Is anyone on here a photographer or video editor that I could interview for a career project?

Finding a photographer or video editor that you can interview for a career project should be pretty easy, thanks to the power of the World Wide Web.

The best place to look for photographers or video editors you can contact right away is on message boards, where these types tend to hang out and exchange tips and other relevant information.

If you want to look for a photographer or video editor that you can find offline, go to a community college or photography/video editing store and ask for advice. Chances are, there is someone on or offline, who will jump at the chance to get a little exposure through an interview with you.

• Tips on asking for an interview

The best way to approach a photographer or video editor online is to find them via their personal website or Facebook page, once you've read about them online (at a message board or similar website).

Sending a friendly message, telling such a person that you admire their work can be an excellent way to make contact; most people respond to subtle, sincere flattery, so try to find an artist whose work you really admire before you get started. If you enjoy someone's work in a way that is sincere, the whole interview process will run more smoothly.

• Give potential interviewees time to respond

If you don't hear back in two or three days, send a follow up email. If you don't hear back at that point, move on to another potential subject. The best way to move on is by creating a short list of candidates at the outset, and moving down the list until someone agrees to be interviewed.

Always consider your plan for the interview before you proceed - for example, is the interview via Skype, or will it take place in the "real world". Who you approach will largely depend on how you plan to conduct the interview.