Working in a studio

tipsinartok

Not sure which forum to post this in, sorry if this isn't the right one.

There are a couple of studios nearby that are hiring photographers part-time right now. These aren't fancy, photographer-owned studios where I would be working under a pro or anything like that, they're places like Sears, Wal-Mart, etc. They say one of the perks is paid training, and it'd be kind of nice to get some experience using lights in a studio since I don't have the money to buy anything like that to learn on right now.

I'm a stay-at-home mom right now and we don't really need the extra money (though it would certainly be nice), and I would only do it very part-time. I don't really know what's involved in that type of studio photography though, and since I don't have my own studio I don't know what kind of differences there would be, though I know it is much more of an environment where quantity of clients matters more than the quality of the pictures. So I guess what I'm wondering is whether that type of experience would serve me well as I learn how to use my camera and take pictures (I'd love to eventually specialize in maternity and babies), or if I'd be better off just continuing to practice on family and friends, read lots of books, and post here for critiques.

DoctorIt

If you're interested in getting into the business, sounds like a no-brainer: definitely! Go get some studio experience!

And certainly keep posting photos here


BTW, moving this to "Mind Your Own Business", where you might get more replies about that end of things.

tipsinartok

Thanks Erik. I guess I wasn't sure because I don't know if one of those conveyor-belt-type studios would actually give me the flexibility to learn what a "real" studio setting is like, if that makes sense. I have only had pictures taken in a place like that a couple of times, but the pictures were a far cry from what you'd get in a pro's studio. But I guess that could be a limitation of the photographer more than the studio, since you don't need any experience to work there. They don't seem to change the lights around much for different clients, for example. Though I guess even just the experience with posing and talking to people would be beneficial. Maybe if I got a few regular clients they would follow me when I left.

bob swanson

Although I haven't had any experience with those studios I do have my own studio. I actually did a lot of reading and practiced what I learned. Personally I think the experience would be OK if you planned to do studio work in the future. I wouldn't say too much about the quality of the studios considering what they have to put up with. What a normal studio might charge for a "finished 8x10" these mass studios would probably give away the store. Any experience is "experience" and you wouldn't have to stay if you didn't like it. I can picture a room full of screaming kids as I type this reply. Good luck, bsvirginian

tipsinartok wrote:

Thanks Erik. I guess I wasn't sure because I don't know if one of those conveyor-belt-type studios would actually give me the flexibility to learn what a "real" studio setting is like, if that makes sense. I have only had pictures taken in a place like that a couple of times, but the pictures were a far cry from what you'd get in a pro's studio. But I guess that could be a limitation of the photographer more than the studio, since you don't need any experience to work there. They don't seem to change the lights around much for different clients, for example. Though I guess even just the experience with posing and talking to people would be beneficial. Maybe if I got a few regular clients they would follow me when I left.

kd2

I have a friend who started out by working in one of those types of places. She left after six months. It was all very "cookie-cutter" so she didn't really get to do anything more than what was already set up--poses, lighting, etc. Even though she was one of their top sellers, she wasn't allowed to deviate from the canned format. She didn't say it was a bad experience, it just didn't give her the experience or growth she was looking for. It was more about getting customers in and getting them out.

Why not try to see if you can intern with or assist a pro?

davidweaver

If are looking for experience then it's not a bad place.
You will learn more about working with people than anything else in that gig.

That is not an easy skill to hone.

Cheers,
David

tipsinartok

Thank you! You've all given me some food for thought. I think I may go into the local studio and talk with them a bit more about what's involved and what they're looking for. I'll have to decide if the experience/pay is worth having to find someone to watch my daughter for a few hours a week too, which is a big factor for me. I may just start taking pictures of people around here on my own and see how I do first.