Finding an internship/work as assistant in Melbourne, Australia - how to find

[Darkwillow]

I recently stumbled upon this website during my research for an internship or a job as assistant in a studio in the city I'm currently living in, Melbourne.
I graduated from an Art school in Italy and immediately found myself facing the problem of finding a place to start practicing. I ended up going to Germany and working first for a food photographer who decided two weeks after I started and without notice that he did not need an intern after all. So I moved to the studio next door and started working for his son who had learned from his father and specialized in stills, rather than food. It was a good experience and the fact I had access to two studios made it even more interesting. I left after 10 months and moved to Australia where at first due to work permit reasons I worked in other sectors and not photography.

So here I am, two years later hungry to get back into photography and follow my passion and dream.
I found it harder than I thought, in Germany they have a website dasauge.de where people offer internships from design to photography, here in Australia I find myself a bit lost when it comes to finding a good studio willing to teach.
so here comes my question to those photographers in Melbourne, specialized in commercial, advertising, food, fashion photography:
how should I approach my research for a position or an internship in this city?
I looked up on seek and all there is advertised is either position i am not really qualified for or santa and kiddie photography ( which is not what I am really looking for on the long run )

I would really appreciate any advise or hint

regards
Susy

[victoria stiles]

Hello Susy!!! There are so many art schools in Melbourne. Which includes all like painting, Drawing, photography. Why do not you try there. you can try online and and search, for what you want. All the best.

[faeriegodess612]

Assuming that this is real,.....I would suggest exactly what I did.

I did a Google search for photographers in my area. Then I looked at each website that the search brought up. If they looked professional enough to possibly need an assistant, I sent them an email asking if they wanted/needed one. I got a few responses. And because of that, I very well might be working with a photographer taking team photos of kids. This isnt really my forte, but its a learning experience that I want, and will get paid for.

A few tips if you follow this,....DO be completely up front about your experience level. If you havent ventured out of Auto, tell them. If you don't know the terms for studio equipment and what they do, tell them. You MUST be up front about your knowledge or experience with Photoshop/editing. DO put together a portfolio to show what you can do. DON'T try to push it on them. DO let them know that you have one if they wish to see it. DO let them know that your looking to learn something from them. Some are willing to teach, others are not. Most have been stabbed in the back by doing this, by the person going out and tries to start a photography business of their own, becoming competition by offering mediocre photography for a lower price. This is not a desired effect, and you should expect to get a lot of refusals because of this. If someone does happen to want to work with you, either as an assistant or a second shooter, if they are smart they will make you sign a contract stating that you will not leave them and go try to start your own business in the same area. The guy that I might be working for told me that he'd do exactly that, and I told him I completely understood. Besides, if I do happen to start my own thing, it will be 3 States away.

Market yourself, but do it honestly. If they as you a question, answer them honestly. DO NOT try to fake your way into a position. That's a fast track to getting fired.

Hope this helps,..If you want an example of the email I sent I'm sure I could drudge it up for you.

[Jim Bryant]

I really hate to blast ya, but don't use auto. I don't want to put you in the same bracket as those damn PhD users (Press here dummy) Auto...........shit, with sports pick a higher shutter speed high enough to stop the action and let the f-stop fall. Auto................don't let your friggin camera think and set everything for you. Learn about f-stops and shutter speed and you'll be ahead of the pack.