Finding the Right Career

Finding the Right Career

WITH Abigirl, FOUNDER OF DANIELLE VIUALS

Abigail is I Am BeYoutiful’s Head of photography, film and media production. Her work is amazing and if you’ve had a nosey around IAB’s YouTube Channel, she oversees the creative content. She also directed and produced the very empowering and inspirational documentary about Ayla, the founder of I Am BeYoutiful.  Additionally, she has her own media business, Danielle Visuals, where she specialises in portraits for individuals as well as commercial photography. Let’s have a look at how she got started in the media industry.

1. WHAT DO YOU WORK AS, AND WAS THIS A CAREER YOU KNEW YOU WANTED TO PURSUE?

I’m a freelance portrait photographer & filmmaker. I knew I wanted to be a photographer when I was in secondary school picking out my GCSEs, but filmmaking didn’t come with it until I was in my last year of college. Funnily enough, I didn’t want to pursue photography when I finished college, but somehow I managed to love it again in my second year of university.

2. DID YOU HAVE A SET PLAN FOR YOUR CAREER OR WAS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU DISCOVERED ALONG THE WAY?

It’s still something I’m discovering, because I always get stuck or change my mind on what I want to do. In my last year of college, I didn’t know what I wanted to be or if I wanted to do higher education. If I did, I was stuck on what course to do. However, I did decide to go to university to do Advertising, Film & Music Video Production, but I didn’t know what role in the film industry I wanted to pursue. I have now graduated with a 1st Class Degree, and I still want to broaden my knowledge in the media and film industry.

3. WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR TEENAGE SELF IN TERMS OF CHOOSING A CAREER PATH?

I would tell my teenage self to start networking and be confident in getting myself out there. Even if I didn’t know what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be, networking with people and telling them what I was interested in would have made it easier for me in choosing my career path.

4. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB AND HOW DID YOU APPLY FOR IT?

My first ever job was as concession staff at the London Olympics hockey stadium. I got the job through a friend, and that friend got the job through her sisters.

5. WHAT HAS BEEN MORE VALUABLE IN YOUR CAREER -  YOUR EDUCATION OR YOUR EXPERIENCE?

My education gave me the blueprint, but my experience gave me the real thing. Therefore, my experience was more valuable to my career because the more practice I had, the more connections I made in getting jobs.

6.  WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR WORST CAREER EXPERIENCE?

I don’t think I have any.

7. WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN YOUR CAREER?

Most times employers would look for experience even if the job role didn’t need one. “Fake it, until you make it” was a quote my teachers in college and my lecturers in university would tell me. Lying about my experience would get me jobs.

8.  WHAT WAS THE BEST JOB DECISION YOU EVER MADE?

Picking photography as a back-up was the best job decision I’ve ever made because I do enjoy it, and you get a lot of money for it!

9. WHAT DOES JOB SATISFACTION MEAN TO YOU?

When one is happy and content with the job or career they’re doing. They feel financially stable with it and enjoy everything that comes with it.

10. IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ANOTHER CAREER PATH, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

If I could choose another career path, it would have to be acting. Between the ages of 7-16 I had hopes of being an actress. I was and probably still am VERY good at it