Modern Photography apprenticeships with Anthony Milner

Anthony is going to be talking about photography apprentices. He has been a photographer for many years but was recently approached to create a photography apprenticeship. He says he has a learner who, four months in, is taking amazing photographs.

Anthony explains what the apprenticeship looks like from the point of view of a photographer and apprentice.

For the photographer, you have a full-time member of staff.

The staff have training once per month online. They also get skills coach learning and that involves the photographer and the apprentice.

From the apprenticeship point of view, you are with “ real photographers” and learning from them. Sam asks if you are a photographer why do you want an apprentice. Anthony says it is pointless if you don’t have work for them and can’t afford them. Perfect for those with studios or perhaps wedding photographers who need multiple people taking shots at each wedding. The apprentice needs to be paid at least the apprentice minimum wage, which is around £7.40 an hour. Even if you take new staff on they always need training, even if they have a degree.

An apprenticeship is an 18-month course and so usually the apprentice is trying to prove themselves over those 18 months so will always be working hard. At the end of 18 months, a photographer has a choice between moving the apprentice to being an employee or letting them go and moving on.

Marcus asks what the difference is between an assistant and an apprentice. Anthony says it is basically the same, but there is a training framework and an end exam with the apprenticeship.

Anthony says apprenticeships now are much better than they used to be for both the learner and photographer.

Anthony works for the JGA group in his apprentice work.

If you want to move forward with an apprentice contact the JGA group here.

He says you can ask JGA to find an apprentice for you. But it often works better to find one yourself. His advice is to find a person who is passionate rather than qualified for this.

The 18 months is a commitment. There are ways out if there is a major difficulty but the business really needs to commit for the full 8 months.

Marcus asks how the apprenticeship works with portfolio building and if is there much cultural studies. Anthony says they have teamed up with the BIPP to help the apprentices build a portfolio. As part of the course, they must build a 20-photo portfolio. The portfolio also goes to the BIPP so that they can get an award there too.

Anthony says the cultural studies are not structured as they would be in university, but they end up being discussed as part of the learning days.

Sam asks what you should do if you want to become a photographer apprentice. He said to go to the government apprentice website you can find the documents available. You can also find employers that are looking for apprentices on indeed.com.

It is key for a new apprentice to find an employer to work with on the apprenticeship. He says one of the simplest things you can do is pick up the phone and call a photographer.

Marcus asks what photographers get paid once they have done an apprenticeship. Anthony says it varies. The apprentice minimum wage is £7.50 an hour. That is the minimum. Some are salaried at a higher rate. After 12 months an apprentice then needs to move up to the national minimum wage. Most photographers will then be paid £18 to £20k as a starting salary.

Sam asks if the apprentices are taught how to run a business as that is so important for so many photographers.