Powerful Photography: Graduate Lands Job at Barcroft Media

Photography plays a huge part in our lives; from the adverts we see, the articles we read and the social media feeds we scroll through. It helps us tell stories in a single glance.

Anna Sass, 2018 graduate from BA(Hons) Press & Editorial Photography, is acutely aware of how impactful photography can be. After working as a Picture Editor for Save the Children, she’s recently started working at a leading media agency, Barcroft Media, joining its newly re-established UK Picture Desk team.

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BA(Hons) Press & Editorial Photography

Established in 2003, Barcroft Media is dedicated to creating television and digital video content, celebrating incredible true stories.

Anna told us: “I am delighted to have landed a job at Barcroft Media, it is very exciting to be a part of the return of the UK picture desk for the company. I am excited to have an insight into all these interesting stories and also see how a media company works. It will be a bit of a change from Save the Children; I hope to bring some of the skills I learnt to this new role.”

During her time as Picture Editor at Save the Children, Anna’s role involved taking new photography, as well as commissioning new pieces, retouching, assisting and researching.

Anna said: “I really enjoyed working for Save the Children UK. I was able to work with many photographers I had admired for so long, as well as be immersed in the new up-and-coming photographers of today. It was an amazing start to my first year in the industry.”

Working at Save the Children UK also gave Anna a unique insight into how photography can be used to champion and promote important causes. 

She told us: “It really opened my eyes to how powerful photography can be. The key motivation for all of the creative team [at Save the Children] was constantly thinking about how we can connect the public to the children we are trying to help. I was working alongside a lot of inspirational people who were also incredibly supportive.” 

Anna added that, “many people say that photography could die as a skill, due to the proliferation of smart phone cameras,” and that “the question often asked is: how can you distinguish yourself as a good photographer when everyone is constantly snapping away?” 

What Anna has learnt from her time at university and from Save the Children is that, “ownership of a fancy camera doesn’t translate to the ability to tell a story, empathise or connect with a subject. These are key attributes that are necessary to create powerful photography.”