Help and tips preparing for the LRPS

jamesoliverstone

jamesoliverstone

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James
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Hi all, I am going to prepare a set ready for the LRPS. I have decided to take the LRPS as a personal challenge to prove to myself that I have achieved a certain standard within my photography.

Does anyone have any good tips on preparing for the LRPS?

I want to create a theme to the set but it seems that I cannot use the same subject matter...

Has anyone passed the LRPS that could link to their panel? I would love to see some images that have passed so that I can understand what is required of a set. Equally, I would love to see some sets that have failed too.

I am going to focus my attention on compositional elements and lighting as I think this will be most important.

Any help or tips that could be provided would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks :D
 
I once earned my LRPS about 15 years ago, and whilst I was very proud of my achievement at the time, soon realised what a waste of time, and money it was!
I know what I am about to write will upset a few people, but, I found that in the real world of business an RPS distinction means absolutely nothing! Noone knows what the letters mean, and to top it off, you have to pay to use the titles every year! What kind of distinction is that?
I went on and did a BA in photography. A distinction that does'nt disappear with overdue subs! and is more widely regarded in the professional market.
 
I went to the rps distinction meeting last month. I only had 1 hours sleep the night before because I was out with friends and had real trouble staying away. I felt bad leaving so I waited for lunch and then made my escape.
Everyone there was eaily 60+ bar maybe 4 or 5 people. Noone was below 30 thats for sure.
I guess it would have been worth it but it was not a well spent £10 and 3 hours of my life ;)
 
Here's a link to my panel plus one other print that made an RPS exhibition.
To me, your reason for wanting LRPS sounds excellent.
I've found LRPS useful as I'm trying to get my photography taken seriously as art. The 'Royal' bit has parallels with the fine art community and it seems to help when talking to galleries.

The best thing you can do is to go along to an RPS accreditation workshop.
You will get a feel for the standard they are looking for and the advice given about their panels will be very useful. It's a cracking day out - you ought to come away inspired!

The rule of thumb I was given for LRPS was start with approx 60 of your best images and print them at A6. Then get several people to help you shape a cohesive panel of 10 out of them. I say several because they will all pull together radically different panels and give you conflicting advice. You can then take on board or ignore the advice as you see fit - the goal is to help shape your own ideas about your panel.
 
It might not do you much good in the professional market but I'm lookiing at it from the point of view that I will still be doing the same things anyway, just with more letters after my name, so it's not going to count for much but certainly won't do me any harm :)

I think it's a great way to challenge yourself, setting a bar and doing everything you can to get over it. Personal development is something that is always worth while.
 
I think Duncan's estimate of 60 images is about right to start with and look at the cohesiveness. I had 100 for my ARPS.

If you can get to a workshop, they are well worthwhile.

I'd go with a print panel rather than projected for a number of reasons:

1. You have full control over the final image
2. A finished panel is something to keep and be proud of
3. I think it is easier to demonstrate cohesion and flow in a panel

It won't help professionally but I am with AliB on this, it's a challenge.
 
viewfromthenorth said:
Currently applying for an ARPS, best advice I can give is to go to an RPS distinctions workshop. They have these round the country (check the RPS website for where and when) and you'll get some excellent advice.
Click to expand...

Thanks mate I will check it out :)

smithphoto said:
I once earned my LRPS about 15 years ago, and whilst I was very proud of my achievement at the time, soon realised what a waste of time, and money it was!
I know what I am about to write will upset a few people, but, I found that in the real world of business an RPS distinction means absolutely nothing! Noone knows what the letters mean, and to top it off, you have to pay to use the titles every year! What kind of distinction is that?
I went on and did a BA in photography. A distinction that does'nt disappear with overdue subs! and is more widely regarded in the professional market.
Click to expand...

This is more about achieving a personal goal and proving to myself that others outside my network have faith in my ability and creativity. I would love to do a degree but I am a working father who has mortgage and bills etc... so that isnt going to happen :(

DuncanDisorderly said:
Here's a link to my panel plus one other print that made an RPS exhibition.
To me, your reason for wanting LRPS sounds excellent.
I've found LRPS useful as I'm trying to get my photography taken seriously as art. The 'Royal' bit has parallels with the fine art community and it seems to help when talking to galleries.

The best thing you can do is to go along to an RPS accreditation workshop.
You will get a feel for the standard they are looking for and the advice given about their panels will be very useful. It's a cracking day out - you ought to come away inspired!

The rule of thumb I was given for LRPS was start with approx 60 of your best images and print them at A6. Then get several people to help you shape a cohesive panel of 10 out of them. I say several because they will all pull together radically different panels and give you conflicting advice. You can then take on board or ignore the advice as you see fit - the goal is to help shape your own ideas about your panel.
Click to expand...

Fantastic advise and thanks for the link, its a great set mate and makes me understand more about what is required.

AliB said:
It might not do you much good in the professional market but I'm lookiing at it from the point of view that I will still be doing the same things anyway, just with more letters after my name, so it's not going to count for much but certainly won't do me any harm :)

I think it's a great way to challenge yourself, setting a bar and doing everything you can to get over it. Personal development is something that is always worth while.
Click to expand...

Thats just the reason why I am doing this :)

grumpybadger said:
I think Duncan's estimate of 60 images is about right to start with and look at the cohesiveness. I had 100 for my ARPS.

If you can get to a workshop, they are well worthwhile.

I'd go with a print panel rather than projected for a number of reasons:

1. You have full control over the final image
2. A finished panel is something to keep and be proud of
3. I think it is easier to demonstrate cohesion and flow in a panel

It won't help professionally but I am with AliB on this, it's a challenge.
Click to expand...

Brilliant advise and I never thought of points 2 and 3. Point 2 especially as i think thats a great idea and something to look back on in later years!

I shall continue my research into the topic.

Thanks for all the good advise :D
 
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