Work Experience

[sezza26]

My sister who is 15 is due to start work experience in July. She is very interested in photography and would like to do something along those lines unfortunately her school is not offering anything like this and she has to find her own placement. Can anyone help? I have emailed a few photographers asking if they do work experience but no one seems to want to reply. I would be very grateful if anyone can point me in the right direction otherwise my sister will be forced to work somewhere she has no interest in.

Many thanks.

[Hawkwalk]

try contacting people like Jessops, Cannon, Minolta etc. they are big companies who probably do offer work experience.

[CheekyChops]

And I would try phoning them rather than emailing - they can't ignore you then can they!

[scotchollie]

Speaking as photojournalist, her best bet is to go to any studio, newspaper, or high street photography store and make her case in person.

Yellow pages is a good start.

If this fails, has she a camera? If so, I suggest that she asks a photographer to "mentor" her during her work experience, rather than use the word 'placement.' (It flatters the photographer and moves away from the idea that the placement is an exercise in nursemaiding.

Suggest she also takes a portfolio of images with her, which would look good, rather than just turn up empty handed and expect to be handed a chance to prove herself.

It just doesn't work that way, I'm afraid.

As a matter of interest - where, roughly are you in the UK?

[sezza26]

Thanks everyone some really helpful advice to get her started.

To answer Scotchollie's question yes she does have a camera and she lives in Battersea, London.

[scotchollie]

Then I suggest she does a photo essay - a day/week in the life of a cat (yes, a cat they have them) at Battersea Dog's home. Offer them some prints in return for access and time there.

Or a series of pics on the power station/arts centre (must be someone there who can offer advice too?

Here's a list to a load of local photographers:

http://www.192.com/directory.cfm/BATTERSEA/PHO TOGRAPHER

Ring the local newspaper - get the name of the photographer(s) there.

Once you've got a name, wait an hour, ring back and make an appointment. Tell them that a friend of your Mum's who was photographed by them at an event a while back recommended them...

You get the idea!!

[sezza26]

Thanks scotchollie for the advice and the link. I have spoken to her and she's gonna get started straight away. I will let you know what progress she makes.

Thanks again.

[emx384]

Best of luck to her - she will have to get her work experience employer to fill in a health and safety type form from school to do it, so make sure they can do that before she commits herself too much!