Photographers on Hal cruises

My daughter ,who goes to school in Seattle is graduating next year with a BFA in photography. I am encouraging her to apply be a photographer on one of the Hal lines that sail to Alaska for summer of 2015. Do they even make any money ? She is a little on the sensitive side as are most "artists". How pushy does one need to be on the cruise ship to make a wage? As her father I am hoping that the crew on the Alaska cruises are not as party hardy as I heard the crews on the Caribbean cruises are (wishful thinking perhaps)

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My daughter ,who goes to school in Seattle is graduating next year with a BFA in photography. I am encouraging her to apply be a photographer on one of the Hal lines that sail to Alaska for summer of 2015. Do they even make any money ? She is a little on the sensitive side as are most "artists". How pushy does one need to be on the cruise ship to make a wage? As her father I am hoping that the crew on the Alaska cruises are not as party hardy as I heard the crews on the Caribbean cruises are (wishful thinking perhaps)

 

 

 

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No disrespect intended, but wouldn't it be better for your daughter to be exploring her future career choices? Make the suggestion by all means, but let her do the research to determine the pros and cons.

There are not different crews for Alaska season vs Caribbean season.

When their contract is finished, they go home. If the ship repositions from Caribbean to Alaska during their contract, they go wherever the ship goes.

My daughter ,who goes to school in Seattle is graduating next year with a BFA in photography. I am encouraging her to apply be a photographer on one of the Hal lines that sail to Alaska for summer of 2015. Do they even make any money ? She is a little on the sensitive side as are most "artists". How pushy does one need to be on the cruise ship to make a wage? As her father I am hoping that the crew on the Alaska cruises are not as party hardy as I heard the crews on the Caribbean cruises are (wishful thinking perhaps)Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

My son did two semesters of college internships (required to graduate) and both were on the QE2. He was a very lucky student to be selected for these internships. He literally went around the world on the QE2 - something his parents could never have offered to him. As part of the agreement with his college he had to have a tux for formal events, he could not go into the casino, and he had to give up his seat at any performances to a paying cruise guest. He did not have a crew room, but rather a single passenger inside cabin. He chose to eat many meals with the crew because he said the food was better. Because his work was at night, during the day he was free to go into any port he wanted to. I'm not sure "party hardy" would be any different than any other college student who lives away from home. Either they do, or they don't.

I think the exposure to other cultures both on and off the ship were worth a million dollars. That said - those internships did look nice on his resume!

I don't think the ship photographers are HAL employees - I would say they are contractors. Below is info on applying for a photography position on a HAL ship:

Ocean Images Photography

Recruiting for Ocean Images: Shipboard Services

12-14 David Place

St. Helier, Jersey, British Channel Islands, JE2 4TD.

Tel: +44 (0)1794 341818

http://www.ocean-images.com

jobs@shipboard-services.com

...................................I don't think the ship photographers are HAL employees - I would say they are contractors. Below is info on applying for a photography position on a HAL ship:

 

Ocean Images Photography

Recruiting for Ocean Images: Shipboard Services

12-14 David Place

St. Helier, Jersey, British Channel Islands, JE2 4TD.

Tel: +44 (0)1794 341818

http://www.ocean-images.com

jobs@shipboard-services.com

You are right on! They're considered concessionaires, along with the shoppies, Steiners (Spa/Gym), art auctioneers and casino staff

My son did two semesters of college internships (required to graduate) and both were on the QE2. He was a very lucky student to be selected for these internships. He literally went around the world on the QE2 - something his parents could never have offered to him. As part of the agreement with his college he had to have a tux for formal events, he could not go into the casino, and he had to give up his seat at any performances to a paying cruise guest. He did not have a crew room, but rather a single passenger inside cabin. He chose to eat many meals with the crew because he said the food was better. Because his work was at night, during the day he was free to go into any port he wanted to. I'm not sure "party hardy" would be any different than any other college student who lives away from home. Either they do, or they don't.

 

I think the exposure to other cultures both on and off the ship were worth a million dollars. That said - those internships did look nice on his resume!

 

I don't think the ship photographers are HAL employees - I would say they are contractors. Below is info on applying for a photography position on a HAL ship:

 

Ocean Images Photography

Recruiting for Ocean Images: Shipboard Services

12-14 David Place

St. Helier, Jersey, British Channel Islands, JE2 4TD.

Tel: +44 (0)1794 341818

www.ocean-images.com

jobs@shipboard-services.com

What a wonderful way to see the world.

Memories he will cherish.

My daughter ,who goes to school in Seattle is graduating next year with a BFA in photography. I am encouraging her to apply be a photographer on one of the Hal lines that sail to Alaska for summer of 2015. Do they even make any money ? She is a little on the sensitive side as are most "artists". How pushy does one need to be on the cruise ship to make a wage? As her father I am hoping that the crew on the Alaska cruises are not as party hardy as I heard the crews on the Caribbean cruises are (wishful thinking perhaps)

 

 

 

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Congratulations to your daughter and her graduation. Wishing her much good luck in all her future endeavors. I agree it would be an opportunity of a lifetime to work in her field aboard a cruise line. Good luck.

Maryjo

Is there a story behind the term "Steiners"?

igraf

You are right on! They're considered concessionaires, along with the shoppies, Steiners (Spa/Gym), art auctioneers and casino staff

Steiners is the name of the London based company that runs the salons and spas/gyms on many cruise lines including HAL.

I ask this question in all seriousness. Does this company even hire Americans as photgraphers on ships? Just thinking of my last HAL cruise, none of the photographers were American...at least none that I met.

