http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/new_to_assignments_assisting_abroad An entire Lightstalkers thread via RSS/XML. en-us Hello! I'm new to LS so please don't get angry or ignore this post because this question has been asked a million times before but... I REALLY want to start travelling (assignment photography/assisting) so what are some of the things a photographer can do to get hired by either photographers or clients. My background is commercial/product/advertising photography but I've really started gravitating towards editorial. Any other words of wisdom, comments, or suggestions are very welcome! Thanks! Matt Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:54:49 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/new_to_assignments_assisting_abroad Dont wait to be hired, because you wont. Editors hire people on the basis of their portfolios. If you have travel essays to show them, they will entertain the idea of hiring you to do something for them, but if you dont, then you can pretty much forget it. You need to pull together a portfolio and then hawk it around. So get out there and shoot. If you want to assist and get some experience (not a bad idea), then you need to identify appropriate photographers working in your area, contact them and offer your services. If you have done commercial work before, then you are used to the kind of slick shit the travel mags like, so it shouldnt be much of a stretch style-wise; however, you will also be working as a kind of street shooter, so you need to adapt your style accordingly: wander about, be ready to catch moments, do research on a place and cover the main points of interest, get some "human interest" stuff (smiling people having fun doing fun touristy things) etc. If I were you I would begin right here and now in your own backyard: the Southeast of the states is filled with sites of historical and touristic interest. Old homes in Savannah, natural parks, wildlife, the shore, etc etc. These shots are not simply portfolio material; you can send these into to various image banks and make money of off stock sales. Study the magazines that publish the kind of material you want to shoot, learn what it is they like, etc. Tue, 22 Aug 2006 13:50:47 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/new_to_assignments_assisting_abroad#38016 Thanks Jon! Tue, 22 Aug 2006 18:07:11 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/new_to_assignments_assisting_abroad#38042 And read the editorial tutorial Jon put together - it is in resources, under Tutorial. Titled Editorial Protocols (or guidelines). T. Wed, 23 Aug 2006 02:26:07 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/posts/new_to_assignments_assisting_abroad#38095