I’m a hobbyist who is self trained, but am nearing my skill limit. What I’d really love to do is apprentice under a professional - as I learn far more watching professionals work than I do watching Youtube guides. Local classes really don’t interest me, I love to be in the “in the thick of it.”
I’m not looking to earn any money now, nor in the future. I am completely comfortable in my career field. I just want to act as someones shadow on any weekend jobs, with no expectation that I would be behind their camera. If that makes me nothing other than a glorified pack mule - then so be it!
I’m just curious if this sort of solicitation to local photographers would be welcomed, or bothersome. I want to be respectful above all else.
Any advice is welcomed.
I did a few unpaid internships starting out in advertising and editorial portraiture photo. You really need to determine what you want to learn out of the experience. Weather it be the business side, lighting, onset direction, networking with other up and coming crew etc. many of my friends interned with top level photographers and didn’t get much face time with the photographer they were working for, mostly just helped with studio organizing, and ultimately just have a resume data point and not much else gained from the experience.
There are so many niche’s of photography, it’s hard to give the exact advise you need unless you clarify which area of interest you’d like to focus on.