I am wondering what the requirements are to be hired. On our last HAL cruise we would go down to the photos on display and chuckle at the pics of heads cut off at the top and sides. It didn't seem to stop folks from buying them though!

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Here's a shipboard photographer ad for NCL. http://www.ncl.com/about/careers/corporate-employment/job-opportunities/27649

My wife is a professional photographer going on 30 years and has worked in the news media and corporate photo worlds. Her take on these jobs after observing and talking with the ship photographers on several cruises is that they work long hours and are pressured to reach sales goals. The work is somewhat limiting, she thinks, with portraits, candids and other still photography making up the bulk of the work. Think Olan Mills.

For someone with a fine arts degree in photography, I suggest your daughter might be over-qualified. Does she have an extensive portfolio? Has she had internships?

Although seeing the world would be nice, and doing that while she's still young would be exciting, these shipboard photographer jobs are somewhat limiting creatively.

My daughter ,who goes to school in Seattle is graduating next year with a BFA in photography. I am encouraging her to apply be a photographer on one of the Hal lines that sail to Alaska for summer of 2015. Do they even make any money ? She is a little on the sensitive side as are most "artists". How pushy does one need to be on the cruise ship to make a wage? As her father I am hoping that the crew on the Alaska cruises are not as party hardy as I heard the crews on the Caribbean cruises are (wishful thinking perhaps)

 

 

 

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Why does she want to join the most annoying people on board?

Advise her to avoid cruise ships, photogs are encourage to be pushy and take a lot of pictures. It's all about revenue for the cruise line.

Why does she want to join the most annoying people on board?

I agree! I hate being hounded by the on board photographers. So many are pushy, and some downright rude.

Looking at the website for the company that hires the photographers, it doesn't look like they need much in the way of training. For someone who has a degree or diploma in photography it would be like lunch bag letdown.

What a wonderful way to see the world.

Memories he will cherish.

Thanks KK. It certainly was a wonderful experience for my son. I don't know if Cunard still has these particular internship positions on their ships. My son was a Printing Management student and at the time (mid 90's) the fancy-dancy copy machines & printers had not yet evolved and there was an actual printing press on the ship. Three students from his college were selected each semester to work in the print shop. Two of them did layout, design and composition, and his job was to do the printing of the daily newspaper in several languages, financial news, menus, business cards, special invitations, etc.

I hate being hounded by the on board photographers. So many are pushy, and some downright rude.

It's because they're pressured to get as many shots of us as they can, so that our on-board print purchases are up to a certain level. I suspect if they don't make their numbers, they're fired. It's also why TV reporters stick their microphones in the faces of people who've just suffered a loss and ask "So how did you feel when you saw your child killed by that bear?" ("What? You didn't get those people to cry? You're fired!") If you can't shrug off being yelled at and cursed at, it's a horrible experience.

Hi Mard940,

My friend went and worked as a photographer on a cruise ship (I believe HAL) and she lasted about a month or two. She told me she didn't recommend it, it was an awful experience and she made absolutely no money. It was a definite bummer because she loves to cruise and thought it would be a great opportunity. I'm sure she would be willing to talk to your daughter if she wanted.

Being an amateur photographer myself, in my late-twenties and knowing what kind of "style" the HAL studio requires I would think your daughter would be miserable. There is no room for creativity as it is the Olan Mills/JC Penney's studio poses and that's about it.

If she desires to work a cruise ship I would recommend another position and then she could do freelance photography of people, places, animals and landscapes while traveling the world.

My daughter ,who goes to school in Seattle is graduating next year with a BFA in photography. I am encouraging her to apply be a photographer on one of the Hal lines that sail to Alaska for summer of 2015. Do they even make any money ? She is a little on the sensitive side as are most "artists". How pushy does one need to be on the cruise ship to make a wage? As her father I am hoping that the crew on the Alaska cruises are not as party hardy as I heard the crews on the Caribbean cruises are (wishful thinking perhaps)

 

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I thought the photographers worked under 4 to 6month contracts for the concession & don't believe they can pick the itinerary or can do it for just the summer..

They have to be excellent Sales people as they have quotas.. We gave salesmanship classes in our company & I guarantee that it's not easy to be a good sales person especially if you have a quota! Unless your daughter has been in a sales position prior to this she may have difficulty working long hours for almost nothing & have trouble being pushy! Many Psgrs. become annoyed with the photographers & often get nasty when they are pushy..

JMO..

If there are any cruise lines without photogs, let me know, we'll give them a try. Photogs are nothing but annoying.

If there are any cruise lines without photogs, let me know, we'll give them a try. Photogs are nothing but annoying.

Oceania.

If there are any cruise lines without photogs, let me know, we'll give them a try. Photogs are nothing but annoying.

Agreed. I'm going on my first cruise in a little more than a week, and I'm somewhat dismayed to hear that Holland America isn't exempt from the numerous photo ops - something I always tended to associate with places like Disneyland, but I guess cruises are big for that as well. Even I don't take very many photos when travelling, so I'm not exactly enthused about this aspect of it.

I just say No Thank You politely and they do not bother me further

Agreed. I'm going on my first cruise in a little more than a week, and I'm somewhat dismayed to hear that Holland America isn't exempt from the numerous photo ops - something I always tended to associate with places like Disneyland, but I guess cruises are big for that as well. Even I don't take very many photos when travelling, so I'm not exactly enthused about this aspect of it.

We've been cruising HAL for 10 years. Smile sweetly and say "no thank you." We have never been hounded for just saying no. Never.