AOP Starting Out 2025

AOP + Free Range, Truman Brewery

Talks & Folio Reviews for Photography Course students & graduates.

© Philip Haynes, previous AOP Student Award Winner & Accredited Photographer member

Established in the early 1980s, the AOP Student Awards recognise and highlight the emerging photographic talent that exists in further education institutions across the UK. We pride ourselves on nurturing talented photographers throughout their career and many previous AOP Student Awards winners have gone on to become discovery winners as assisting photographers and then as professional photographers in our prestigious AOP Photography Awards.

The AOP Starting Out Conference offers photography graduates and students the opportunity to experience the professional working side of the industry. With the support of leading photographers and names within the industry, these sessions will provide practical knowledge and insights for you to start your photography career. Covering all the business basics including invoicing to licensing and contracts, as well as practical advice for those considering starting out as an Assistant Photographer. 

We will also be running free portfolio review sessions and providing a healthy dose of inspiration with a range of reviewers from amongst our Accredited Photographer members and other industry representatives.  

The 2025 AOP Student Award finalists will be exhibited throughout the Free Range Show and we look forward to announcing our Gold and Silver category winners as well as our Best in Show winner on Thursday 10 July 2025 live at the Free Range Private View.

Join us in the AOP & Partners Photography Zone at Free Range for an exciting & insightful programme of talks & workshops designed to help you start your photography career.

 

This is your chance to see the work of finalists in the AOP 2025 Student Awards Showcase @ Free Range

 

Starting Out programme sessions on Friday 11th July cost £1 to book.

Folio Review sessions are Free but must be booked in advance (limited places apply).

Registration Opens:
Tuesday 1st July 2025

Also scan QR Codes on posters by the AOP Student Awards display

Student Awards Showcase Location:

AOP & Partners Photography Zone
Free Range, F BLOCK 2nd Floor, S-5A and S 5B

The Truman Brewery, 15 Hanbury Street, London E1 6QR

PROTECT

AOP Starting Out - Getting Your Career Started

Practical Talks and Inspiring sessions to help you begin your professional photography career

PROMOTE

AOP Student Awards Finalists

Come along and visit our 2025 AOP Student Awards Exhibition to see outstanding work from students studying photography at Higher and FE level on courses throughout the UK. Winners - including Best in Show who will receive a fantastic prize package from Fujifilm UK announced on Thursday 10 July 2025 at the Free Range private View.

INSPIRE

FREE Portfolio Reviews by AOP Photographers, Agents & Commissioners

AOP members represented the best of commercial and professional photographers. Come and hear them speak about their routes to the industry and advice for you starting out.

AOP Starting Out 2025 Programme

Friday 11 July 2025

Book to attend our essential Starting Out workshops, focused on next steps in your professional career

Starting Your Photography Business 101

11:00 – 12:00

Beyond ideas, aesthetics and technical skills, you need a solid foundation of basic business skills.

As part of our Best Practice series, join AOP Chair and former Head of Global Licensing, Hamish Crooks with AOP Head of Business and Legal and AOP Accredited Photographer Nick Dunmur, to discover and understand the practical basics you will need to start your photography business and career.

Once students have graduated it can seem daunting taking those first steps into the professional world. In this session you’ll get real insight about the industry and how to make the transition from a commercial perspective.

From invoicing to licensing and contracts, getting your foundations in place frees you up to create and succeed.

 

 

Panel

Session Panel:

Hamish Crooks, AOP Independent Director and Chair / Nick Dunmur, AOP Business and Legal Adviser and Accredited Photographer (Further details in Event listing)

Getting Into Assisting

12:30 – 13:30

Launch Your Career by Getting Into Assisting.

You need a myriad of skills when taking your first steps into the industry, both in relation to technical and soft skills. Assisting is a great way to obtain this all-round experience by assisting a range of different photographers and be paid for work you love doing. 

