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We take on local student interns from local schools seeking to learn photography skills.
Students are asked for a three month internship commitment and expected to exhibit a commitment
to the profession and a desire to learn and sweep floors.
As a commercial photographer
and editorial photographer we work
with a variety of camera and lighting systems ranging from SLR digital systems
and medium format equipment to simple soft boxes and large silks.
Photography assignments are physically as well as mentally demanding, therefore
interns should be prepared for a variety of tasks from digital capture to
loading equipment. While working on an editorial
shoot Ed may require an intern to help download pictures or set up a large
silk, whereas during a commercial shoot
he may require an intern to help carry and set up lighting equipment.
Since we use established photography assistants, interns are not expected
to know all lighting systems, techniques and setups. They learn as they go.
We have worked with students from Brooks School of Photography in Santa Barbara,
Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach, Santa Monica City College, Pasadena
City College and Los Angeles City College, Cal State Northridge.
Internships are not paid for the following reasons. Firstly, no interns we have worked
with have had sufficient digital skills to contribute to our work flow' either in the office
or on assignment. As a consequence, taking on an intern costs us time and attention that
we would otherwise use toward productivity. Secondly, after about three months when an intern
finally does get up to speed, they leave.
Also, on assignments, most interns do not contribute to productivity because they do not know our systems
and because they have little editorial or commercial experience. That said, we feel a responsibility
to teach the ins and outs of the profession of commercial photography, and we do so with great care. All that said
our assistants began as our interns.
Please email us to learn
more about interning. We are flexible and can work with most schedules.
Here are some do's and dont's:
Do not be late. It is not better to be late than to have never arrived. If it is late it is never!
Don't send email and expect me to call you back. I usually set up a time when we talk by phone and the intern can call.
Don't apply unless you are a current student or can exhibit some level of commitment to the profession.
Do not ask me to fill out forms or surveys unless we have agreed to work together.
Do not apply unless you are at least 18 years of age.
Do email me more than once or call if I don't respond. Nothing personal but sometimes I just don't have time but the squeaky wheel gets the attention.
Do have some basic Photoshop knowledge although strong office skills or web skills would be considered in lieu of Photoshop skills.