography, something our students will be able to do with the opening of our new darkroom. Cameron also talked through his workflow and demonstrated how he uses presets to keep his style consistent while editing photos.

There are a lot of practical considerations for freelance artists and Cameron led a very frank discussion about how to know your worth as a professional. He reminded students that they should not be working for free or at a loss. They need to have an understanding of their legal rights, insurance, contract law and copyright law so that they are able to maintain ownership over images and their usage. He outlined the different pay structures as a photographer, as well as various roles in the industry. Students may be interested in following alternative paths and working as lighting specialists, creative directors, stylists or set designers.

Ultimately, he explained, being a good photographer is about building strong relationships with people and earning their respect. You will be working with a team of people on set and must always maintain your moral code and professionalism, especially if you find yourself working with celebrities. Portrait photography is about building a rapport with the subject so that they are comfortable in the situation. Event photography may include unsociable hours as you work towards tight deadlines, but you should always protect your wellbeing and personal relationships.

Cameron’s ultimate advice for students: “Learn what you like and don’t like. Trust your gut and your own style.”

We’d like to thank Cameron for joining our Sixth Form students to share his work and experience, as well as sticking around after the lesson to work individually with students on analysing their portfolios. We are extremely proud of his exceptional career and are pleased to see his photography so widely recognised. We look forward to seeing where his career will take him next!

You can view Cameron's work at cameronhendry.com or on Instagram @cam.hndr.