As industry experts in their field, join AOP Accredited Photographer member and non executive AOP Board Director and Adam Shaw and guests, as they share their professional insights and experience either being an or working with assistants, and why they see it as the perfect route into the industry.

 

 

Panel

Session Panel:

Hamish Crooks, AOP Independent Director and Chair / Nick Dunmur, AOP Business and Legal Adviser and Accredited Photographer (Further details in Event listing)

Unlock Your Photography Career Potential with Capture One

14:00 – 15:00

Join Capture One for a ‘live photo shoot’ demonstration and workshop.

Presented by Capture One’s photographer Alex, along with emerging talent model and stylist, and supported by Fujifilm and Elinchrom.

Join us for an informative learning experience with Capture One, the premier editing and workflow software used by top photographers and studios worldwide.

Discover how mastering Capture One delivers ultimate image quality, streamlines collaborative workflows, and most importantly, helps you elevate your career in the photographic industry.

Don’t miss this opportunity to stand out and succeed—start your Capture One journey today.

 

 

Panel

Presented by

David Grover, Global Manager of Product Training at Capture One

Creativity & AI: Thrill or Threat? 

15:30 – 16:30

We explore the latest perspectives on generative-AI and its impact across the Creative Industries.

With special guest, Agent Eleanor Harrison of Pearson Lyle, AOP CEO, Isabelle Doran, and Head of Business & Legal and AOP Accredited Photographer, Nick Dunmur, join our panel for a discussion on how the industry is being affected and how it will impact you.

 

Panel

Presented by

Isabelle Doran, CEO - Association of Photographers,

Participating Partners

Book a portfolio review session to discuss your work and practice with professional and award winning photographers, commissioners and agents.

Saturday 12 July 2025

Sunday 13 July 2025

Portfolio Reviews

FREE –  But Booking is Essential!

Saturday 12 July
11:30 – 13:30

Book a portfolio review session to discuss your work and practice with professional and award winning photographers, commissioners and agents.

Sessions last approximately 15 minutes and MUST be booked in advance.

Today’s session includes:

Reviewers

Liam Arthur, AOP Accredited Photographer / Karen Thomas AOP Accredited Photographer / Giorgia Tobiolo AOP Accredited Photographer / Emily Anderson, AOP Accredited Photographer / Paul Madeley AOP Accredited Photographer / Amit Lennon AOP Accredited Photographer / Nick David, AOP Accredited Photographer / Catherine Losing AOP Accredited Photographer / Frankie Turner AOP Accredited Photographer / Frances Leahy, Photo Agent at Wyatt-Clarke & Jones / Kirstie Johnstone, Creative Production Partner / Jacqui Dixon, Creative Producer and more...

Today's Reviewers include:

Details to follow

Portfolio Reviews

FREE –  But Booking is Essential!

Sunday 13 July
11:30 – 13:30

Book a portfolio review session to discuss your work and practice with professional and award winning photographers, commissioners and agents.

Sessions last approximately 15 minutes and MUST be booked in advance.

Today’s session includes:

Reviewers

Samuel Hicks AOP Accredited Photographer / Chantel King AOP Accredited Photographer / Rory Langdon-Down, AOP Accredited Photographer / Paul Madeley AOP Accredited Photographer / Zula Rabikowska , AOP Accredited Photographer / Soulla Petrou, AOP Accredited Photographer / Richard Seymour AOP Accredited Photographer / Richard Lakos AOP Accredited Photographer / Jacqui Dixon, Creative Producer / Jason Baron, Production/Broadcast, Photography Consultant and more...

Today's Reviewers include:

Details to follow

AOP Starting Out 2025 is supported by

Fujifilm

AOP Photography Awards

The AOP Photography Awards are known as the ‘Oscars’ of the photography world. They celebrate excellence in the creative photography and image-making industry.
This is your chance to be seen by leading commissioners and names within the photographic industry.
Check out our 39th AOP Awards FINALISTS and WINNERS