The process

We prefer to work with student interns from local schools working through official internship programs for the following reasons: 1) Once a student graduates their time for uncompensated work is limited because they are trying to make a living. 2) Students in official internship programs have a vested interest in completing their commitments. 3) There are legal implications for us for taking on unpaid people to work. Students are asked for a three-month internship commitment and expected to exhibit a commitment to the profession and a desire to learn and do mundane work. Interns must be receiving credit for their internship and provide a contact with their school.

Photography assignments are physically as well as mentally demanding, so interns should be prepared for a variety of tasks from digital capture to loading equipment. While working on an editorial photography assignment Ed may require an intern to help download pictures, set up a soft-box, carry and set up lighting equipment, etc. The same goes for commercial photography assignments.

Since we use established photography assistants, interns are not expected to know any lighting systems, techniques and setups. They are expected to be on time. I find by and large THE MOST SUCCESSFUL INTERNS ASK THE BEST QUESTIONS, don't necessarily major in photography and have very open minds. So if you are not majoring in photography it is not important to me; just that you get school credit and you ask the right questions.

We have worked with students from Brooks School of Photography in Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach, Santa Monica City College, USC, Pasadena City College and Los Angeles City College, Cal State Northridge.

Payment

Photography internships are typically not paid for the following reasons. First, interns don't have had enough digital, lighting, web or assistant skills to contribute to our workflow 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.

We recommend that students start their internships in their freshman year because, with some notable exceptions, most schools are NOT going to teach you what you need to know to prosper as a photographer and you will be on alone in a field that is more competitive than law, medicine or finance. It is almost certain you will not have a job when you graduate unless you already have a network in place.

We would never discourage anyone from perusing their aspirations and we would never sugar coat the realities of making your way as a commercial photographer. The field can be very rewarding or not, and talent is no guarantee of prosperity. Business acumen and social skills are equally important.

So to that end, we feel a responsibility to teach the ins-and-outs of the profession of corporate/editorial photography, and we do so with great care. We not only speak to students about lighting techniques but also about the business and marketing aspects of photography. WE DO PAY ATTENTION and any intern that works with us is ENTITLED to my time and attention when they have questions or issues about the field of photography or anything else they want to talk about. They are also welcomed to schedule sit down talks with me. Please call if you are interested in internships but please read our "Do's & Don't's" before had.

Please to learn more about interning. We are flexible and can work with most schedules although most of our work takes place on the week days.

Do's and Don'ts

Do multiple photography internships with people you want to work for. Intern with creative directors, art directors and adv. agencies who hire photographers.

Do join ASMP or APA as a student.

Do familiarize yourself with video editing programs like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere.

Do learn about business of photography.

Do learn an accounting program like QuickBooks; also an estimating program like Blinkbid.

Do ask me to speak to your class. I would be please to address your school.

Don't depend on your teachers to give you all the answers. Talk to working photographers, designers, art buyers, creative directors to get a rounded perspective of the industry. There is no one way and if all you do is follow conventional wisdom you are just getting in line with the rest of humanity.

Don't apply unless you are a current student or can exhibit some level of commitment to the profession.

Do email me more than once, or call if I don't respond. Nothing personal but I often don't have time to respond. It's the squeaky wheel gets the attention and I take it as a sign of commitment when a student is persistent.

Do not ask me to fill out forms or surveys unless we have agreed to work together.

Do form your own peer group to review eachother's work and begin the process of networking. There is usually only two points between photographers and the people they most want to meet with.

Everything I have said may be wrong for you but you won't know this until you have done your due diligence.