Photography Internship

Slow Road Photo is on a mission to affirm the worth of every person who sits in front of our cameras. That mission begins inside the four walls of our office, where we work with the intention to provide opportunities for team members to discover their gifts and receive a depth of training and support so that their work can make a lasting impact on the communities we serve. 

Slow Road Photo’s Internship Program provides young professionals with the opportunity to deepen their skills as both an artist and entrepreneur by placing them at the heart of a fast paced, high volume Picture Day season with Slow Road Photo. Upon completion of the program, certified individuals will have the tools and training to launch into the photography industry with confidence and a community of supportive mentors and leaders. This apprenticeship includes:

• Photographing daily with a team under the leadership of an expert photographer in a high volume school setting 
• Mentorship and skills development by expert professional photographers, office managers, and editors. 
• Upon receiving a Slow Road Certification at the end of the internship, graduates will be posted on our website under a list of our approved photographers.
• Ongoing mentorship for continued support after the end of the internship- we will support these entrepreneurs as they continue to grow! 

Who is this internship for?  
We select talented, driven college seniors and recent college graduates with a passion for learning how to grow their own photography business. We expect interns to come to us with skills in capturing images and a hunger to learn how to grow as an entrepreneur in the photography industry. This internship is an ideal opportunity for an individual who is: 

• A rising senior or recent college graduate who plans to begin a career as an artist and entrepreneur.
• A young professional who has drive and talent, but limited experience managing the operations of a small business and desires to gain new wisdom to prepare them to thrive in their future endeavors.
• A person who thrives as a hard working part of a team.
  
   

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Full mastery of manual exposure and a dslr camera, knowledge of artificial lighting preferable but not required
• Love for children of all ages
• Working knowledge of Adobe suite (particularly Lightroom and Photoshop)
• Ability to learn new software and other technical skills 

Physical Requirements:

• Need to lift equipment up to 35lbs
• Ability to move from a chair to the floor repeatedly as needed
• Ability to handle camera equipment and set up/take down lighting regularly
• Ability to maintain a high level of energy in the midst of a fast paced, intense volume photography environment
  
   

Transportation Requirements:

• Interns must have reliable ongoing transportation to and from our office in New Brighton as well as daily drives to schools throughout the Twin Cities metro. 

Terms of the Residency

Dates: August 1-December 15, with an average commitment of 20 hours per week. The majority of the hours will take place between 7:30-3:30, with some occasional weekday afternoons and evenings as well. Interns must be able to commit to the entirety of the schedule upon acceptance to the program. 

What is included:

• Mentorship from Slow Road Photo employees who will support the intern’s professional growth and provide accountability throughout the program.
• Hands on daily photography “boot camp” will allow interns to put in the reps that will accelerate growth in photography skills. Unique skills that will be gained on the ground include tethering, photographing with artificial lighting, volume photography, managing sets and photo stations, creating a memorable experience for every client, photographing babies-adults, large group photos, individual portraiture, and family portraiture, and both on location and studio photography.
• Upon completion of the certification, program graduates will get access to ongoing mentorship as they begin their journey into starting their own photography business. Additionally, program graduates will be promoted by Slow Road Photo on our list of certified photographers, and we will cheer you on and market your skills to the Slow Road Photo community at large.

Pay rate: In addition to the mentorship  and leadership development training provided throughout the term of the apprenticeship, all participants of this program will be paid $18/hour.

To Apply: Your application, which must be submitted by May 1, 2025, should include:

• A portfolio of your best photography work, including photographs that demonstrate your ability to capture authentic expressions from your subjects, particularly with children.
• A brief letter describing your interest in the program and why you believe that you would be a good fit for this opportunity.
• A resume detailing any previous experience that has prepared you for this opportunity. 
• 2 letters of recommendation. At least one of these letters should be from a professor or previous employer. References should be attached to your application or sent to hello@slowroadphoto.com with your name in the subject line