Charlie Bibby
CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER, FINANCIAL TIMES
Software and Technology
Encouraged during work experience at my local paper in York in 1993 I enrolled in the NCTJ’s photojournalism course in Sheffield. Another stint of work experience led to a job at an agency in Birmingham which via an award led to a job in London. I then approached the Financial Times for freelance work which led eventually to a staff job. I’ve been at the paper for 21 years and I’m now I’m the chief photographer.
AM:
Depending on the diary it’s either travel straight to an assignment to photograph someone concerning a story which will appear in the Financial Times. Or I will join the 11am design meeting remotely where the day’s news agenda is discussed.
PM:
After arriving at the assignment I will sit with the writer if there is one on the job. We will work out the narrative of the story and I will take suitable pictures after talking to and listening carefully to the people involved in the story.
I will then download the pictures onto my iPad and edit them. After colour correcting something like 20 pictures, I will caption them and then send to my colleagues on the picture desk who will, with the help of the relevant editor, choose the pictures for the article.
In the evening I will discuss the next day’s news schedule and work out a plan for the following day.
- Get to a stage where using your camera manually is second nature so you can forget about working the camera and start thinking about being a photographer. Look at others peoples work for inspiration.
- Be inquisitive, bold, brave, but most importantly empathetic. Empathy will be your greatest skill. Do everything you can to understand the motivations and feelings of your subject so you can report that to your readers with integrity. Always be honest.
- Career opportunities come through personal relationships. Being a good photographer is important but cherish every relationship you make, work hard meet as many people in the industry as you can, and keep going. Don’t worry about being the best straight away, use what you have which no one else does which is your personal perspective. Get some work experience and make the most of the opportunity.
MY WORK
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