Steve Smailes, Class of 2012 | Freelance Photographer

SteveSmailesHello I’m Steve Smailes. I am a freelance photographer specialising in editorial, commercial, events and wedding photography. After graduating from the Media Production course in 2012 I stayed put in Lincoln and never left! The work was here and the base of contacts I’d built up while at university was paying dividends, so why leave? Now over 4 years on, my partner and I have bought a house with our dog Benny. I work under my own name for clients big and small, mostly in Lincolnshire. Most notably The Lincolnite and its sister publications Lincolnshire Business and Lincolnshire Reporter which is a large chunk of the work I do with my images seen by over 500,000 readers a month! I’ve also worked with the Lincolnshire Showground, Macmillan Cancer Support, Visit Lincoln, LIVES, Relentless Energy Drink and even the University of Lincoln itself.

I also find time to help out students in my own time. I’m part of the university’s mentoring scheme that links students with industry (at LSFM many mentors are working graduates) to offer advice on life after uni course work and business advice. LSFM Mentoring is a really rewarding scheme for both parties and my mentee Emily has got to come on a few jobs with me, which I hope was a real boost for her work experience. I often go for coffee chats with her, and also students from Lincoln College too and have given talks to level 3 students and local camera clubs. Continue reading

Emma Bridgewood, Student | Film Experience, The Nativity Factor

Emma-Bridgewood-workexp-NATIVITY-FACTOR-Logo_ITN-ProductionsThe weekend of the 28th November I was lucky enough to be one of 4 people from across the UK to win work experience with ITN Productions, making a Christmas Short Film for The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts.  Everyone’s competition entry for The Nativity Factor was very boring and consisted of them blabbing on about how they did Media Production, and needed work experience. I took this in to consideration – after all, Media is all about standing out from the crowd – so turned myself into an elf, and made my entry. Thanks to my charm and comedic twist on the brief I won!


The work experience was all paid for, and I was whisked away to London staying in a hotel for 2 nights in Edgware. On Saturday morning I met with the Producers from ITN Productions as well as David Schneider, our Director for the day. Continue reading

Mark Hills, Class of 2010 | Sound Designer Soho Square Studios

At only 26 years old, I feel incredibly fortunate to be in the position I am right now. Most people my age in this industry are still working as runners, making teas and fetching lunches. Some may be working in transfer or as an assistant, dealing with files, deliverables and setting up sessions. I decided to send in my alumni story to offer my own insight as someone who has now been in the audio post industry for nearly 5 years. This is a recent piece of sound design I finished for Pierre Michel, creative director at Digital Domain in LA.

Like most sound designers, my love of sound came from a musical background. Continue reading

Bryony Hooper, Student Volunteer | Sheffield Doc/Fest

LSFM student-mentee and 2015 Graduand Bryony Hooper said: BryonyHooper_groupshot-Sheffield DocFest2015I had the honour of attending Doc/Fest (5th-10th June 2015) for free by volunteering for it. This has to be one of the best media experiences I’ve had. I got to network, see films and enjoy the overall festival.  My job for the week was Cinema Steward, which is basically letting people into the screens, scanning the badges and taking tickets. However I believe there was a number of volunteers that didn’t show up and because I was based in one of the main rooms I was used as a runner as well. I didn’t mind doing this as I got to see more of the festival, however carrying quite heavy chairs across Sheffield isn’t the best way to spend an afternoon. Continue reading

LSFM Degree Show 30 May 2015 | University of Lincoln (UK)

LSFM Degree Show 2015 for final year students’ work will be open free to the public at the University of Lincoln from Saturday 30 May. See trail, which was edited by third year undergraduate Thomas Faulkner with music by Audio Production students Bobby Jones and Jack Bartley.

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From Third Years to Freshers – Our Advice

Rachel HagreenHello! I’m Rachel Hagreen, a third year Media Production student. This is my first official post as a LSM student blogger, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to hand out a few pieces of advice for first year students studying Media Production or Film and TV, although the advice will almost certainly be useful for any student!

Two years ago if somebody had offered me advice I wouldn’t have bothered reading it because if we’re being totally honest all we care about this week is being a fresher and we tend to put our courses to the back of our mind at least for the first week but here’s my first piece of advice: read this list of advice from fellow third year students and try and take it all in!

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