Work placement pays off for Hayley and Kyle

Work placement pays off for Hayley and Kyle
Hayley and Kyle

Two HND Photography students have clicked in business after a work placement assignment during their course.

Now Hayley Peberdy (20) and Kyle Burgess (30) both from Stirling are hoping their good work at Killearn based tea company, THOM&TEA, will lead to future paid work after they leave college.

The second year students – who graduate this year – jumped at the chance to work with the respected tea company when owner/founder Diane Richardson gave the class an opportunity to pitch during their Corporate Unit at the end of February.

Diane was so impressed with Hayley and Kyle’s joint pitch to capture her tea products in uniquely Scottish locations, that she gave them the go ahead to complete the project.

Hayley, who hopes to start working as a freelance photographer when she leaves college, said: “We had both worked well together on a few projects and decided to do so for THOM&TEA.  We volunteered and Diane invited us in for a meeting to discuss the project more.

“It has been really great to work with THOM&TEA and the feedback we have had has been great.”

Kyle, who is going on to study for a BA photography at Napier University, as well as keeping his hand in on a freelance basis, said: “We did a photo shoot for THOM&TEA on 26 April up Dumyat in the Ochils and our brief was to capture their products with Scottish theme views. Diane has nown chosen eight photos from each of us and has already started using them on social media.

“Diane seemed to really like what we have done and she has told us there may well be more opportunities for us to secure some paid for work, as she works with other small businesses as a Brand Consultant.”

Diane Richardson, Owner/Founder of THOM&TEA, said: “There has never been a greater need to create professional photography for a brand who operate from an online store platform.  Every season, we have to show our customers newness to entice them onto the platform and our social media has to have a constant stream of brand appropriate imagery.  Working with Kyle and Hayley was an absolute pleasure.  They both brought energy and enthusiasm to this project from the early briefing meeting through to the photo shoot.  I was extremely satisfied with the final edits and their work will be shown throughout our digital platforms.  We are aiming to work with Kyle and Hayley again in the future.”

FVC Creative Industries Lecturer Nick Gonzalez, added: “Both Hayley and Kyle are talented and hard working students with a real talent for photography.  They should be very proud of the work they have done for THOM&TEA. I was very pleased with what they managed to produce and I know that Diane was.”