I need help finding a job...

I've recently (the past few months) taken up photography as a hobby. I have a digital rebel with a couple of lenses that I take pictures here and there with. I'm interested in becoming a pro, and I think it would be fun to work in a studio doing stuff like setting up props, cameras, lights, that sort of thing.

I'm not certified or professionally trained, so I couldn't actually BE a photographer yet, but I think working in a studio would be a great learning experience.

I'm 18, senior year of high school, so I would work for cheap for the next 3-4 months till I go to college.

How should I go about looking for this sort of job? Is this even an option for me?

Thanks for all advice,
Matt

Where are you located? My son is 18 and works at Costco. You can sign up to work in the photo lab. There you can see what people are doing and earn $10/hour. Have you considered contacting a local photography studio and volunteering to help. There are always photographers who need helpers, but you have to ask around. I'd start with parents of people you know use a good studio for their family portraits or someone who just recently hired a photographer for a wedding. You can even ask the photographers who took school pictures in your area. Good luck. College is really important. If you are serious about earning money over the summer, you should start looking now. There is no shame in working a hard labor job or something not always fun. We all start off that way. Very few of us avoided the "cashier at the local grocery store" route. My son happened to get a job at Safeway before Christmas to earn some money. After he turned 18, Costco saw he was a good worker and hired him. He went from earning a little over $6/hr to $10/hr in a matter of months. That's pretty nice.

I'm located in Dallas, Texas.

The problem is that no retail stores will hire me, because I was in one of those "the wrong place at the wrong time" situations, and a store thought I was with someone who was shoplifting. What really happened is I ran into someon I knew at the store, and (without my knowledge), he tried to steal some stuff, I walked out the door with him, and we were both arrested. There was not much I could do, I even got an attorney but all I could do was claim "no content." because of that, I can't get a job anywhere. Big retail places won't even listen to my story because there are so many other applicants waiting in line.

Wow, that's really not a good place to start. That is what your attorney suggested? I would have gotten another attorney. It should not have been that way. My husband is an attorney and says you always fight. But that's done and you have to move on. Get past this and volunteer somewhere. It's better to have something good on your resume and not get paid, than not to have tried.

The problem was that I didn't have the money to get a better attorney. I think I can still get it "expunged" or something, but it costs like $1500.

I could get a new camera for that.

Priorities, young man. It's your life we are considering, not just your fun. I'm a mom of 4 boys. One is 18 so I do know a little about this. Cameras will always be there, and the technology improves so much, you will want to save for a really good one. But you are asking for fish when you have to learn how to fish first and that way, things will be easier in the long run. Sorry to be so "motherly" but I can't help it.

thanks. my mom doesn't give me advice like that. she tells me stuff like "you're wasting your money on all that picture taking crap!" and "you wont ever amount to anything!"

you can be my new POTN mom from now on.

I called a few places tonight and I think I might have landed a job at a muffler shop making 10-12 bucks an hour. (working on cars is my other passion )

Cars are good, but graduating is the most important thing for you now. High school graduates earn 2/3 more than drop outs over a lifetime. That's a big difference and you'll want that diploma so you can move ahead. Think about the extra bucks when you finish your education and get stuff like Dante's. When I saw his signature, I wanted to be a chef!

I agree with Suzy. As a high school special ed teacher, I tell my students that graduating is one of the most important things they'll ever do. Some sort of post-secondary education or training is really a necessity these days, as the job market is increasingly competitive. If you're thinking about a possible career in photography, I'd recommend that you consider taking some business courses. Marketing is probably one of the most important keys to sucess in the photography business.

I am graduating for sure. I've been an all-A kind of kid, all honors, G/T, AP kind of classes. My major is actually Communication Design, I just want to have photography as a sort of backup/secondary career and a hobby on the side.

This job is just for afterschool, and mostly for this summer (a good solid 3 months before I start the spring semeseter at the University of North Texas).

Good for you! Get yourself something to do to keep out of trouble, I tell my son. He's doing very well, and so will you. Make some money and then talk about supporting yourself a little more, then talk about buying nice gear. Priorities. If you tell your mom you are going to help out with your education by saving 1/2 of your paycheck for that, she'll wonder what happened to her kid and replaced him with you.

SuzyView wrote:
Good for you! Get yourself something to do to keep out of trouble, I tell my son. He's doing very well, and so will you. Make some money and then talk about supporting yourself a little more, then talk about buying nice gear. Priorities. If you tell your mom you are going to help out with your education by saving 1/2 of your paycheck for that, she'll wonder what happened to her kid and replaced him with you.

i have scholarships to pay for school. 15% of my checks go to tithe, about $300 a month to car payments, and about $75 a month to help with car insurance.

hopefully i can make that kind of money

Just ask for an internship at a bunch of places telling them that you want to learn, and surely one of them will let you. Even local magazines or newspapers' photographers might let you intern with them and learn. Advice that was given to me here (I am a senior as well) was to take some classes locally at a YMCA or community college in photography. Unfortunately there's not much available where I live, but Dallas is a big place.

you gotta get out of the car. as long as you don't have anyone depending on your income, you really need to do jobs that are going to lead you into doing things you're passionate about. When you're worried about making payments and debt is hanging over your head, you're going to make bad decisions.

go here: daveramsey.com

and find his book, The Total Money Makeover. I wish I had when I was 18!

Matt,
Some sound advice here.
You certainly could approach reputable studios and see if they need help, or be willing to show you the ropes, or simply watch them in action.

Do some research; find a photographer that impresses you w/ their work and make the call. Studios may not pay a whole heck of lot, but if you are interested and passionate about photography, do it!

Issac makes a good point of asking local newspapers. See if you could speak to their photogs, get advice, or tag along for a shift or two that would be worth it. Those photog may recommend someone to you as well.
Good luck!
Mark