What would you do?

[thetrue]

I may be offered a very part-time job doing portraits in a studio and on location (parks, beach, etc) and events (parties, etc) by a studio that's not quite established but has enough of a following to stay afloat. Some of their work is really quite subpar, and although I don't have experience in this realm of photography I do feel that I could definitely help improve the quality and grow their company.

In the meantime I can continue to learn and grow through my own works. If you were me, would you do it?

 

[Light Guru]

In the meantime I can continue to learn and grow through my own works. If you were me, would you do it?

That depends on if you sign a do not compete agreement as condition of employment. Even if they don't bring it up you definitely should just to make it perfectly clear to both sides. Some business owners are rather ignorant and think that by you simply working for them means that you have agreed to not do the same kind of work on the side.

 

[thetrue]

Well, yeah, but on my own I wouldn't be doing anything that would be a conflict of interest. That would of course be a major topic of discussion. Thanks for pointing that out though.

 

[412 Burgh]

I am currently in the same boat. I go to a small school and got offered an internship at this studio blocks away from my dorm. Their work is subpar and have a steady flow of clients some how. They said in would start as a designer/editor and work my way up to paid gigs. Once I actually show them my pictures and portfolio I think I will find myself doing a lot of shoots and helping them out just as much as they are helping me out.


No I dot think I'm the best photographer but like you said this studio has a lot of subpar photos. Just small things like titled photos. Awkward cropping. Over processed photos. But in the long run I'm taking it to get that client and studio experience I'm lacking.

 

[thetrue]

^^Thats pretty much what I'm thinking. They'd have me do shoots and I'd be editing my own and helping edit the owner's work.

 

[kathyt]

I would not do it just because I think that it is really important to try to find your own style and build your own brand. If you get linked to a "subpar" studio, then that reputation could easily follow you down the road.

 

[thetrue]

Kathy - they're not "known" as a subpar studio, they just make a LOT of rookie mistakes - missed focus, odd framing, very cliche shots and editing that's trying to hide those mistakes (admitted by the manager to me, hehe)

Im thinking it might be a good way to get some practice and experience, plus it may reflect positively on me if I help them build their business, do you agree?

 

[kathyt]

Kathy - they're not "known" as a subpar studio, they just make a LOT of rookie mistakes - missed focus, odd framing, very cliche shots and editing that's trying to hide those mistakes (admitted by the manager to me, hehe)

Im thinking it might be a good way to get some practice and experience, plus it may reflect positively on me if I help them build their business, do you agree?

Well then maybe it could be a good learning experience for you. Anything that gets you shooting more and more I am sure has to have some value.

 

[e.rose]

Yup. I've done it before and I'd do it again if need be. As long as, like someone mentioned, there wasn't a "non-compete" issue.

I've worked for Lifetouch while learning (way back in the beginning of my photo career... as if that was SOOOOO so long ago. ), and I was allowed to continue doing what I do, as long as I wasn't competing against them for school contracts... which I was not.

And I have worked for... may STILL work for after the move... The American Wedding Group (The Pros), who have ZERO non-compete anything. I can shoot weddings with them... I can shoot my own weddings.. doesn't matter. As long as I don't tell my Pros clients my last name or give them info about my own ventures, I'm good.

There's a studio in Nashville that I was going to apply to work for doing non-photography things (Just to get my foot in the door), but they don't want their administrative staff to be photographers... at the very least they don't want them to be planning on going into wedding photography ventures of their own/already have a wedding photography business.

Not that I do that on my own at the moment, I'm not really sure HOW I would feel about doing that later on down the line, so I didn't want to accept a job that I would have to quit sooner than later just because my focus in photography expanded or shifted.

PLUS... I dunno if I'm still shooting with Pros or not. Cause Mama needs money, especially after the move, and God only knows if those gigs will make or break our financial situation, so I don't want to limit myself. Although, the goal is to work more often with local photographers assisting and second shooting than it is to work most often with the Pros. We'll see.

BUT ENOUGH ABOUT ME...

Back to you...

YES. I would do it. For the reasons you listed. It would give you a chance to improve YOURSELF... and the company. As long as it doesn't interfere with your other plans, I say go for it. :sillysmi:

 

[Derrel]

Yeah...give it a try.It will be good experience. You will learn plenty...probably more than you can imagine that there is to know. How to handle clients who don;t want to be there; how to deal with irate moms, testy teenagers, uncooperative husbands, and cranky kids. You might really enjoy the challenges. You probably have nothing to lose...and a lot to gain.

 

[pgriz]

Usually, the best thing about working for someone else is learning what works and what doesn't in a business sense. As long as you are free to apply such learning, the experience should be a positive for you. However, places that are not well structured, work-wise, often give you additional tasks and responsibilities that have nothing to do with the reason you were hired originally - job creep, essentially. I assume you will have some kind of document that defines your role, your responsibilities and your rights (working conditions, use of company equipment or resources, ownership of images, use of your own equipment, expense reimbursement policy, nature and manner of compensation, and so on). The act of putting together such a document (including the discussions about the details), should concentrate the mind over exactly what each party is expecting out of the arrangement.

 

[thetrue]

Yeah...give it a try.It will be good experience. You will learn plenty...probably more than you can imagine that there is to know. How to handle clients who don;t want to be there; how to deal with irate moms, testy teenagers, uncooperative husbands, and cranky kids. You might really enjoy the challenges. You probably have nothing to lose...and a lot to gain.

Yes, to all of it. Awesome answer! Thanks!

 

[runnah]

Nothing ventured nothing gained... blah blah blah.

Do it.

 

[cgipson1]

I would say "go for it"! Won't hurt you... should help! Have fun!

 

[thetrue]

pgriz - I'm actually quite happy about exactly that. I get to see what does and doesn't work, and they actually seem very open to suggestions. Essentially, I may get to apply things that I think will work and test them in a business environment with little risk. I'm not so sure that they're structured enough to actually have job descriptions on paper, and I'm sure I would have to endure a little grunt work (lugging equipment, being the light beyotch, etc.) but that will all go in to learning.

The equipment - that's the one thing I'm going to be upset about. They shoot Nikon. Now I don't mind using Nikon and I can certainly learn them easily, but they are all crop bodies and - wait for it - KIT LENSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I kind of chuckled when he told me that was their equipment list...