Laura Shepherd wows at work placement and is offered a sought after position after just three days
A Warrington student has a double reason for success after landing her dream job and graduating from university.
Laura Shepherd wowed bosses at a Liverpool based press agency after three days of her work experience and she has now started a full-time position after completing her BA (Hons) Photography at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
Her career as a staff photographer at Mercury Press has already seen her photograph real life stories, celebrities and even the Queen.
The 23-year-old said: “University was never part of the plan but I’m so glad I came because it’s been great and I’ve landed my dream job straight out here, it’s amazing.”
Laura studied fine art and attended a photography course at Warrington Collegiate and it was here she where she realised wanted to study for a degree at UCLan. After completing her first year in fine art, the former Culceth High School changed courses to photography, where she honed her creative talent.
"The course has opened up opportunities for me that I never knew were possible and has really built my confidence – it’s been awesome and I am very excited I’ve graduated."
During this time, Laura worked for two years as a sports photographer capturing football images, a job which also spanned from a work experience opportunity with Media Image, a sports photography company. She succeeded in gaining published work in the very male-dominated world of football photography.
Through her work experience and the opportunities that it presented, she built a very impressive wide-ranging portfolio showcasing work in national and local press, published books, and as part of photography projects.
During her time at UCLan, Laura took part in live projects that gave her the opportunity to travel to the Azores to photograph blue whales and photograph the Tour de France.
Looking back on her time at UCLan she said: “The course has opened up opportunities for me that I never knew were possible and has really built my confidence – it’s been awesome and I am very excited I’ve graduated.”
Laura was one of almost 4,000 students who graduated from UCLan last week at Preston’s Guild Hall.