The Process of the 'Photography Internship' hunt The photography job market is unlike any other; it's almost like an exclusive club with minimal emphasis on advertising.
My early ambitions of becoming a photographer quickly lead to feelings of 'no direction'.
The problem was not myself but the lack of guidance for my situation.
Fortunately I rationalized that other people had internships in photography (no one I knew at the time).
So all I had to do was learn how they got their jobs and I would do great.
(A positive attitude breed's success) This time in my life was exciting because I learned a lot about the industry, and quickly realized how bad I wanted to be apart of it.
So I began researching about internships relating to photography.
I found nothing useful; there was mostly conventional information like "apply for jobs early" or "having a good resume is half the battle".
This advice was not only useless but also frustrating because all I wanted to know was "How", action that I can take now! The question for a lot of you is "How do I Land an Internship in Photography" and the answer is not something I can cover in one blog post, but I will try to summarize it.
I have come up with a process that has worked 99% of the time for me.
Yes, it is that great.
When I am searching for an internship to develop a new skill in Photography I follow these steps: • Research: I have specific list of what I am looking for and how I am going to understand this part of the industry.
• Execution: I prepare all forms of communication, whether its resumes, e-mail scripts & phone calls.
I start to implement all these approaches until I have exhausted my efforts.
• Measuring: This part is the most important, why most people don't take this step serious is beyond me.
I am a habitual tester; yes I measure every action in the execution stage.
Why? Because I believe in 'perfect practice makes perfect'.
I enjoy being effective vs.
working aimlessly.
• Perfection: Once I do an analysis on what worked well & what didn't, I tweak my approach towards excellent results.
With this process, and the experience I possess today, I am confident to find an internship within one week in almost any city I currently reside.
This applies to unadvertised positions (common experience) or even Photography Studios that don't need extra help.
I exhibit a perception that I am an asset to have, especially since I usually work for free or a low wage.
This obviously won't be the case for you being a novice, but the above process increases your chances.
It's important to effective and also efficient in your processes.
Read up on a manufacturing process called "Lean Sigma Six" it's focused towards supply chain businesses but you can take away some ideas and apply it to your methods.
Cut out all the wasteful activities and focus on creating opportunities.
This will take you significantly further than the conventional garbage out there.
I hope this helps you on your journey in landing an internship in Photography.