How not to get on in photography (or anywhere)

This is an email I received today (name changed)

Dear duckrabbit,

Do you run any kind of training/ internship programs within your company? I am recent 2:1 grade Photography graduate, specialising in Reportage/Documentary work, with a career in desperate need of a jump start! If you are aware of any potential opportunities or any relevant information it would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Marco

I know what it’s like to hunt for a job. I had seven interviews at the BBC before I actually got a job with them, and that was on the strength of the work I was already producing. I also know what its like to employ people. In Ethopia I had a team of 26.

So if you really want to work for someone.

  1. Find out their name.  Mine is not duckrabbit.
  2. Don’t ask me to feel sorry for you. I won’t.
  3. No-one in the UK really gives a shit about qualifications.  I’d rather pull my teeth out then work with some of the people I knew at uni who got top grades.  David doesn’t even have a posh degree, instead he learned how to take pictures.
  4. Make sure you’re informed about the work the person you are writing to does.  Why should they bother to find out about you if you haven’t bothered to find out about them?
  5. Make sure you link to something you’ve done that you are proud of. There is a good chance they will look. But it needs to be a direct link.  No flash website that I have to navigate around.
  6. Make sure you tell them what you can do for their business. I hate it when people write to me offering to come and make tea.  I’m good at that already.
  7. Follow up or call them. It’s the only way.

I should add that I did respond in a polite way.

Author — duckrabbit

duckrabbit is a production company formed by radio producer/journalist Benjamin Chesterton and photographer David White. We specialize in digital storytelling.

Discussion (12 Comments)

  1. David White says:

    Hey, duckrabbit, (who are you? it’s all soooo obscure) that’s nice of your good friend Marco to ask ;).

    To the emailer: As for a jump start….either get a jump start by not going to college and working whilst all your mates are at college, (bit late for you now) or work your arse off. There is no jumping going on anywhere. Graft is where it’s at. Do some.

    And you, duckrabbit, make crap tea. 😉

  2. falling soldier says:

    Graft is key – almost everyone in photography/journalism has to work their asses off and experience rejection time and time again before they break through to the other side. That never changes I think.

    Not sure about no-one caring about qualifications though. Such things can come in handy with grant applications, etc. which can often be part of the ‘getting established’ process.

  3. Sojournposse says:

    Marco is already getting somewhere for asking, trying and making mistakes. He will improve in time. This is called experience. Knowing people help, but only on the basis that we ‘trust’ the quality of the work will be consistent and up to standard. Learn to be enterprising, don’t be ashamed to do other works for money etc. while getting there (Many Ozzy broadcast cameramen I know do removal works in quiet season). Don’t give up.

  4. James says:

    In point 3 of your answer you say:

    “David doesn’t even have a posh degree, instead he learned how to take pictures.”

    Which is funny given that you’ve changed his name to Marco…

    unless I’, being dumb and have missed something, which isn’t impossible.

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