Alexa Pereira Wilding Freelance photographer Level 3 in Photo Imaging at Morley College, London
Getting recognised in the photography industry isn’t easy. With hundreds of amateurs keen to turn their hobby into a profession, competition is huge. City & Guilds learner Alexa Pereira Wilding is proving that resolve and talent are key to getting ahead in the market. Being a successful photographer
isn’t purely about the right lighting, lens and timing. Most professional photographers work freelance, and need to be as comfortable running a business as they do a shoot. Ex-actress Alexa decided to change
career and start a Photo Imaging Level 3 qualification at Morley College, London. ‘It is not essential to have qualifications to work in photography but it shows a determination and that you are taking it seriously,’ she explains. ‘I chose this course because it provided a year of study covering all the areas I wanted to learn: lighting, photo editing and project work, as well as the business side.’ In 2011, Alexa’s hard work paid off, when she won first place in the Level 3 National City & Guilds Photography Competition. ‘I am now more confident in my abilities, and winning the competition was the icing on the cake!’