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Mark Robert Halper Photography Internship / Apprenticeship Program
Assist on Shoots and Learn About Professional Commercial Photography
The next photography internship opportunities are projected to begin in February of 2009 (for the weekday) and January of 2009 (for the weekend). There is a both a "weekday" (Monday through Friday) and a "weekend" (Saturday and Sunday) internship / apprenticeship position available. The weekday photography internship will begin February 29, 2009 (usually with two weeks of training prior to the start date), requires an eight, ten, or twelve month commitment (to be determined during the application process), and is a paid position. We will considering candidates in October of 2008 for both internships; please wait to contact us until October 1. There is also a weekend opportunity with a negotiable commitment in the six month range. We will considering candidates in October of 2008 for both internships; please wait to contact us until October 1. There is only one opening for each of the internships. Please read this all the way through before contacting Mark. On smaller shoots you will often be working directly with the photographer, and on larger shoots you will be part of a crew. You may also be asked to help out around the studio with various office duties when necessary (this will never be more than one third of your time, and is generally less than that). Your photography skills should be at least at an intermediate level, but even more essential is your ability to learn by observation, think for yourself, and problem solve. You are the kind of person who gets things done. You have at least enough hands on experience with professional lighting to be comfortable with the equipment, and ideally are at a more advanced level for the weekday position. For the weekday position, you also need to be capable of physical labor, such as loading a car full of heavy lighting equipment for location shoots. You will be given as much responsibility as you can handle. The schedule will usually be about 8-15 days per month for the regular internship (depending on what projects come in). You must have very high availability, as projects often come up on a last minute basis and working hours are very inconsistent. Think of it as a semester abroad in Los Angeles, California, without the cost of classes and with substantial compensation. Being Mark's apprentice is a very large commitment. The weekend apprentice is generally about 3-5 days per month, and has a more limited scope (weekend jobs are usually smaller scale). The weekend apprentice is also a woman, the reason being that many of the shoots are studio shoots of a single subject and it is important to have both a man and a woman present to make the subject feel as comfortable as possible. In
exchange for your time, Mark will be available to give you assignments,
critique your work, and provide general advice and guidance. Like most
things in life, you will get out of it in proportion to what you put
into it. You will be encouraged to shoot on your own as much as possible,
and apply what you have learned. If you are interested in the photography internship, please email Mark directly. Include a phone number, and remember that your first impression will be your email. You must be able to meet with Mark in person to be considered. Please avoid sending attachments. Please include information about your experience in photography, and with professional lighting in your introductory email, and confirm that you have read through the schedule requirements. WHAT
MARK'S INTERNS / APPRENTICES HAVE TO SAY: When
I moved to L.A., I was a fine art photographer, I knew nothing of the
commercial photography world. Assisting mark changed all that. He took
me under his wing, so to speak, and through working with him I have
gained the knowledge and confidence to branch out into the commercial
world. Although Mark can be 'temperamental' at times, it was always
fun and there was always laughing. Working
as an intern with Mark's program was one of the best decisions I have
made for myself. The fast pace atmosphere was stressful at times, but
it provided vast opportunity for growth and development. Before working
for Mark I had been working towards a major in photography from a four
year university. I learned more from Mark within a few months then I
did during four years of school. Mark is tough and demands the best
from everyone around him, but it was his manor of working and teaching
that allowed me the opportunity to gain an abundance of knowledge in
a small amount of time. I am very grateful for the opportunity I was
given to work with Mark. Without his influence and guidance I would
not be continuing my development in the field of photography. Mark
is simply one of the best teachers and mentors
I have ever come across. His eye for light, detail, composition, his
technical and business savvy, client relations and marketing expertise
are second to none and I learned much of what has made me able to make
it as a pro shooter from him. He is kind, caring and considerate, and
has forever created a little voice in my head that I like to call “WWMD”
(What Would Mark Do) when I am shooting now on jobs of my own. Interning
with him was a little like training in the Marine Corp, kinda hard every
so often and some very early starts, but it was very rewarding. It set
me up very well for the tough business of professional photography! Being
an assistant to Mark is hard work. Like most everything else in life
you get out of it what you put into it. Don't even think about applying
unless you have a sense of humor, don't mind lifting heavy things, stay
cool under pressure, are generally prompt and really, really want to
learn what it takes to make it in the competitive field of commercial
photography. I have no regrets! I
knew I wanted to move my photography career forward - but I didn’t
feel like I had the time to go back to school. The internship was the
perfect crash course in all that I was missing. Working
with Mark is demanding but rewarding. You will learn the right way to
do things and be able to take those skills and apply them to all other
jobs in the future. It is definitely a worthwhile experience. Mark is
a great teacher, as long as you are willing to learn. The
internship functions as a great next step from college - an extension
of your education and a real life photographic experience. My
weekend internship with Mark has helped me immensely in my photography
career. He has an incredible eye and skill as a photographer and a great
business sense. He is also more than generous with his time and advice
regardless of what genre of photography you decide to pursue. Being
given the opportunity to assist for him has inspired me to take my photography
to the next level. I was able to acquire valuable experiences out of
this internship that I could never learn in any sort of classroom. I
decided to work with Mark because he works independently. He showed
me that the day to day life of a "real" photographer was like.
Having an inside view from both a creative and business perspective
was incredibly valuable in shaping my decision to pursue photography
professionally. Mark's
internship is a big commitment. If you are willing to give up your personal
life on weekends and take your career to the next level, this is the
right internship for you. You definitely get out what you put in. So
work hard, ask questions, be open to learn, and remember to have fun!
I just want to thank you for the internship experience again. I've
been able to utilize a lot of what I learned from working with you and
been trying to apply it to my work. My teacher really likes the stuff
that I'm doing. But yeah, it's funny because I use to always over light
all my stuff. My setups would be kind of crazy, but working with you
I've learned how to keep my setups simple and still get a really great
shot. Not to mention working fast but diligent. So I just wanted to
say thank you for bestowing your knowledge onto me. (from an email dated
November, 2004) Be
ready to work hard, be on time, and have fun. You'll get out of the
internship as much as you put in - and the possibility is endless. The
gain is greater than the sacrifice, yet the sacrifice is still significant. You
have been a wonderful mentor... Thank you. The
internship with Mark put me on the right track in my career. Not only
did I get the proper training to work as a photographer's assistant,
but I also learned a lot about other aspects of the photography business.
Marketing,
pricing and client relations amongst other things were frequent topics
during the internship. I feel I emerged from the four months I spent
with Mark with a more focused vision of how I will reach my career goals.
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Los Angeles, California
888-273-2838
Photography Internships for Aspiring Photographers
Discover more about Mark's services:
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