We’re looking for some interns in New York City for the next few months for a few things, but mainly setting up for a gallery show and book release party. Give my last post a read for the type of candidates we’re looking for.

Send us an email to info@nickonken.com and tell us a bit about yourself.

• Where you’re from
• What types of projects you like to work on
• What are you passionate about
• What tech skills do you have?
• What skills outside of photography do you have
• Most of all, what would you like to learn?

The internship will be 1-2 days a week from now through March on average.

Take a read of Adam Swords’ post on his interning attitude and POV:
http://www.adamswords.com/blog/?p=57

I've thought a lot about this topic over the last year or so. I think this part the game has become a "new school" evolution. Not that it ever wasn't before, but now that the game has changed and accessibility to pro photographers is so much easier. There is also a lot of free information available online where if people dig enough they can find a lot. I'm finding a lot of successful photographers that learned on their own, and had a college education in something not related to photography. That said, there are things that you will never learn online. A lot of learning comes from observing, and being around the environment that you aspire to be in. Having access to that is much more difficult.

To really get going in this industry you have to learn somehow whether that's going to college for it, taking some sort of course like the workshops in Santa Fe, workshops from other photographers that are teaching. So basically you have to pay to play. Education costs money in any industry or field. It's part of the sacrifice that comes with learning a craft. The essential knowledge will cost you somehow whether it's time or money.

In my opinion the best way to learn is with working professionals. It's been the best way for me to learn. Taking a workshop from someone who's work or business that you admire when they offer one. I did this a few years ago when my friend Stephanie Rausser taught a class at Santa Fe. It cost me a few grand, but in the end, I learned a lot through conversation with them during and now after the workshop. Was it worth it? Of course. A lot of times, photographers of that caliber rarely teach because the commercial world as I've come to learn is extremely crazy and last minute. You can get a call one day and leave 3 days later to shoot it, so it's hard to plan for. Most are focused on being photographers, which is time consuming in it's own right. Taking a workshop is as easy as finding them, signing up for them, and paying for them. They aren't ever cheap.

Another avenue is interning for a photographer, which if you have more time and less money this is a great way. Interning is a great way, and probably a better way because you get to spend time with that photographer. You get exposed to a real working environment which is valuable. In turn for this you're giving your time. Who said picking someones brain was free? Think of all the time, years, and sacrifice that individual has put in to get to where they are at. Think of how valuable that knowledge is. That changes the perspective of "working for free" It now becomes a trade of time and hard work for knowledge, exposure, and experience.

That said, what you get out of it is all what you put into it. The harder you work for that person with a great attitude, and the more questions you ask, the more you will learn. This is with either case of taking workshops, or interning. The move you give, the more you will get back. If you give without expecting in return, the reward is usually much more. Most photographers are willing to share things when people are giving back to them.

Again back to the new school era where there are many aspiring photographers, how do you stand out? How do you get in? How do you get selected for an internship? This is the tricky part. Here are a few thoughts:

Great Attitude: This is the most important asset to anything. Being willing to work hard and happily will get you far. Being energetic and excited to help doing whatever it may be. Even sweeping floors and cleaning toilets.
Have something to offer: A lot of bigger photographers get hit up all the time for internships, assisting, brain picking, etc. Have something to offer, even if that is paying for a meal. It's a nice gesture in trade for their time. More than likely if they can spare the time to even meet with you, you'll learn something. Don't come with an attitude of "tell me everything you know" AKA don't be a leach.
Special Skills: Having a skill that is outside the photography realm can be valuable. If the photographer needs something done in the office, or other types of things that you may have a skill with. Offer that up. It may be a way in the door.
Be Responsible: Being someone the photographer can trust, especially getting a task done well and on time.
Be COOL: I mean this in the personality department. Be someone fun, and excited to learn. Bring something to the table. Be a pleasure to be around, and I'm sure you'll get asked back.
Bring Value: This is semi covered above, but always think of value that you can bring to the team and the photographer. Think ahead of them. The more you give, the more you will receive. That is just a law of nature.
Timing and opportunity: Remember a lot of getting an internship or even the chance to meet with a photographer comes down to timing and opportunity. Be patient.

Jeff Holt has been a great example of this all of these qualities, and in turn he has learned so much. He's been a huge asset to me and has helped me out in so many ways. He approached me in the beginning willing to sweep my floors. He offered his great attitude and acquired skills over the years to bring value. He comes with a giving attitude, and receives greatly for it. What all has he learned? That may be a more specific question for him to answer.

To sum it up, Knowledge has become the currency of our era. As with most things these days you have to pay in some way to gain that knowledge. The more you put in and give, the more you will learn and receive.

I've had many of conversations with different people lately, and I'm starting to see a trend. New School vs. Old School. The biggest thing I've realized over the last year is that the times are changing. Technology is changing, and changing the game. Social Media is blowing up. Twitter and Facebook are becoming household names. Which by the way if you haven't seen this video on the Social Media Revolution, check it out, the stats will blow your mind. The internet has created a gateway for anyone to be an expert at what they do. It's created a platform for anyone to enter the the world of getting their work out there. This IS an amazing thing… IF you use it to your advantage.

