The process

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 do mundane work.

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 and they typically don't.

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. Firstly, no interns we have worked with have had sufficient 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.

That said if an intern had one or more of the right skill sets: web, Photoshop, Lightroom and office skills that could change. Our current assistants started as interns.

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. Please call if you you are interested in assisting but please read our "Do's & Dont's" before had.

Please to learn more about interning. We are flexible and can work with most schedules.

Do's and Don'ts

Do not be late. It is NOT better to be late than to have never arrived.

Don't depend on your school or 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 sometimes I just don't have time but the squeaky wheel gets the attention and I take it as a sign of commitment when a student is persistent. Unfortunately most students never read this far on the page.

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 multiple photography internships if at possible.

Do internships with advertising agencies, design firms or corporate creative directors; the people you want to work for.

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