17 Tips for Getting Hired by Photography Studios
Are you looking to get started working as a photographer, but you’re unsure where to start?
Or are you just looking to earn some extra money by filling out your calendar with some extra gigs?
Thanks to online platforms like ShootWith.Me, finding jobs has never been easier!
If you haven’t signed up, you can get started right now for free.
Now, if you’re looking to fill the gaps in your schedule as a photographer, the big question is going to be -
What are photography studios looking for that will make them more likely to hire you over others out there?
We got feedback from some of our users who are actively hiring others to fill roles as assistants, second shooters and lead photographers for their gigs, and want to share some amazing insights with you in this post!
What Photography Studios Are Looking for When They Hire
1). Photographers who are reputable
One of the most important factors photo studios take into consideration when they go to hire someone is - is this person going to show up and do a great job for me?
While some of us are fortunate to have great little networks of people we can trust, often we have to turn to people outside of our networks when those people are not available or if the studio owner has bigger dreams like that of growing their photography business.
Fortunately, by using a tool like ShootWith.Me, you can work with photography studios who can then rate you well - increasing your opportunities to get hired for more and more jobs into the future.
2). Have good emotional intelligence.
Whether you are working as an assistant, 2nd shooter or a lead photographer for another studio - most of the time, you will be working with people.
So being able to provide good customer experience during your time is so important - some might even argue more important than your actual technical and artistic skills as a photographer.
3). Positive attitude.
Going hand in hand with point 2, having a positive attitude throughout your working day is going to make for a much better experience for everyone involved.
As photographers (and this is especially true if you document weddings and elopements), working conditions can range widely and these days can, at times, be a little unpredictable. Being able to easily adapt to things is an amazing trait to have.
4). Directly ask the person you're working for how they would like you to approach the day.
Even if you are just the hired talent working for an established photo studio, this doesn’t mean you can’t take a proactive approach to making sure you are helping to create the work they envision for their clients.
By simply asking the person who is hiring you - “how would you like me to approach the day?” it can kick off a good conversation that can get into details and help set expectations for how you will work.
In our experience, some photographers are really lax and might just say “just work like it’s your client”, while others might have more specific guidelines to share!
5). Get clarity on what defines the photography studio’s “style” and match it
Every photography studio creates an “end product” that might look a little different. Make sure you have a good sense of the studio’s portfolio, and get clarity on what the defining “features” of their style are.
You might look at things like…
- How is off camera flash used?
- Are there any specific compositions that are common?
- Are images more staged or candid?
6). Make transferring your images to the studio easy.
The studio should have a process in place for getting the images you’ve taken for them from you. If you're photographing with the studio owner, using their SD cards and returning them before leaving is a good practice!
7). Get safe shots first, then get artistic
If you are filling the role of a second photographer or lead photographer, a good rule of thumb is to take “safe” shots first, then move on to more creative ones.
For many photography studios, the work that is created, at the end of the day, needs to be consistent. To get more consistency, this might be doing some standard poses that are more or less expected, before moving on to more unique shots.
Of course, like with any tips like these, if the studio requests something specific from you (like to skip the safe shots), then throw caution to the wind.
8). Ask questions if you’re not sure what is expected.
We keep bouncing between the need for good communication and the need for good work - do you notice a trend?
Because so many photography jobs can’t be easily repeated, it’s important for you to be able to get things right on the shoot you’ve been hired for. So if you have any questions, make sure you talk with the hiring studio!
9). Be ready for anything.
With so many photography sessions and events being a bit unpredictable, being prepared and ready to handle this well is so important.
In the course of our photography careers, we’ve seen some wild and crazy things at events - and knowing this is just part of the experience of being a photographer is part of the fun when you lean into it!
10). Invest in quality gear and treat it well.
If you want to work for photography studios, they’ll want to have seen that you have a good kit to work with. Every studio may have specific requirements, such as using a particular camera brand like Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc., but most will be comfortable working with you so long as it is a good, reliable, and professional quality camera.
When it comes to gear, you’ll typically want at least the following things:
- Two camera bodies
- Camera’s with 2 SD card slots
- A couple of lenses with different focal lengths
- Backup camera batteries
- On and off camera flashes (specific requirements will really vary depending on the studio here!)
If you are just wanting to assist, you may not need any equipment!
11). Be a good photographer
It’s simple - but take great photos and curate a great portfolio, and you’ll already have a leg up to get hired for another job.
On ShootWith.Me, you can put together a portfolio showcasing your best work, as well as share links to your website and full galleries to help hiring studios see more of what you’ve already created.
Did you know? With a fully filled out profile, including a portfolio of selected images, photographers are more likely to get hired!
12). Be kind.
Look, this is so simple and obvious…yet our users felt the need to share it. At the end of the day, you’re a reflection of the studio you are doing work for - so being kind to your mutual clients, and others you might be around, will make you that much more exciting to work with again in the future.
13). Take behind the scenes shots
This is rarely a “mandatory” thing, but it’s definitely something that would get me HYPED about someone I hired to work with me.
Even if it’s not expected, if time allows, snap some BTS shots of the lead doing their thing. These photos are amazing for future marketing, and frankly just fun to see.
It’s a little thing like this that can leave a lasting impression that is overwhelmingly positive!
14). Get a different perspective, not the same viewpoint as the main.
If you’re shooting a wedding or elopement as a 2nd shooter, don’t just replicate the shots the lead shooter is taking. You want to be a creative addition and help complement the work that the lead is already creating.
15). Time sync your cameras
Make sure you time sync your cameras to make culling and post production in general for the studio. Receiving photos that do not match up to the leads, while easy enough to resolve, adds an extra step to processing the images for the client that can be tedious and annoying for the studio.
16). Dress and act professionally
Acting professionally is crucial to not just getting your first gig, but being able to make yourself someone that is going to be hirable again and again.
Remember - if in doubt, ask the studio what works for them!
17). Set your rate to be competitive
Above everything, hiring studios are looking to work with people who will represent their brand well and take great photos so they can take care of their clients. While all of these things are the most important, your cost is also going to be a factor, too.
Since you’re working as an independent contractor when you pick up assisting, second shooter and lead gigs - you have the right to set your rates. But just because you set them, doesn’t mean every studio will want to hire you at them.
If you have a fully filled out profile on ShootWith.Me but still haven’t received many job opportunities, try adjusting your rate to see if it helps capture more attention.
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Are you a photography studio that hires talented photographers for jobs? Let us know what is most important to you in the comments below!