Taking On a Photography Intern or Apprentice

Taking on an intern or apprentice can help your studio and teach someone real skills, but only if the terms are fair and the structure is clear. Decide what they will learn, what they will do, whether and how they are paid, and when it ends. Rules on unpaid work vary by place, so check with a local adviser first.

Is it right for you

Ask honestly whether you have time to teach. An intern costs hours at first, since you must explain, supervise and give feedback.

Good reasons to do it:

• You enjoy teaching and want to help someone enter the field.
• You have regular work that an assistant could support.
• You can offer real learning, not just errands.
• You may later want to hire or recommend them.

Not-so-good reasons:

• You want free labour.
• You have no time to explain.
• You have no regular work to learn from.

If the main benefit is to you, treat it as a paid role instead. Our guide on assistant pay and duties is a starting point.

Fair terms

Write the terms down, even for a short placement.

1. Dates and hours: a fixed start and end, and days per week.
2. Pay: a wage, stipend or expenses. Rules on unpaid positions vary, so ask a local adviser.
3. Duties and learning goals.
4. Supervision: who they report to.
5. Expenses: travel, meals and gear.
6. Confidentiality of client details.
7. Image rights: what they may keep for a portfolio.
8. Safety and insurance: who covers what.
9. Ending: notice from either side.

Have a local lawyer review the agreement. A template is not legal advice. If the intern is a student, the school may have its own forms, so ask them.

What to teach

Plan a structure so the time is well used.

Teach the business side too: how you respond to inquiries, price jobs and deliver. Share your onboarding checklist so they see how a team is introduced to a job. Give them a small, regular task such as logging files or preparing a call sheet. Let them shadow the second shooter at a larger event if it is appropriate.

Boundaries

Set limits for everyone's comfort.

• They do not speak for the studio to clients or quote prices.
• They do not post client images without permission.
• They do not shoot client work alone unless you agree.
• They keep to set hours, and you do not expect unlimited overtime.
• You do not ask for personal favours unrelated to the work.
• Everyone is treated with respect, and either side can raise concerns.

Tell clients when a trainee will be present if it matters, and respect their wishes. For sensitive events, you might keep the intern at the studio.

If you have a delivery delay, do not use an intern to catch up on client edits without review and permission.

Ending well

Close the placement thoughtfully.

1. Hold a final review: what went well, what to practise.
2. Write a reference or a short letter, if you can honestly.
3. Return or delete any client files they hold.
4. Settle pay and expenses on the agreed date.
5. Ask for feedback on how you taught.
6. Keep in touch, and consider them for future paid work.

In ClickBook, team roles keep interns to the jobs you assign, without prices or income, and notes stay on the job. A demo shows roles in one place. A good placement leaves both sides better off, and the person remembers how you treated them.

Setting up a simple review

Hold a short meeting every two weeks. Use three questions: what have you learned, what is confusing and what would you like to try next. Take notes on both sides. Adjust the plan if tasks are too easy or too hard. At the halfway point, agree on the project they will finish before the end, such as a small shoot with a family friend or a mock wedding timeline. A clear goal gives the placement shape, and gives you something concrete to show when you write a reference.

What you get back

A good placement often benefits you in unexpected ways. Explaining your methods makes you sharper at them. A fresh pair of eyes may spot slow steps in your workflow or suggest a better way to organise files. You may find your next assistant or second shooter. Keep a short list of lessons from each placement, such as tasks that worked well and ones that did not, so the next one is easier to plan. Also keep a record of the hours worked and the tasks given, in case you need it for references or local rules.

Frequently asked questions

Should I pay a photography intern?

Rules on unpaid work differ by country and state, and in many places interns must be paid or the role must meet strict conditions. Ask a local adviser before you offer an unpaid position.

How long should an internship last?

Common lengths are a few weeks to a few months, with a clear start, end and review point. A fixed term protects both sides.

What should an intern be allowed to do?

Carry and set up gear, assist on shoots, help with admin and practise editing on non-client files. Client work should be supervised.

Can an intern use photos they take in their portfolio?

Only if you agree in writing, and subject to your client contracts. Decide before they start.