New School vs. Old School. There is a ton of truth to both, and you need a fair amount of the old school to carry into the new school. In the Old School photography world it's about having amazing work and creative, which in turn gets you jobs. Which is 100% true. Hone your craft and do it well. Make amazing images, and someone will recognize you. Ten years ago, hell even 5 years ago it was much harder to get in the game. The internet didn't exist(with the capabilities it does now) which meant to get your great work into the eyeballs of the right people, you had to send physical portfolios, post card promos, prints, and be seen in printed magazines. A rep that was hitting the pavement with your portfolios all the time. This is all VERY expensive. Getting into the game COSTED a lot.

This is exactly why the "Greats" don't all have websites(or have terrible ones). Annie Leibowitz, Ellen Von Unwerth, Patrick Demarchlier, etc. EVERYONE knows who they are (that hire them at least). They've been in the game for years. They ARE established. Being published in all the major magazines is their portfolio. (don't get me wrong would it benefit them to adapt and spend of their cash reservoir on a web presence? of course.)

Now enter the New School: Getting someone to recognize honed craft. With all the benefits of the digital revolution and the ease of putting your work out there into the world wide web of eyeballs, we've encountered a downside. It's made it extremely cheap to get into the game. Let me rephrase that. It's made it FREE to get into the game. In turn, the downside is the volume of people that are doing it creates white noise. Everyone is a "photographer" these days and images are flying around the web like nobody's business. Having amazing work has now just become the entry way to getting anywhere. Anyone not at the "greats" level are struggling to adapt to the times. The older folks who choose not to learn the digital media opportunities. The ones in the game for probably 5-10 years that started in the filmic old school world and just got used to it before it changed. These are the ones that are getting left behind should they not choose to adapt.

Creating your "Personal Brand" is the key to getting anywhere. Create a voice that people remember your work by. Not only graphically, but what you project through social media outlets. The content you put out there to the world creates people's perception of you. Consistency of brand creates longevity.

What am I saying with all this? Move with the current of technology. Adapt, and try to get ahead of where technology is moving. Then use it to your advantage. Use social media and internet connectivity for your business. "Old School" is also a mentality. It really comes down to a choice as all things do. Only YOU can make S#$@ happen.

It's where the world is moving and if you don't get on the train, you may get left at the station. Be a game changer.

It's a new decade, and I'm ready to rock. Maybe that sounds cliche, but the last couple years of my life have I've learned that "I" am the only one that can decide make things happen for myself. I don't mean that in the "I am God and I decide all" sense by any stretch. What I do mean is that "I" meaning me, you, or whoever you are, am the only ones who can make the internal decision to pursue our passions with full hustle and work to make them happen. I approach my life in the lifestyle design sense in that crafting the lifestyle you want takes an approach of design, making conscious decisions to work hard, and sacrifice where needed to make your desired lifestyle priorities happen. My good friend Joy recently tweeted "good things come to those who don't wait & just make it happen." which sums this mantra up. I've realized that making things happen comes through your approach of moving through the world. We all have fears, insecurities, and issues, but in the end, it is all up to us to make the decision to approach life in the offense position.

My homey Jeff Holt turned me on to this book "Crush It"(an easy 130 page read), which speaks exactly to this point. The driving message of the book being "Make the decision to live your passion whole heartedly no matter what it is because in this day in age if you do it right, you can monezite it" but the point is that it has to be your passion. This idea resonates in one of my favorite quotes by Confucius "Choose a job you love, and you'll never work a day in your life." With technology these days, you can make a living creating a business out of anything you want to. You just have to have the ambition and hustle to do it. Now, I never said this would be easy, but if you are truly pursuing what you are passionate about then it will never feel like work. I feel lucky enough to do what I do. In reality? I work probably 60-80 hours a week without a blink of an eye. The thing is, I feel like my life is a vacation. (which many of my friends think it is too) The process to design this lifestyle took a big transitions, living my passion, and sacrificing like hell to get to this point, and it's an ongoing process.

Another key to making things happen is to surround yourself with the people that are motivated hustlers. The people that inspire you to be a better person, to be better at what you do, how you approach life. Your support system is key, but this in itself is a conscious decision to surround yourself with these people, and on the flip side, what are you doing to inspire others to want to hang out with you? I think attitude is a key factor. People like to spend time with other people that inspire, and encourage. Some have different styles of being more vocal, or just being inspiring by what they do. In fact, to me the act of "Doing" inspires the hell out of me. A big reason for my move to New York. My level of influence of people doing amazing things, hustling, and succeeding has upped significantly. Something that this city has in it's DNA. I'm a firm believer in moving the things and people in your life that bring you down, drain you, hold you back, etc. out of your life, or to a minimum. I believe in helping others and giving back as much as possible as well. Only you know when you're being the influencer or being influenced though. Take the victim role and you'll never get anywhere in life.

It's funny how conversing about these things brings with like minded friends creates inspiration and opportunities. I know many people have asked if I do workshops and such, and at this point I haven't planned any, but I will be guest speaking at my good friend Lara Casey's Make It Happen NYC seminar in March. I been hearing rave reviews from the last few. This seminar is for anyone in any industry wanting to "make it happen". Check out the seminar details here.

What do I want out of 2010? A well balanced passionate life with great people, great food, and great wine. I want to be a better photographer, grow my business, start more business, build better relationships, and much more. Live life for the epic moments. Life is short and who knows how long it will be.